Evening star., 1954-10-12
Southwest Plan
Seen as EASING
Tax Burden
Seeks No Subsidy,
!. No Levy Escape,
Zeckendorf Suys

| ~~~~SAAAsS SSASAAWNoO w GA0AAAAA6 VII
will diminish the burden OF
those who now pay taxes here
without jeopardizing existinI
business investment.
The colorful real estate man
head of the firm of Webb
Knapp. made the optimistic pre-
diction at the annual Dime
meeting of the Washington
Building Congress at the May
flower Hotel last night.
! He headed a group of speak
ers centering their attention OF
plans for raZing slums and re-
building the Southwest area cas-
of South Capitol street and be.
tween Independence avenue ant
the river.
BY next spring, Webb & Knapp
is to submit a firm proposal fol
buying land that will be cleared
of existing structures and puttins
up new business, cultural anc
residential buildings.
Subsidy Issue Raised.
A question-answer session or
the project sailed along smoothly
until Mr.. Zeckendorf was asked
why taxpayers should "subsidize'
a development that would com.
pete with existing Office buildings
and businesses elsewhere in the
city.
The New Yorker said he ere
sented the implication of sub
Sidy." and added:
I'VE are seeking no subsidy
We seek to escape no real estate
taxes and we expect to pay a fan
value for the land. 1t won't en-
danger existing investments but
it should diminish the burden or
those who now pay the taxes
In answer to another question
John r. Searles, jr.. District Re-
development Land Agency chief
said Federal defense officials
have agreed to go along with a
bill authorizing new Government
buildings in the Southwest to
replace Washington's eyesore
tempos.
Bill to Come Up Again.
Such a bill was backed in the
last session Of Congress by Rep
resentative Auchincloss, Republi-
can, of New Jersey and is sure to
be re-introduced next year.
Mr.. Searles said Defense Mo-
bilizer Arthur S. Fleming has
notified House committee Fed
eEal ofEictals have no objection to
the Auchincloss proposal. The
bill would permit the Govern
ment to buy the buildings on
long-term rental leases with
builders. ~,
The reported positionais impor-
tant because some Federal Off
cials previously have ducked
taking a stand on the matter.
Last fall, Civil Defense Admins
traitor Val Peterson objected to
the big urban development be-
cause of the threat of atomic
attacks.
Mr.. Zeckendorf, who has urged
Nationwide efforts to save de-
teriorating cities, said the Wash
ington project would "shoW
urban areas are not headed for
the garbage can-that decentra-
lization of cities does not mean
destruction"
Despite Washington's beauty,
however, he contended the Capt.
tai has it's deficient side. He said
the new project would represent
"the modern side of Goth century
Americana to merge with the
classical"
1TdASCS SV-VpCAatAVhs
Braising the cooperation his
group has had from District and
Federal officials, Mr.. Zeckendorf
said the. most important step
taken so far has been apparent
agreement with city highway en-
gineers on street improvements.
This was an apparent refer
ence to a demand from the Zeck-
enderf people that the project
must contain a relatively traffic
free south mall" leading from
independence avenue to the river
and providing a monumental en-
trance to the new area.
In turn, the New Yorker's plan
was praised by Harland Barthol-
omew, chairman of the National
Capital Planning Commission:
Brig. Gen. Louis w. Prentiss,
Engineer Commissioner: Mr..
Searles, and Louis Justement,
Washington architect and author
of an earlier plan similar in
many respects to the Zecken-
dorf proposal.
Chides Bartholomew.
Mr.. Justement chided Mr..
Bartholomew because planning
commission members opposed his
plan as being too bold" and
then approved of the "even more
elaborate" Zeckendorf idea. But
he said he took it as a compli-
ment and wished the New York
ers "the best of luck"
The architect also urged a
complete review of the planning
commissions 1850 comprehensive
plan for city development before
any other projects are started,
however, and called for wide citi-
zen participation in the review.
Gen. Prentiss. in a brief talk.
said he hoped financing for the
big Southwest plan will be COM
pletely programmed on an as
sured basis" He said much will
depend on getting Congress to
play its part" in agreeing to new
Federal structures proposed for
the area.
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