Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-02-06
New YorkFirnl
To Offer Plan
For Southwest
Will Describe
Project to D. c.
Leaders Feb. Is

presumably covering most Of
the entire Southwest Washing
ton area. will be submitted to
the District Redevelopment Land
Agency on February Is by the
New York firm of Webb & Knapp,
it was learned yesterday.
Key members of Congress
District officials and citizen lead
ers have received invitations
from William Zeckendorf, Webb
& Knapp president, to attend
a Hotel Statler dinner February
is to hear the proposal de-
scribed.
The development firm plans
to make details of the proposal
public the following day. after
submitting it formally to the
land agency.
Whole Area Considered.
Webb & Knapp earlier has
said it would submit a proposal
covering redevelopment of the
entire 427-acre Southwest water
front area.
This area generally has been
earmarked for slum clearance
and redevelopment. Last spring,
the land agency accepted seven
bids for redevelopment of the
first 76-acre tract-the so-called
Area B. bounded by Fourth, E,
I and South Capitol streets.
Webb & Knapp was one of
seven firms which bid on the
Project B job, but the land agen-
cy accepted a proposal submitted
by the Bush Construction Co.
of Norfolk. Under redevelop-
ment. the land agency intends to
acquire the land now owned pri-
vately. clear it and sell it to
the private redeveloper for re-
building in accordance with the
accepted plan.
At that time Webb & Knapp
said that its interest in any one
project area in the Southwest
was Tied in with an interest in
making a bid for the whole
(area). If it looks good to us
economically after further study
bid would be placed on the
whole"
Presumably Mr.. Zeckendorf's
proposal would begin where the
B Area leaves off at Fourth
street S.W., and move westward.
Refuse to Comment.
Spokesman for the New York
firm refused fatty yesterday to
comment on provisions of the
proposal it will submit until the
conferences it has arranged for
later this month.
Redevelopment Land Agency
officials likewise declined to
comment. but said any plan sub
mitted would be considered
seriously.
In letters sent certain men,
bers of Congress, however, Mr..
Zeckendorf said the proposal
had these detectives:
"Reintegration Of Southwest
Washington into the life of the
community through the rebuild
ing of it's physical plant, eco
Monies and social life" and the
creation of certain projects. in
Guiding cultural and entertain
ment facilities now lacking in
Washington"
There was no indication of
how much of the area would be
devoted. under the Zeckendorf
plan, to residential and how
much to other future uses.
The major argument raging
around Southwest redevelop-
ment is the extent to which it
should be "upgraded" to attract
high-income residents and make
full use of the waterfront areas
natural advantages. The re-
marks in NH Zeckendorf's letter
indicated that his plan will pro-
pose a bold approach to up
grading.
Mr.. Zeckendorf. who has en-
gagged in land acquisition and
development areas throughout
the country, headed the group
which assembled land for the
site of the United Nations Or
ganization headquarters in New
York.
Several other bidders on the
Project B area, meanwhile. also
have expressed interest in
handling the entire areas re-
d development. 1t was generally
acknowledged that the B Area
constitutes one of the least de-
sirable parts of the area.