Evening star., 1953-03-16
Bids on Area B
To Opened
By RIA Today
Private Proposal
On RedeveIoping
Entire Area Reported

EHtlIe Area NePOTCe0
Several proposals by private
investors for rebuilding the Area
B section of Southwest Wash
ington, including one expressing
interest in reconstruction of the
entire 427-acre waterfront area,
are to be submitted today to
the District Redevelopment
Land Agency. ...
At the same time, it was
learned, the Housing and Home
Finance Agency will consider an
application for Federal funds to
help pay for the so-called Area
B project.
The RIA had set a deadline
of 2 pm. today for proposals
bearing on the Area b program.
RIA Director John r. Scar
les, jr., told a reporter he UNDER
stood the New York firm of
Webb & Knapp. Inc, was in
terested in bidding on the Area
B. project. but with it's interest
conditioned on redevelopment Of
the entire Southwest area.
Approved by City Heads.
The 76-acre Area B, containing
some of Washington's worst
slums. is bounded by Fourth,
East Capitol and I streets and
the Pennsylvania Railroad tracks.
1t is the only area in the South
west program for which rede-
velopment plans specifically have
been proposed by the National
Capital Planning Commission
and approved by the District
Commissioners.
Under the program. the RIA
would buy all land in the area.
clear it completely, and resell it
to private investor, or a num-
ber of different investors, for re-
building in compliance with
agreed-upon plans.
At least two firms in addition
to the New York group were
understood to be interested in
developing Area B. It was not
known, however, whether they
also are aiming their sights at
the entire 427-acre Southwest
area.
Assembled U. N. Site.
The Webb & Knapp firm Is
headed by William Zeckendorf,
real estate operator who has
gained nationwide fame for the
extensiveneSs of his land ac-
QUESTION projects in various cit
les. He headed the group in
New York which assembled land
making up the present site Of
the United Nations Organization.
Mr.. .Searles said he has had
two or three" conferences here
with representatives of the New
York group.
"One of the things I'm won-
dering about is just how tenta-
tive their proposal is," he said.
The specific proposal had not
been transmitted to the land
agency early today.
Area Studied.
A spokesman for the New
York firm stressed that his group
has been studying the Area B
picture for only a few weeks.
He said: "At this point. nothing
should be read into this (Area b
tentative proposal beyond the
fact that it represents our great
interest in the potential of that
area.
Interest in any one project 10
tied in with an interest in max
ing a bid for the whole. If it
looks good to us economically
after further study. bid would
be placed on the whole"
Mr.. Searles said he would have
to study the proposal before he
could comment on feasibility Of
redeveloping the entire 427-acre
area. But he said he knew Of
nothing specific right now to
indicate it couldn't be DONE"
Optimistic on Plan.
Mr.. Searles said preliminary
conferences with other groups
also have given him new cause
for optimism" about chances Of
success in clearing slums and re-
building the Southwest.
The director said he has been
anxious to get "as much partici.
patton as possible" in the re-
development operation Even If
the project were controlled by
one group, he said, many local
groups would be involved in the
actual rebuilding job
He stressed that the value Of
plans submitted by various in
vestors will get consideration
along With financing proposals.
A large questions mark in the
possibility Of developing the en-
tire Southwest is the available
ity of money. HHFA officials
have said they thought Federal
aid would be available for more
than one project in the South
west. but have been unwilling to
commit themselves on whether
there would be enough for the
entire area.
Congress has made available
81 billion in Federal loans and
$500 million in grants in aid to
assist city redevelopment. About
260 cities have expressed interest
in participating.
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