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

EntITe Area Reported
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 today will con-
slider an application for Federal
funds to help pay for the So
called Area B project.
The RIA has set a deadline
of 2 pm. today for proposals
bearing on the Area B program.
RIA Director John r. Scar
les. jr., told reporter he under
stood the New York firm of
Webb & Knapp. Inc. was in
terested in bidding on the Area
B. project, but with its interest
conditioned or 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.
It is the only area in the South
west program for which reds-
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 a 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. 1t was not
known, however, whether they
also are aiming their sights at
the entire 427-acre Southwest
area.
Assembled u. N. Site.
The Webb g. 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.
Zone of the things I'm won-
dering about is just how tenta-
tive their proposal u.s." he said.
The specific proposal had not
been transmitted to the eand
agency early today.
MIR. 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"
"The proposal certainly will be
presented to the (RLA) board
and get full consideration" he
declared.
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 las much partici-
patton as possible" in the re-
development operation. Even II
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.
Each will be considered indi-
vidually by the board. When a
decision is reached on these two
and other factors, a contract
will be negotiated.
A large question 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.