Evening star., 1949-09-23
.karsha||Heights
Redeve|opment
Plan Restudied
New Group Named
As Capital Planners
Ask D. 6. Guidance

AS SoPItul RUNNERS
Ask D. 6. Guidance
Federal and District govern
ment officials today are studying
a proposal that may wipe out al
together. or materially modify, the
projected redevelopment of Mar
shall Heights. in the Southeast
corner Of the National Capital.
The National Capital Park and
Planning Commission yesterday
took the initiative in asking the
District Commissioners what they
would like the planners to do
about the Marshall Heights pro-
gram, under the Redevelopment
Land Act of 1945.
This action was taken, accord
ing to John Nolen, jr., director Of
planning, because the House
Appropriations Committee has put
stop order" on the Marshall
Heights program, recommending
that the plan be abandoned. In
stead the House group suggests
the District install utilities, sewer
and water mains and streets, and
require the houses to conform to
District health laws. Many of the
houses in Marshall Heights now
are considered substandard.
To Form Special Group.
Attending yesterday afternoons
meeting at which the problem was
discussed were Commissioner John
Russell Young, 1t. Col. Iavonne
E. Cox. Assistant Engineer Com
missioner; Mark Lansburgh, chair
man of the Redevelopment Land
Agency, along with members Of
the National Capital Housing
Authority and John Ihlder, its
director.
A special committee is to be set
up to 60 into all phases of re-
development and low-rent hous-
ing. The planners promptly
named as their member on the
committee Hilyard r. Robinson,
their colleague, who will serve as
chairman.
Meanwhile. on Capitol Hill, two
Senators have under study a pro-
posal by three spokesmen for pri-
vate enterprise to set up a CO.
ordinating committee, including
builders here, to help solve the
Districts slum clearance problems.
Senators Sparkman. Democrat,
OF Alabama, and Flanders, Repub-
lican, Of Vermont heard the pro-
posals recently from Edward r.
Carr, former Washington Home
Builders Association president:
Ernest F. Henry, chairman of the
Washington Board of Trades
urban development committee,
and Clarke Daniel, a vice presi-
dent of the Homebuilders AS
sociation.
Also to be represented on it
will be the District Commissioners,
the National Capital Housing Au-
thority and the Redevelopment
Agency.
Certified Project.
r Originally, the planners recon-
mended the Marshall Heights
redevelopment program. Subse-
quently public hearing was held
on it by the District Commission
ers, and it was certified officially
to the Redevelopment Land Agency
as an approved project.
Other subjects considered by
the planners at their session yes
terday included:
A request to Carter T. Barron,
executive vice chairman of the
National Capital Sesquicentennial
Commission, asking him to sub
nit in writing plans and proposed
locations for buildings for the con-
templated Freedom Fair.
A. P. Greensfelder of University
City. near st. Louis, Mo-, a plan
ming commission member, said he
does not think the fair should be
concentrated in one place. He in
dorsed the idea Of the exposition.
I'VE are spending billions
abroad" said Mr.. Greensfelder.
why should we not spend some
thing here to solidify the idea of
liberty and freedom?"
Fund Blocked So Far.
Congress so far has refused to
appropriate the $3,000,000 Presi-
dent Truman has asked for the
seSquicentennial, although the
Senate Appropriations Committee
recently indicated it will recon-
mend this sum.
They also approved the transfer
Of the old Brightwood School.
Georgia avenue and Quackenbos
street NV. for part of the Fort
drive project, from the District
Commissioners to the National
Capital Parks. AS soon as funds
are available the MOP will tear
down the structure. Fort drive
crosses Georgia avenue, south of
Quackenbos street, and the new
roadway will be built through the
school site, planners explained.
The commission referred to the
Army district engineer for COM
ment a plan designed to afford
limited recreational facilities in
the Dalecarlia Reservoir area,
straddling the District line at
Macarthur boulevard. Mr.. Nolen
explained the recreation program
has been designed so it will not in
terfere with the purity of the
Washington water supply.
Report Favored.
The planners approved "in prin-
ciple" a report by John P. Howard
of Cleveland, former member, pro-
posing an increase in the size Of
its staff. This will be used to re-