Evening star., 1952-05-15
SIum PI an Hit
By Southwest
Group at Forum
Moving of Churches
And Use of Luxury
Housing Protested
By james 6. Deone

OOtue southwest ClC1ZenS OOn /
like the newest Southwest slum-
clearing plan.
Redevelopment officials asked
residents for their reaction yes
terday. They got:
Protests against proposals to
displace four churches.
Opposition to luxury" apart
ment buildings.
Criticism of the Southwest free
way plan.
Worry about a business depres-
sion during reconstruction.
Redevelopment Land Agency
officials invited the comments at
a meeting IN the Southwest Lii
brary. More than 100 civic and
business leaders attended.
One businessman commended
the plan. He declared:
Il believe it's probably best for
us to go along rather than stand
in the way"
But most of the citizens were
either critical or noncommittal.
Not Approved Yet.
The new plan, prepared by land
agency consultants, was made
public last Sunday. John R.
Searles, jr., agency secretary,
assured the group it hasn't been
approved yet. It is due for con-
sideration by the National Capital
Park and Planning Commission
and later must have District and
Federal approval as we'll, he
pointed out.
The plan proposes to substitute
new row houses, Walkup and ele-
vator apartments for almost all
present housing in a 427-acre area.
Two other plans were made public
earlier.
Four clergymen raised thu
church issue.
They were the Rev. Harry v.
Porter, Westminster Presbyterian
Church: the Rev. John w. Duck
cite, st. Paul's Methodist Church:
the Rev. Benjamin H. Whiting,
Friendship Baptist Church. and
the Rev. A. E. Edwards, Zion Bap-
tist Church.
Mr.. Porter pointed out that
none of the areas Protestant
churches is left in the architects
drawing of the proposed rebuilt
area.
In Commercial Area.
Mr.. Searles explained tha t
Westminster, at Seventh and E
streets, and st. Paul's, at Eighth
near D, are north of the proposed
freeway and in a commercial zone.
He suggested they might prefer
to move for that reason.
But Mr.. Porter replied:
'Those churches will probably
prefer to stay where they are
in the central part of Southwest.
I speak for one"
Mr.. Duckette protested that his
church would be displaced by a
shopping center and parking lot.
1--WE are remodeling and have
spent considerable money doing
it," he asserted.
Mr.. Whiting, whose church is
on First street near H, was told
the plan would make it give way
to the Randall Junior High School
recreation ground. He cited the
mission of churches to "save the
soul' and pleaded that they not
be eliminated.
Consultant Group Suggested.
Mr.. Edwards, whose church at
337 F street would be displaced
by the freeway, made no direct
comment about that. But he rose
near the close of the meeting and
suggested formation of a citizens
committee to consult with the re-
development agency. He declared:
II think we're all confused
enough right now."
Mr.. Duckette's protest drew
from Mr.. Searles the assurance
that the planners don't want to
take any churches if they don't
have to-" He added:
'The planning commission will
pick those parts of these plans
they consider the BEST"
This apparently had reference
to the fact that the earlier plans
left the churches undisturbed.
Mr.. Searles also referred to the
possibility of Government help in
church moving.
The protest against luxury
housing was made by Joseph O..
Curtis, redevelopment committee
of the Southwest Civic
Association. He stated his asso-
citation is on record against any
large amount of such housing or
any concentration of it in one
area.
Mr.. Searles said he did not use
the term luxury" in speaking of
the plan, and he added that pro-
posed elevator apartments would
be all over the area and mixed
in with other types. But he con-
ceded that the apartments will
cost a little bit more" At least II
are included in the new plan.
Earlier plans concentrated more
on lower-coSt housing.
Protest Meeting Sought.
Mr.. Curtis later told a reporter
his association, on Monday night,
decided to oppose the new plan
and already has asked the entire
redevelopment board, headed by
Mark Lansburgh, to meet with
association members to hear their
protests. A meeting has not been
set yet.
The complaint about the free
way concerned its location north
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