Evening star., 1950-05-24
.MarshaIIHeights
freeze Order
is Rescinded
Redevelopment Plon
Formally Dropped
By Commissioners
By Horriet 6nffiths

The Commissioners today or
dered the freeze order" on physi-
cal improvements in Marshall
Heights lifted tomorrow.
The city heads decided almost
Immediately after a public hear
ing on the subject to abandon
the long delayed plan for redevel-
opments Of the Southeast commu-
nifty.
Congress has refused TO appro-
pirate money for the project and
the National Capital Park and
Planning Commission last month
voted to drop it.
The city heads had to impose a
freeze order May II. 1949, after
they and the planners had ap-
proved the redevelopment plan
and it was certified to the District
Redevelopment Land Agency.
At the hearing today which
was required before the Commits
sioners could abandon the plan,
Marshall Heights residents and
property owners crowded the Dis.
trict Building board room to plead
for water mains. sewers and
streets.
One Witness Opposed.
Among $50 persons attending,
only one raised his hand In oppo-
sition to the question-should the
redevelopment plan be dropped
and the freeze order lifted.
Otis H. Sutson Of Slit B street
Sc. spoke the sentiments of many
Of those favoring immediate lift
ing Of the freeze order, He said:
Il am asking that the Commits
sioners be humanitarian enough
to expedite the recommendation
for lifting this ban and following
up with the necessary steps to
release to US human beings Of
Marshall Heights all the rights
and privileges which 60 to the
other citizens Of Washington"
Eager for improvements.
He pointed out that Marshall
Heights residents are paying per-
sonal property and sales taxes
and that "there should be no ex-
cuse for holding US back from wa
ter. sewers and streets, so our boys
and girls can 60 to school clean
and decent"
Referring to complaints Of mud
dy conditions In his neighborhood,
Mr.. Sutson declared that "if I am
not careful about my feet. any
body can tell the section, of the
city in which I live"
Among others speaking in favor
OF withdrawal Of the redevelop-
ment plan was Everett L. Edmond,
president Of the Marshall Heights
Civic Association.
"The people are ready and eager
to start on a vast building pro-
gram that will add greatly to the
value and beauty of the city and
will also increase its revenue by
way Of taxes on new homes"
Equal Treatment Promised.
He said he had received assur-
ance that the Commissioner
would see to 1t that Marshall
Heights was given the same treat
ment accorded other subdivisions
in the providing of water. sewers
and other utilities, IL redevelop-
ment plans were dropped.
The lone opponent was Percy
B. Anderson. 1920 Girard street
NV, who said he owns q house
at 1873 Fifty-third street Sc. In
Marshall Heights. Mr.. Anderson
argued that Marshall Heights
should be developed as a whole.
He contended that many Of the
residents there had made no ef-
fort to improve their property in
the years before the freeze order
went into effect.
Presiding at the hearing were
Engineer Commissioner Gordon
r. Young and Commissioner John
Russell Young. Commissioner
Guy Mason. who has been i'll, was
at his desk today but did not at
tend the hearing.