Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-06-22
Council Deters
RedeveIopn1ent
Vote 10 July 10
500 Attending Hear
Old Pros and Cons
On Alexundriu Plan

A spark Of life still burned
today in Alexandria's redevelop.
ment plan.
Mayor Marshall J. Beverley
did his best to snuff it out last
night at the end Of q f1ve-houf
hearing attended BY more than
500 citizens In George Washing
ton High School.
A majority Of the council
agreed, however. to postpone .
decision until the regular meet
ing on July is.
Councilman Daniel Fairfax
OF1aherty protested to Vice
Mayor Leroy s. Bendheim. who
favored the postponement. that
'I have had all that this body
and soul can stand"
Only Mayor Beverley and Mr..
O,Flaherty opposed a motion to
defer action.
Councilmen James M. Duncan,
IT., and John Ewald said they
were ready to vote. but they said
they appreciated the position OF
Councilman David S. Haddock.
who said he was not ready to
vote.
Balks at Hasty Action.
Mr.. Haddock said the council
had acted hastily on important
matters in the past and he was
not going to be "presSured into
o vote"
During the long hearing the
sweltering audience and council.
men heard supporters. and OPP
ponents Of the plan toss in all
their arguments, most Of them
well known and often repeated
in the bitter debate that has
ragged since the plan was an
nounced.
The Alexandria Redevelop-
ment and Housing Authority
plans to buy up homes and busi-
ness establishments In an IL.
acre area. demoliSh the building
and sell the site to private de-
velopers for q shopping or busi-
ness area.
The area lies between Duke
street and King street, about
seven blocks west Of Washington
street, and includes mostly slum
dwellings.
Winder r. Harris, q member Of
the authority, said: 1T Is this
or nothing. .. There can be
no location in this city that
would not bring forth the same
or greater criticism. The
golden opportunity will have
been lost"
Fred Allen, a member Of the
planning firm that prepared the
plan, Harrison, Ballard & Allen.
said that. when the project was
first considered three years ago.
there was no thought Of rede-
velopment for commercial uses.
The site selected, however, was
already zoned for such use. Mr..
Allen said.
Attorney Stanley King referred
to pictures of slums in the area
and asked, How long do people
have to live in conditions such a.
this? Are we going to put up
with this forever?"
Albert SmOOt, chairman Of the
Citizens Committee backing the
plan and a former chairman Of
the Housing Committee Of the
City Council. said the city cam
not afford the luxury Of blighted
areas. Taxpayers are substituting
this area now"
Glenn u. Richard, attorney for
the Citizens Committee. said o
negative vote by the council
would be "slamming the door on
slum clearance for all time in
the future"
Attorney Richard s. Luckett,
representing Is home-ownerS
inside the project. attacked what
he called the "pious statements"
and crocodile tears" Of author2
ity spokesman. He said he failed
to see public use in turning
over these peoples land to .
Washington department store. "
Attorney Thomas MOncure,
speaking for 106 downtown
merchants, promised q court
test of the plan, If the council
approved it. He said one Of the
arguments of proponents of the
project is that one home owner.
by refusing to sell, could pre-
vent a department store from
buying up an area.
The Rev. ID. L. Miles said the
colored people have a right to
live in the homes they have
planned to go to heaven out Of. T"
Edwin C. Brown, attorney for
a group Of colored residents OF
the area, said slums could b
eliminated If the city would en-
force laws requiring owners to