Evening star., 1949-09-27
Marsha||Heights
Fund Denial Laid
To Lack Of Data
Project Misunderstood,
Sporkmon Tells
Housing Association

Congress probably would act
favorably on funds to carry out
the Marshall Heights redevelop-
ment plan, If the proposal were
understood on Capitol Hill, Sem
ator Sparkman, Democrat, Of Ala
bama declared last night.
Senator Sparkman, chairman
of the Housing and Rents Sub
committee Of the Banking and
Currency Committee, spoke at the
annual meeting Of the Washington
Housing Association.
Referring to the plan for the
redevelopment of Marshall Heights
IN the Southeast section, where
some of the Districts worst slum
conditions exist. Senator Spark
man said:
Il believe one of the greatest
troubles has been a lack of under
standing on the part of the SEN
ate Appropriations Committee
and members of Congress gener-
ally.
Il think the facts should be pre-
!sented in such a way that mem
bers of the Appropriations COM
'mittee and members of Congress
can understand them.
No Maps Presented.
Senator Sparkman said that
when he and Senator Flanders
toured Marshall Heights recently,
he learned that maps and other
data concerning the project had
never been presented to the Ap-
preparations Committee.
Had that been done, he said,
the committee might not have re-
fused repeatedly to recommend
appropriations for the project.
The approximately 60 persons
who attended the meeting at the
home Of Mr.. and Mrs. c. Car
roll Glover. jr.. 1900 Massachusetts,
avenue NV. also heard a re-
port by Mrs. Hhda Cloud, execu-
tive director, and a talk by Mark
Lansburgh. chairman of the Dis
trict Redevelopment Land Agency.
Concerning the Marshall Heights
plan. Mrs. Cloud asserted it ap-
pears there is no organized opposi-
tion. with the exception of small
groups. primarily consisting of
the residents of the areas immedi-
ately concerned"
HOn the other hand she con-
ittnued, ut is also clear that the
tcrganized support was neither
lstrong enough. or active enough to
Twin congressional approval"
Planners Must Act.
While the housing association
has been at fault "if its efforts
to mobilize public support were
unsuccessful" Mrs. Cloud said, "a
citizens organization cannot
do the job which belongs to q
public agency"
She went on to say that "a PLAN
ming commission" not only has a
function to formulate q plan for
1redevelopment, it must "do that
lformulating in light of what the
people want and need.
Whether it likes the idea or
not, a city planning commission is
in the business Of community edu-
cation up to its neck-or else its
plans are doomed to a dusty
pigeonhole." Mrs. Cloud asserted,
Mrs. Cloud reported distinct
change has been evident since the
climax year ago of the strained
relations" which existed for some
years between the Washington
Housing Association and a num-
Der OF other civic and trade
groups.
History of Agency Reviewed. .
"A new. perhaps more OPEN
minded, attitude has shown itself,
a desire to seek areas of agree
ment in which individuals and
groups can work together for the
common good" she said.
Mr.. Lansburgh reviewed the his
tory of the Redevelopment Land
Agency and declared it is the only
agency "for which a substantial
amount has been authorized by
the Congress, at any time, and
for which not penny has been
appropriated for expenses or
work"
Reelected to three-year terms
on the Board of Directors were
Frederick A. Ballard, Mrs. Robert
Woods Bliss, Leonard M. Board,
Col. Frederick c. Horner, Mrs.
Mary Dublin Keyserling, Mrs.
Walter Louchheim, jr.; Mrs.
George w. Petticord and Cody
Pfanstiehl. Named to one-year
terms to I'LL vacancies were
Charles G. Leuck, a real estate
man and membee of the Chevy
Chase Citizens Association, and
Leo Goodman, director of the
Committee on Housing Of the
CIO.