Evening star., 1951-11-17
Called Check on
Suburban Trend
Downtown Property
Values Are at Stake,
Boord Of Trade Told

OAVJ VdAuCo Ill dl1 AREA ClOSSGO
with traffic was discussed by ma
tional experts yesterday at an
extraordinary luncheon session of
the Washington Board of Trade.
Speakers agreed the time has
come for action to control a trend
that threatens to upset the bal
ance of the whole community
Their addresses were followed by a
question-and-answer period, rep
lresenting a departure from the
regular programs at membership
luncheons.
Positive steps must be taken If
the outward trend is to be checked
In the opinion of DR.. Homer Hoyt
OF Chicago. leading urban land
economist and author of the re-
cent business development study
in Arlington County, Va.
Obviously, DR.. Hoyt said, the
first step should be improvement
OF the mass transportation and
highway systems, ION which the
downtown areas were founded. ,
Faster approaches should be pro-
vided from greater distances.
Not Enough Space.
Parking accommodations come
next. but some 200 acres of space
are required for 10000 cars-s
fact that makes it impossible fol
all motorists to take their cars
downtown daily, the expert
pointed out.
DR.. Hoyt said the strain on pub.
Ilic and private transportation
would be lessened, if space nov
available in Washington can bt
used for apartment buildings. HI
sees no reason why so many per.
sons working here must drive into
the country to live in apartments
which could be located within the
District.
Through traffic should be
routed around the downtown Sec
|tion. especially in view of the fact
that highway use has mounted
some SO per cent since the end
|of the war and now approaches a
condition of complete blockade
in many cities. including Wash
ington.
The speaker estimated that
some $4.3 million in taxes are col
Ilected from downtown property
|owners annually over the cost OF
the public service they receive. II
downtown values are allowed to
|depreciate. he warned, I'VE may
kill the goose that's laying the
golden eggs"
Sees Dispersal Dropped.
DR.. Max Wehrly. director Of the
Urban Land Institute and a for
|mer city planner of the National
Capital Park and Planning Com
mission. pointed out that dis
Ipersal of Federal agencies here
like plans for industrial dispersal
Elsewhere, appear to have been
abandoned in favor of long-range
decentralization.
He suggested that normal popu-
lation growth, more than any
policy Of decentralization, is re-
Isponsible for the rapid buildup OF
surrounding communities, and
added, "but as long as the central
business district keeps on its toes,
1 don't think it will be hurt COM
Ipetitively."
DR.. Wehrly said mot all things
have been done which could be
done by a team of merchants,
businessmen and District author
Iities to build up the downtown
section on a basis of competition
with outlying community centers
He suggested taking full advan-
tage of off-street parking posi-
ibilities and using the power OF
eminent domain for acquiring the
space.
May Ban Street Parking.
"You may be faced with the
removal of all parking from streets
in the retail district or the reser-
vation of these streets for mass
transportation" he declared.
ALSO to be considered is the
re-routing of all through traffic
which amounts to so per cent in
some cities" Another improve
ment, he said. would be the re-
habilitation of downtown build
ings.
A plea for removal of traffic
bottlenecks and for establishment
of additional parking facilities
was made by Charles B. Dulcan
ST., vice president and general
manager of the Hecht Co.
He said the fact that the Hecht
Co. now has big department stores
in Arlington, Va, as well as in
Silver Spring. Md, has not les
sened the interest of the manage
ment in the downtown store and
its environs.
Mr.. Dulcan pointed out that
two "antiquated" Federal build
ings occupy most of two blocks
near the downtown store. creating
their own traffic bottlenecks. He
suggested the space might better
be employed for parking on sew
eral levels.
Sees Whole Area Affected.
Such an arrangement. Mr.. Dull
can conceded. would be a big help
to his own company, but it also
would relieve the situation for
'blocks and blocks in all direc-
tions."
Off street. fringe and under
ground parking can be developed
without marring the beauty of
Washington. the executive de-
clared. He suggested the railroads
should develop ,commuter service,
and the Federal Government could
do more about providing parking
for its own employees.
Washington's traffic congestion
is something of a paradox, &C