Evening star., 1952-05-29
7 Radically Different
Plans for Southwest
Taken Up for Decision

Two radically different plans
for redeveloping the Southwest
were before the National Capital
Park and Planning Commission
today.
Staff officials said they hope the
major issues in the first project
will be resolved now, but ven-
turned no prediction. Whatever
conclusions are reached as to the
general character of the conver-
sion, there must be agreement
with the District Redevelopment
Land Agency. NCPPC was to pre-
sent its own conclusions to that
group later in the day. But even
|if agreement is put off it was ex-
|pected there would be enough
meeting Of the minds to speed
future action.
The decision will determine
definitely the future pattern of
the Southwest area, now known
as a Stagnant section. both CON-
Imercially and residentially. It's
population now is chiefly in the
low income group.
It would seem the choice of
the planners lies between devel-
Ioping the backward area as a
rival to the more prosperous
Northwest. or rehabilitating it
with modern shopping centers
and housing. the latter primarily
for the benefit of low-income ten
ants. The two ideas of develop
|ment are wide apart in these re-
ISpects.
Plan Includes Hotels.
Louis Justement will present the
so-called Justement and Smith
plan, designed to make the South
west one of the city's most valuable
areas. It places minor emphasis
on low-rent public housing. The
|grandiose scheme of planning is
supposed to lure back business and
residents who moved out for better
advantages. It aims at modern
apartment houses, some hotels and
residents for all classes of income,
emphasizing middle and high
brackets.
The Justement and Smith plan
also would move the produce and
fish market from the water front
and make attractive Improvements
al. along Maine avenue.
Ebert Peets, engaged by NCPPC
to prepare a plan for low-cost and
low-rent housing, will present his
details. They would retain more
Iof the general character of the
Iarea. e.
Alter these two presentations,
Eldridge Lovelace will give a gen.
eral analysis of both plans. He
lis partner in the firm of Harland
Bartholomew & Associates of St.
Louis, engaged especially for this
purpose as planning consultants
to NCPPC. Mr.. Bartholomew is
Ia former member of the group.
Four Main Issues.
John Nolen, jr., NCPPC director,
then will present basic specifica-
tions for development of the final
project plans. He will seek to
clarity issues affecting the plans
in relationship to the market area
and the controversial freeway.
-Four main issues were said 10 be
the location of the freeway and
the Tenth street parkway, the
market area and the type Of hous-
ing in either plan. Mr.. Nolen
lpointed out that major Importance
is attached to the amount of space
that should be allocated for low
cost public housing and the re-
housing Of displaced families.
There must be a decision on this
before any final redevelopment
lplan is approved.
He said the reason the National
Capital Housing Authority hasn't
been able to get definite sites now
in the area is because NCPPC
hasn't yet developed an overall
plan.
With respect to housing. the
planning director stressed that the
commission could decide between
two methods. NCPPC could make
certain areas available for low
cost and low-rent housing ex-
clusively. Or it could specify.
"block by block" the kinds of
housing and the rentals to be