Evening star., 1952-02-27
Alexandra Reveals
RedevelopIIlsnt Plan
For Two SIum Areas
DY MaN Lou Werner


Plans for the redeveiopment OF
two areas in the City Of Alexan-
dria-one for o community Of
modern colofed homes and apart
fnents and the other for CONNER.
cial use-were disclosed today.
A 90-acre area bounded by
Quaker lane, King street, q line
north Of the Chapel Hill subdivi.
sion and by Chinquapin Village 10
proposed for the new coiored hous-
ing development Of 2b0 homes and
apartments. The property now 10
occupied by about 30 colored
homes, most OF them considered
Suhstandard. .I
The proposed new commercial
area Ia bounded generally by Duke
West, Commerce and Peyton
streets and \ line m the rear OF
buildings ffohtIAa on King street.
Altogether about four blocks ore
included. making a total CONNER.
cial fedevolopment area OF ap,
pfoRimately nine acres.
This area now has about 100
homes. about 90 per cent OF them
considered deficient. Commercial
property entirely surrounds the
proposed commercial redoVelop.
Ifient section,
Announced hy gmOOt.
!. The plans we're announced At4A
press conference this morning by
Vice Mayor Albert A. Amoot. who
"a chairman Of the City Council
Housing Committee, and by Ofiis
clalA OF the Alexandria RNdeVel.
opment and Housing Authority.
'i'hey emphasized that the plans
are not Anal, ana the City Council
has not committed Itself 10 them,
Mr., bmo0t said The plans re-
veAled today represent results OF
o preliminary survey conducted
by the Arm Of Harrison, Ballard
" Allen, with funds made avail
able under the Housing Act Of
ie4e, Title I,
The City Council last night
asked the Alexandria RedeVelepr
ment and Housing Authority 10
make application now for Fed.
eFal funds 10 proceed with do.
tailed planning Of the two pro- N
posed FedeVelopmeRt projects,
City Council to Decide,
When the detailed study Is com,
pleted within the next eight
months, the City Council then
must decide whether to carry out
the program, II 1t Ia decided to |
20 ahead, all property within the
two redevelopment areas would be
acquired by the Housing Authority.
The substandard dwellings would
DO demolished, public improve
ments installed and property
within the two projects then would
be resold for private development
as specified by the city.
The only cost to the city, Mr,
smoot said. would be one third
Of the total deficit realized be-
tween the purchasing and resell
ing OF the property involved.
The preliminary survey esti-
mates that the total cost Of buy.
ing all property within the two \
projects and making necessary
municipal improvements would |
come to Sl,646.730 and the re.
use value Of the land is calculated
70 be el,2o4,e1O.
First 10 Use Funds.
Mr., Smoot said Alexandria IA
the first suburban community In
Tho metropolitan area 10 avail
itself OF the planning funds avail.
able under the Federal slum 70.
development program. Other
cities In Virginia that are pro.
ceedine with similar programs
are Norfolk, Newport News, Portss
mouth and Bristol.
Mr., smoot ana II. o. Marshall,
jr" executive director Of the
Housing Authority, emphasized
that the Fedevslopment program
should not ba confused with q
public housing project. The
housing authority at the present
time Ia acquiring land In the
doWntown area for q new low.
INT public housing project for
Negroes, but II has no connection
with the redevelopment program.
John Y. Kerr, assistant exeeu.
tive director Of the houAlna
group, said that 10 other areas
listed In the survey might, In
the future, be considered for re-
0eVolonfnent.