Evening star., 1947-05-02
Control Of City
Spread Is Urged
By Trade Board
Report Suggests Way
To Counteruct Effects
OF Decentralization
By Rudolph Kouffmonn II

By Rudolph Kouffmonn Il
A storm warning against the un-
controlled spread of washington in
to surrounding areas was hoisted
today by the Washington Board Of
Trades City Planning Committee.
The National Capital is on the
Threshold OF an era Of decentrali-
zation on scale unknown In the
past, the committee said.
In a series OF reports just made
public, the committee produced sta
tistics to show what is happening to
the city and to give q hint Of what Is
likely to happen-where 1t will ex-
pand, where people will live, where
they'll work, low many there viii
be and where they'll do their shop
ping.
Recommendations Offered.
It also recommended few things
the city ought to do to counteract
the tendency Of people and money
to move outward, leaving behind
growing areas which decrease in
property value at tax potential.
The reports were made public by
the Board of Trades directors but it
was pointed out they have not yet
been officially indorsed by the board.
They appear as supplement to this
weeks Board Of Trade News.
Chairman OF the committee max
ing the reports is Fischer Black.
Subcommittee. on research, F. w.
Willcutt, chairman; comprehensive
plan, Louis Justement, chairman,
and decentralization and land use,
Max S. Wehrly, chairman, were re-
sponsible for drafting the studies.
Leading antidote urged by the
committee for the "spreadeagle act"
the city Is about to perform Is a
running decentralization survey to
provide a sound basis for cutting out
unnecessary moving to outlying
areas.
Decentralization Causes.
Greater Washington is the victim
OF most Of the major causes of de-
Capitalization, the committee re-
ported. These include central con-
gestion, overcrowding of the land,
rigid tax system, excessive land
values, ribbon business develop
ments, poor zoning, restrictive build
ing codes, traffic hazards, smoke,
dirt and noise; unsightliness and
drabness, bad architecture and pre-
mature subdivision plans not tailored
to fit master city plan.
Washington's problem is compli-
Gated further by "jurfsdictional
lines which bear little If any rela-
tionship to the realities Of urban
growth, development and influence"
1t continued.
To show that the causes Of decen-
tralization are taking their toll on
Washington-are leaving growing
areas behind which cease to be self
supporting from tax standpoint
the committee cited population es-
Inmates and construction and busi-
ness figures to show how develop
ment Is tending.
l,SoU,UVU In Area.
Admitting that population figures
are hard to get at when seven years
and major war have passed since
the last census, the committee esti-
mated there are now 1850, 900 in the
entire Metropolitan Area; 100000 in
the District, 10000 in Arlington
County, 10000 in Fairfax County,
$4,000 In Alexandria, 10000 in
Montgomery County and 10000 in
Prince Georges County.
But the District will lose ground
relatively speaking by 1870, when
the committee predicted there will
be 100000 in the area, but 284, 900
of the 100000 Increase will be out
side the District.
These estimates are borne out,
the committee said, by construction
trends. There is s329, 900 900 worth
of construction either under way or
about to be started in the Metropoh-
tan Area, 1t reported, but only %
per cent of this is in the District.
Prince Georges County leads the
area with 23.5 per cent.
OF the total construction, $245,-
900. 900 worth, or nearly rs per cent,
is housing, the committee said. Re-
tail and other construction which
follows population shifts. will come
when controls are lifted. it predicted.
$4,000 Units Needed.
The committee estimated that
$4,000 housing units are needed by
1850 to give Washington homes.
This figure does not take into con-
sideration the so-called style mar
ket" people who have homes but
want better ones with nicer sur
roundings. There are 10000 hous-
ing units under way or about to be
started at this time, the committee
said.
Turning to retail business figures,
the committee reported that while
the number of typical stores has
risen 104 per cent in the entire area
since 1929, a breakdown shows it
has increased 1874 per cent in Vir-
ginia and 1875 per cent in Mary
land but only "a per cent in the
District.
The selection of stores used for
the comparison included depart
ment and general merchandise,
furniture, radio and house.
hold appliances. drugs, food, hard
ware and paint, restaurants and