Evening star., 1954-05-16
@ STATE EDITION
groups flash
Over Project
For orA|exandria
Commercial Center
PIun Called Warped
And Benefit to CITY


Alexandria's proposed COM
mercial redevelopment plan drew
a blast from one group of mer-
chants yesterday, and support
from another group.
The city's Redevelopment and
Housing Authority has proposed
tearing down homes and sew
eral business establishments in
a "blighted" area including Sec
tions Of Peyton. Duke. Commerce,
and Prince streets, and reaching
almost to King street. The
authority plans to sell the cleared
land, encompasSing an area of
about II acres, to private COM
mercial developers.
The Federal government and
the city would share the cost of
the program. with the Federal
government paying the larger
share.
City Council is to consider the
plan May "a and may take final
action at a meeting June 8.
Say Plan Has Warped
The Merchants Committee OPP
posed to the Prince Street Shop
ping Center, in a statement is
sued yesterday. charged that the
Redevelopment and Housing Au-
thority has stretched, warped
and liberalized" the intent of the
law under which it operates. Use
of the word housing" in con-
nection with the shopping center
plan, the committee said, Is q
complete misnomer.
The group. through its attor-
ney, Thomas Moncure, said the
purpose for which the authority
was created "is being warped
and liberalized out of all propor-
ton" by the agency's proposal
to buy up the area, clear it and
then resell it to commercial de-
velopers.
mot one single housing unit
Is proposed to be built on the
land to be confiscated," the COM
mittee declared.
The merchants charged that
the project has some backing
only because $360,554 in Federal
funds is available for it.
About 80 families would have
to move if the City Council ap-
proves the plan. The housing
authority has said it would aid
displaced families to find new
quarters. The committee, how
ever, added that lit is obvious
to those in business circles that
equivalent housing is not avail
able for purchase to those who
will be displaced"
darlington Group Backs 1t.
The proposed redevelopment
program won new support from
merchants in the Fairlington
Shopping Center.
Albert A. Smoot, chairman of
q citizens committee in support
OF the plan, announced that he
had received a petition signed
by ~ darlington merchants
who favor the project.
DR.. Arthur c. Herter, presi-
dent Of the Alexandria Civitan
Club and owner of the Seminary
Drug Store in darlington, pre-
sented the petition to the citi-
zens' committee. He said Alex
andia couldn't afford to pass UP
progress" He said a revitalized
downtown shopping area would
benefit all shopping areas.
cts much the same as throw
ing a stone into a lake" DR..
Herter said. There's big splash
and the ripples spread every
where"
Ralph H. Boyle. jr.. a men,
ber Of the citizens committee,
said the redevelopment plan
offered Alexandria an oppor-
tunity Ito reverse the flight of
business from the CITY," Mr..
Boyle said annual taxes from the
area now amount to only $500
and it has been estimated the
area could bring the city as
much as $4,000 if redeveloped
properly.
The Rev. Cliff R. johnson,
minister of the Westminster
Presbyterian Church, also at
tended the last citizens COM
mittee meeting and gave the
redevelopment plan his full
support.