Evening star., 1951-10-31
Builders Will Benefit
By SIum Clearance,
Housing Group Is Told

Washington builders should
benefit from the Southwest re-
development program just as the
city will benefit from increased
tax revenues through it, John r.
Searles, jr.. executive director Of
the District Redevelopment Land
Agency, declared today.
Furthermore, Mr.. Searles told al
Washington Housing Association
meeting at the YWCA, "the great
est benefit to them should be the
opportunity to build decent hous-
ing for our lower Income groups"
It is the job of the land agency
"to create this opportunity; it, 'si
theirs to take it," he continued.
The agency, he said. can assemble
the land, relocate me families,
prepare the site for rebuilding
and then "turA over to the build
er, by lease cesale, an appropriate
site at I. ar price for rebuilding
under ths terms of an agreed
upon. fEsan.
q Easterly Area Emphasized.
AS a result of surveys, Mr..
Searles stated. the agency has
determined that the easterly
neighborhood of the Southwest
area requires redevelopment first.
The area has been cut into two
sections to avoid the proposed
Southwest eSpressway. The lower
half of the area, Redevelopment
Project No. l. with boundaries of
Fourth, M. South Capitol and Gt
streets, will come first.
More than 30 per cent Of the
$50 families living in Area No. l |
live in substandard homes, Mr..
Searles declared. And more than
so per cent live in homes without
water, light, heat or other modern
conveniences.
Question of Assistance.
Mr.. Searles said his agency will
be able to assist more than 800
OF the $50 families in finding new
housing accommodations, which
will be within their incomes. How
ever, the eight-person family, with
an income too high to permit
occupancy in public housing. will
have to have the assistance of all
agencies in the community, he
said.
Redevelopment of the area I,
should be accomplished in stages
block by block. he said, al
though the commercial area will
present a problem.
The National Capital Parks and
Planning Commission, he said.
has proposed a central public
square around which would bel
grouped some of the principal re-
tail establishments in the area.
such a square could attract a 4
greater share of the business of !
the area" he continued. |
Street Layout Not at Fault.
Pointing out that the slums in
the Southwest area are not caused |
by faulty street layout, Mr.. Searlesi
made it plain that the sections
broad streets and large shade {
trees make it difficult for us toi,
impress the visitor with the
gruesomeness of the structures be-
hind them" -.
There are three alternative types {
Of redevelopment possible in the 3
area, he continued. First, "a dra-
matte composition of high-risel
apartment buildings" Second.
the area can be redeveloped In
the tradition Of the old city with
similar architecture and street :
patterns. Third. a new neighbor-
hood of row houses, group fiatsIs
and three-story walk-up apart
mentS In pleasing brick architec-l
ture'' which might resemble Cha r
than Village in Pittsburgh. -,
Brig. Gen. Bernard L. Robinson.
District Engineer Commissioner. r
told the meeting that redevelop- i,
ment plans will "be economical .
from the standpoint that the city !,
will receive greater returns from
real property taxes and will ex-
pend less public monies for health. :
crime prevention and welfare gen.
orally"