Evening star., 1952-05-20
Revealed
For Improving
Southwest
'One Of Most Beautiful
Areas in City Is
Goal of Planners

UCAAuCO w CuA IL NOutAlWCoV WdSlI~
ington into lone of the city's
most valuable areas were made
public today by the District Land
Redevelopment Agency.
Not yet indorsed by the agency,
the plan has been submitted to
the National Capital Park and
Planning Commission, which will
consider it May 20.
Two architectural firms sub
mitted the plan under contract
to the land agency. They are
Justement, Elam & Darby and
Keyes, Smith, Satterlee g. Leth-
bridge. First wraps were taken
off the plan last week, and to-
days details were released in the
form of 33-page report from the
architects.
Area Declared Stagnant.
The report states that the
Southwest for many years has
been more or less stagnant."
But it asserts the area "has every-
thing that could contribute to one
OF the finest residential Develop
ments in the city, except good
buildings and a favorably known
address"
The city might attempt clean
up job of limited lum-clearance,
relying on the sanitary code and
construction of mainly low-cost
public housing, the report states.
This, it comedies. would be
cheaper.
But instead. it proposes to
change the character of the entire
section so it will attract high
value investors, purchasers and
tenants.
To this end, the plan proposes
Government acquisition of most
of the areas land and making it
available to private developers for
apartment and row houses.
Town Houses Suggested.
The report recommends devel-
oping the area ''predominantly"
for high and medium rentals,
although it retains the present
|public housing area and proposes
adding to this "a few additional
blocks of low rent residences" It
Estates:
"Since the whole area is so close
Ito the entire commercial and Gov
ernment center of the city, it will
attract those families now seeking
departments in the new buildings
in outlying sections of the North
west. There are also excellent
|, sites for town houses serving the
type of family now attracted to
Isuch central locations as George
town and the Kalorama area"
The report adds
There are excellent sites for
. hotels to serve tourists as we'll
as the great number of business
and Government officials"
The redevelopment will be a
Ilong-term project, which win not
be completed within the next
decade. the report warns.
Private Enterprises Urged.
:, A maximum scope" for private
enterprise in the reconstruction is
urged. but the report also warns
that mo one investor or architect
should be allowed to dominate
the Southwest"
Nor should any one type of res
idence" dominate. and small shops
of the corner grocery" type will
be needed along with proposed
large shopping centers, it adds.
Even manufacturing would be
compatible with the type of apart
ment development planned in the
western portion of the project,
state the architects, and should be
given consideration.
The report emphasized. in ref
erence to present residents:
1.-THE fact that the conSultants
believe the Southwest area should
be developed along the high value
lines does not indicate that they
have ignored the needs of present
occupants of many blighted blocks.
Certain of the other survey areas
already marked for redevelopment
are, by their location. more suited
to a much higher percentage Of
low and medium rental housing
than is appropriate for the South
west area"
Abandoned Churches Seen.
The report comedies that many
of the present % churches in the
area will probably be abandoned.
!, although five or six may be found
to be adequate "if properly To-
, Gated" But it points out that
!. st. Dominic Catholic Church, the
areas biggest and most expensive,
has been retained.
The proposed Tenth street park
!, way entrance to the water front
and development of the water
front area along Maine avenue as
, a park and recreational area are
: given special emphasis. The new
, area between Ninth and Tenth
streets along the channel should
become lone of the finest attrac-
tions in Washington, the plan
nerS state.
Many small parks are planned,
and old trees on many present
streets should be retained, they
emphasize.
Also suggested are possibilities
flor new legitimate theater, an
arts center, private clubs, trade or
Iganization Offices and exhibit
spaces, schools, governmental
meeting places, tourist facilities
and other types of attractions.
The report emphasizes:
Many of the lenders as well as
many of the developers visualize
1.-THE Southwest section as an area
'lof low-rent housing and they must
be convinced that this character
.istic will be changed as a result of
the redevelopment."