Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-06-20
Alexandra Sets
Final Hedringon
Housing Issue
Council to Decide
On RedeveIopment
Of SIum Area

vi NSQSVSIOPWSHI
Of SIum Area
The Alexandria City Council
plans to decide the fate of a
proposed commercial redevelop-
ment project after a public hear
ing at 7:30 pm. tomorrow In
George Washington High School
auditorium.
Tomorrow's hearing has been
announced as the final one, and
the council has agreed to take a
vote on the controversial plan as
soon as the hearing is ended.
The plan, recommended by the
Alexandria Redevelopment and
Housing Authority, proposes
commercial redevelopment of
11.63 acres of predominently
slum dwellings between King,
Duke, Payne and Peyton streets.
Property within the area would
be acquired by the housing auth
ority and resold for private COM
mercial redevelopment. The de-
veloper would have to abide by
the authority's wishes.
$4,000 Deficit Indicated.
Preliminary plans indicate a
deficit of $40 900 will be incurred
by the housing authority in buy
ing the project area, clearing it
and reselling it. Two-thirds of
the deficit would be paid by the
Federal Government as an out
right grant and the remaining
$4,000 would be the city'S obi
cation. The city, however, would
receive a $4,000 credit for
municipal Improvements in the
project area, leaving $4,000
cash to be put up by the city
payable two years after the pro-
ject starts or payable in three
equal yearly installmentS.
Aim of the plan is two-fold-
rid the city of many sub-Stand-
ard homes, and provide bright
new downtown shopping center
to compete with the many SUBJ
urban shopping districts that
have been drawing business
away from old Alexandria in
recent years.
The plan has a long list of
citizens on its side, including
Vice Mayor Leroy Bendheim and
former vice mayor Albert A.
Smoot, who is chairman of a
citizens committee supporting
the project.
Poll FavOrs Project.
The council housing commit
tee headed by Mr.. Bendheim
gave the plan its stamp of ap-
proval after the first public hear
ing on the subject. A poll con-
Quoted by the Chamber of Com
merce turned out in favor of
the project.
An equally impressive list of
opponents is lined up against
the idea, including Mayor Mar
shall j. Beverley. A group of
merchants in the lower King
street area, several blocks from
the project, has retained Attor-
ney Thomas Moncure to fight it
for them. Twelve residents with
in the project area who would
have to move have Attorney
Richard S. Luckett representing
them.
Foes of the plan argue that
the project area already is zoned
commercial and private develop
ers can buy directly from the
, owners; that tax money shouldn' t
be spent for the commercial ben
eft Enthusiastically when
it means competition for tax
paying merchants elsewhere who
fear they would lose business;
that the pattern of Alexandria S
commercial future already is es-
tablished with the growing num-
Der of large businesses along
Washington street.
Church Attacks Plan.
Even some religious interven-
ton has been encountered in the
long-bitter fight over the project.
Included in the area are some
is pieces of property belonging
to the Society of st. Vincent de
Paul, a charity organization af-
filiated with st. Mary'S Catholic
Church in Alexandria. The Very
Rev. MSgr. Edward L. Stephens
wrote a letter to Mayor Beverley
denouncing the whole idea. He
claimed the city had enough
police powers and sanitary laws
to make owners of Sub-Standard
dwellings come up to proper
standards without resorting to
the redevelopment plan.
Spokesman for the authority
have replied to these criticisms
by saying that unless the rede-
development plan goes through,
the area will deteriorate. Own
ers of residential property in a
commercial area are reluctant to
make improvements and pros
pective private buyers of a large
size tract are discouraged by the
difficulties of acquiring so many
pieces of property. the plans sup
porters say.
Members of Council admit it
Is the toughest decision they have
faced. Mayor Beverley and
Councilman James M. Duncan
jr., are the only two who have
come out definitely opposed tc
the idea. Councilman John