Evening star., 1944-02-17

Meeting Scheduled
With Joint Committee
To Discuss Measures
Housing and urban redevelop-
ment legislation as twin program
to clean up substandard areas OF
the District after the war we're
scheduled for consideration by Fed
eral planners today.
Opening its monthly meeting, the
National Capital Park and Plan
ming Commission will continue these
discussions tomorrow at a session
with the Joint Committee on the
National Capital.
For early consideration today, the
Planning Commission had before it
a few land-purchase items and re-
port on suggested recreational IA
cilities in Brightwood and parts Of
Petworth and Takoma Park. In
cluded is the proposal Of the Bright
wood Citizens Association for Fed
eral acquisition OF the Emery estate,
consisting of 84 acres at Concord
street and Georgia avenue NV.
Branch Libraries Sought.
The commission also will take up
two recommendations for the loca-
ton OF branch libraries. Funds for
the sites will be requested soon.
Several land transfers also will be
considered during the morning. One
OF these involves the widening of
Ridge road in Anacostia through a
portion of the Fort Dupont Park.
Housing is the all-important issue
before the Planning Commission at
present, in view of its desire to
press for favorable action on legis-
lation by which blighted areas can
be eliminated in Washington by
both public and private enterprise
Amendments to the original Alley
Dwelling Authority Act introduced
by Senator McCarran, Democrat, of
Nevada, former chairman of the
Senate District Committee. will be
considered today.
The chief purpose of the amend
ments to permit the National Capi-
tai Housing Authority to undertake
housing projects in "sub-standard
areas outside of inhabited alleys.
This is cannot do under title of the
act.
Funds Sought for Program.
Senator McCarran also proposed
the creation of an improvement COM
mission to pass on the areas Sc
lected for reclamation and declared
"substandard." Another amend
ment would authorize the NCHA to
borrow up to $40 ,0O0, 900 for the re-
develoment of selected areas.
The Planning Commission has
contended for years that the local
Housing Authority should be en-
powered to extend its own program
to other areas. The Housing Au-
thority is empowered under title
2 to cooperate in the program of
the United States Housing Authority
In developing housing projects in
outlying areas. 1t is also engaged
In the general housing program for
war workers.
But when these funds are cut of
after the war, the Planning Com
mission fears the NCHA may be left
high and dry" unless the McCarran
become law. The
elimination Of Washington's in
habited alleys would be tied in with
the program of reclaiming other
substandard areas.
The urban redovelopment bill,
under study for several months, has
been revised in accordance with the
wishes of number of interested
Federal agencies. The final draft
of the bill will be presented at this
Under its broad scope
plan would be drawn up and
adhered to in the development of
selected blighted areas.
Revising of Report Asked.
Another phase of the housing sit
uation will develop today. Maj
Gen. U. S. Grant Sd, chairman of
the Planning Commission, was
asked at the opening of hearings
before the Senate District Subcom-
mittee to bring up to date, within a
month, its 1880 report on the hous-
ing situation in the District. The
report involved, also, the clearance
OF alley slums. OF the $50 inhabited
alleys, only IA have been reclaimed.
Today's discussion will develop the
Planning Commission opinion as to
whether the local Housing Author
ity is doing good job in handling
present-day problems and what
recommendations, if any, the COM
should make in reporting to
the Senate subcommittee.
Tomorrow it was expected final
action might be taken in determin-
ing the approaches for the proposed
new Highway bridge across the Po-
tomac. Several alternate types of
construction, ranging from four, six
and eight lanes of traffic, have been
under consideration.
In the afternoon the professional
groups affiliated with the Joint
groups affiliated with the Joint Com
mlttee on the National Capital will
hear the commissions views on va
rlous problems now under study.
They will review housing. the devel-
opment OF East Capitol street, plans
for completion of the Fort drive and
other matters of general interest. A
feature OF the meeting will be the