Evening star., 1952-12-14
Is Pushed
To Help 0usted
S|un1 Families
Southwest DweIIers
Muy Get Priorities
On New Houses
By George Beveridee

By George Beveridee
The Redevelopment Land
Agency yesterday disclosed a
move to satisfy partially South
west Civic Association objections
to plans for the first project in
the Southwest slum clearance
program.
Plans for rebuilding the So
called Project B area, containing
some of the city's worst slums
within the boundaries of E and I
streets and Fourth and South
Capitol streets, will come before
a District Building public hearing
at 10 am. Wednesday.
More than 40 organizations are
expected to testify. .
The Southwest Civic Associa-
ton, calling attention to the large
Negro population in the B, area.
recently branded the plan as
shameful, un-American displace-
ment plan" One of its most Sc
rious objections was that present
B area residents had no legal
guarantee they could return to the
rebuilt neighborhood.
Would Get PriOrities.
John r. Searles. RIA director.
said he has promised the group to
write provisions. requiring that
present B area residents have first
priority on new dwellings. into
contracts with private builders
who will redevelop the area.
Leon S. Calhoun, president Of
the civic group, said Mr.. Searles'
promise removes many Of his
groups objections. 1t will meet
tomorrow night to map, a final
stand to take at the Wednesday
hearing.
Mr.. Calhoun said he thought
the only important objection re-
manning would be that many resi-
dents will be unable to afford the
new dwellings contemplated. He
said he feels the need can be pro-
vided only with some public hous-
ing dwellings in the B area.
DOnOhue Expects Decision.
Meanwhile, Commissioner r.
Joseph Donohue said he expected
the Board of Commissioners to
reach a decision on the B plan
before Engineer Commissioner
Bernard L. Robinson leaves office
December 81. Despite reports the
hearing starting Wednesday might
be one-day affair. Mr.. Donohue
said there was no assurance 1t
would not last longer.
Many of the organizations to
testify already have issued state
ments on the Area B plan. Most
urge that the 76-acre project get
a green light, although many want
Ia re-study of tentative plans for
rebuilding the entire 427-acre
Southwest. Strongest drive is for
a more drastic upgrading of the
area than has been proposed by
the National Capital Planning
Commission.
In addition, the District COM
missioners will hear appeals TO
exclude from the B project busi-
ness properties south of F street
on Fourth street. Some groups
propose the business properties
should be left alone until it defin-
itely is decided whether to build
modern shopping centers to serve
the area.
May Ask Court Action.
The Southwest Businessmen 3
Association is expected to ask
that businessmen be allowed to
improve their own properties. If
this fails, some Southwest leaders
have suggested the possibility of
challenging the redevelopment
program through court suits.
Joseph H. Schneider, an attor-
ney and president of the South
west business group, said one pos
sibility is to question the con-
stitutionality of Government seiz-
ure OF land for what he called
private USE"
He said there would be no ques-
tion about the right to condemn
property if it were to be used for
a public purpose. such as school
site or street. But some lawyers.
he said, question the constitution
ality of taking land from an
owner, clearing it and then SELL
ing it to a private investor for
redevelopment. The l945 acts
authorizing redevelcpment re-
quires that private builders be
given first crack at the rebuilding,
in accordance with specified plans.
The constitutional question
raised by Mr.. Schneider, it was
learned, already has been fought
in a number of States in connec-
ton with redevelopment plans.
Upheld in Several States.
Joseph Guandolo, associate gen.
eral counsel of the Housing and
Finance Agency, which controls
redeveloprnent funds. said supreme
courts in Pennsylvania, Rhode Is
land, Alabama, Illinois, Michigan.
Tennessee and Arkansas have
ruled that such taking of land
is not in violation of State con-
stitutions. In one State. Florida.
the court ruled the taking was
unconstitutional, Mr.. Guandolo
said.
In all except Florida, the HHFA
official said, the courts ruled that
the clearing Of slums is the main
Interest. and that the disposition
of land was incidental to that
primary purpose.
While the issue has not been
raised in relation to the Federal
Constitution-which would apply