Evening star., 1952-05-13
Bold RedeveIopment

II washington wants to launch its Slunl-
elimination program a bold scale an
interesting plan is available. The Southwest
redevelopment plan just submitted to the Dis
trict Redevelopment Land Agency by consulting
architects is more far-reachng than anything
yet proposed under the 1916 legislation creating
the agency. Because of its wider scope it should
have much broader appeal than the previous
plans, which concerned chiefly low-cost housing.
Many obstacles would have to be overcome, of
course, to bring the attractive architectural
vision to reality.
First of all, the Justement- Smith plan would
nave to receive approval not only of the Land
Agency itself but of the National Capital Park
and Planning Commission, the District Commits
Sioners and the Federal Housing and Home
Finance Agency (which presumably would be
called on to put up two-tnirds of the cost Of
buying the site and clearing it,. None of these
bodies as yet has passed on the project. This is
the third plan for improvement of the blighted
Southwest area of Washington It is intended
as an alternative to the two prior Southwest
plans which were restricted to mach smaller
slum section near the Capitol. In addition to
low-cost housing for inhabitants of alley and
other Substandard dwellings near South Capitol
street, the new plan would carry the redevelop-
ment program all the way to the water front,
along Maine avenue. The new housing would
be progressively more expensive as it 'neared the
river, with fine apartments for higher-income
groups available on or close to Maine avenue
and the proposed Southwest FreeWay. Com
mercial redevelopment, too, would be included.
The next step after unanimous approval Of
the various governmental agencies would be the
always-diff1cult one of obtaining cooperation of
property owners and residents in the area to be
cleared. That such cooperation is essential was
proved by the lesson of Marshall Heights, where
the Land Agencys initial effort at redevelopment
collapsed under the attacks of residents who did
not want their community made over. Congress
listened sympathetically to the opposition and
finally killed the undertaking for good Land
Agency officials for some months have been
explaining the tentative rehousing plans to
residents of the area just west of South Capitol
street. The educational enterprise would have to
be greatly expanded if the new plan were
adopted for the affected area, comprising 427
acres, extends from South Capitol street to the
water front and from Fort McNair to the vicinity
of the Mall.
Finally, the whole undertaking would require
cooperation of private investors, whose money
would be used to build the six and eight story
elevator-type apartments, the row houses, the
shopping centers and the other private structures
within the area. Under the general plan, about
e12.5 million of public funds would be spent on
purchase of land and clearing of the site, as
necessary. One-third of this money would come
from District funds, the remainder from the
Treasury under authority of the National Housing
Act 1t is estimated that at least half of the
public funds would be repaid through resale or
leasing of land to private builders.
The advantages and difficulties of the new
plan undoubtedly will be thoroughly explored by
the various agencies which are yet to pass on it,
The public will have an opportunity to express
Its views in hearings called by the Commits
sioners, provided the program receives official
approval of the Land Agency. And the public
should be given full details of the plan in all its
angles Unless there is complete understanding
of the proposal, its chances of survival would
be little better than those of the Marshall
Heights plan.