Evening star., 1951-11-11
By John V. Horner

some CLARENDON BUSINESSMEN are
reported unhappy, too.
Seen by Favored Few.
The report by Homer Hoyt AS
sociates of Larchmont, N. Y. has
been in the hands OF the Arling-
ton County Board and members
of the County Planning Commits
sion for several weeks. 1t has not
been made public pending repro
duction, but q few favored citi-
zens have been permitted to ex-
anime the document, with ex-
plosive results from some quarters.
The report is based on an ex-
haustive study lasting several
months. It Is weighted with sta
tistics on population growth,
buying habits. land use, Zoning.
trade areas and other economic
factors. 1t also considers the i'm
pact Of further business develop
ment on the county and probable
tax benefits as far of as 1880.
On the basis OF their study,
the Hoyt researchers foresee an
increase in the Arlington popula-
ton from 10000 last year to
zoo. 900 by 1860 and to 100000 by
1880.
Buying Habits Cited.
The report states that retail
sales in the county have scared
with rising population but it points
out that the bulk of the depart
ment store. apparel store and fur
niture store business has been
going outside-chiefiy to Washing
ton. This Ia attributed to buying
habits. Customers in the latter
market prefer to shop for mer-
chandise in stores that are we'll
concentrated. the analysts say.
A profound effect upon Airing
ton buying habits is forecast as
the result Of the establishment
this month Of the big new Hecht
and Kann stores. The establish
ments of additional stores in the
same field would increase business
for all. the Hoyt report predicts.
It then addresses itself to specific
cases. mentioning the possibility
of branches for Woodward g. 10th
Irop. Lansburgh & Bro. as well
az other leading Washington re-
tail stores.
Concentration Favored.
Woodward & Lothrop owns an
Arlington tract on Glebe road Just
south Of Lee boulevard. This is
regarded as in South Arlington,
at a point between the Clarendon
Ballston communities and the
Columbia pike business section.
Woodward & Lothrop has not an
nounced whether it will build a
branch on this site or whether 1t
will build elsewhere In Arlington.
In this regard. the Hoyt report
states:
The final location of Wood
ward g. Lothrop and Lansburgh
viii result In either further con-
centration or dispensing the Ar
lington regional center.
"The ideal solution would be
for Woodward 6k Lothrop and
Lansburgh to locate between
Hecht and Kann, which would
consolidate the district and give
the maximum volume of business
to all the stores.
'If Woodward & Lothrop per-
sists in building on the tract
they own on the Glebe road near
Lee boulevard, the regional dis
trict will be spread out in random
fashion and most Arlington fas-
hion goods will do a lower volume
of business.
| These observations are among
those in the report which are
coming under fire of businessmen
who believe them to be adverse.
But Mrs. Florence Cannon, chair
man of the County Board, ex-
planned that the report has not
been adopted and does not consti-
tute any specific recommendation.
''Mr. Hoyt simply reaches some
academic conclusions based upon
existing facts" said Mrs. Cannon
He is not making recommends
tions. He says, Here is the ideal
Thing to do
I'VE take the report and say
We have to live with this thing
Shall we vary from the conclu-
sions. and If so in what way?"
I Mrs. Cannon expressed regret
that some citizens had been per-
mitted to see the report in ad-
vance of its formal release. She
declared "at least one person
showed it around in violation OF
'fa gentlemen's agreement tc
guard the contents until there
could be general distribution. This
is expected in a week or 10 days
Opposes Concentration.
/ Mr.. Hoyt and his staff conceded
the difficulty Of determining where
to locate the proposed regional
center. but finally concluded:
THE most desirable solution
from the standpoint of Arlington
County is to have the regional
Ilcenter develop somewhere in the
Clarendon-Ballston area and not
elsewhere. The survey showed
most housewives prefer to have
all department and. apparel stores
In one general area, and after the
investments just being made by
Hecht and Kann, it is not desir-
liable to attempt to build a rival
center elsewhere"
| Charles sher, vice president o,