Evening star., 1954-07-08
President Sees
.zeckendorfon
.SluIl1 Project
Builder Reports
Reaction Was Far
From UnfuyorubIe'

William Zeckendorf, New York
real estate man who wants to
spearhead redevelopment of
Southwest Washington, spent
about 40 minutes discussing the
proposal today with President
Eisenhower.
After a White House meeting,
the New Yorker declined to dis
cuss details Of the talk. but told
reporters the Presidents reac-
ton was far from unfavorable. !"
Mr.. Zeckendorf's firm. Webb
& Knapp, is working on q
definite proposal for the private
rebuilding Of about $50 acres
Of rundown land between In
dependence avenue and the
Washington Channel into a
show-place of residential. COM
mercial and cultural develop
ment.
Leaves Drawing of Plan.
Mr.. Zeckendorf said he sought
the White House meeting to
brief Gen. Eisenhower on the
potentials OF his proposal. He
said he left the President a
schematic drawing of the plan.
He was accompanied on the visit
by Tex McCrary, television and
radio personality, who has given
strong support to the Zecken-
dorf idea.
Mr.. Zeckendorf said the next
step" his group hoped for was
congressional passage Of a bill
introduced by Representative
Auchincloss, Republican, of New
Jersey. that would pave the way
for construction of major new
Federal buildings in the rede-
velopment area.
He obviously had discussed
the bill with the President. and
held a copy of it in his hand
as he left the White House.
The Auchincloss bill repeatedly
came in for major discussion at
an Army-Navy Club luncheon
given by Mr.. Zeckendorf yester-
day and attended by top Federal
housing officials, the District
Commissioners and District
Redevelopment Land Agency
leaders. $500.
Tied to Tempo Razing.
The bill would permit the
General Services Administration
to buy or trade land in the
Southwest area from the RIA,
and to contract for the purchase
of new Federal buildings through
50-year leases. It provides that
for every Federal building put
UP, an equivalent amount of
space in temporary buildings on
the Mall should be demolished.
The measure also contains sev-
eral other provisions which make
it more applicable to the South
west project than the general
lease-purchase bill now in House.
Senate conference.
Despite the late date, the
zeckendorf group hopes some
progress still can be made on the
bill in this session of Congress.
Mr.. Auchincloss. who heads a
House Public Works subcommit-
tee that would take up the bill,
said he has the possibility of
hearings this month 'in mind"
He said the question had not yet
been cleared with Chairman
Dondero of the full committee,
however.
Harold Riegeiman, counsel for.
the Zeckendorf firm, said the
purpose of yesterdays meeting
was to '.Sum up the present sit
uation and nail down some Of
the problems"
Bridge Proposals Discussed.
In addition to Mr.. Zeckendorf's
enthusiasm for the Auchincloss
bill. MIR. Riegelman said, the
discussion covered the effects
Of various bridge proposals" on
the redevelopment plan. This
presumably was q reference to
fears that the proposed Reaches
Run bridge would pour an inor-
dinate amount Of traffic into
the Southwest area.
Aside from the Reaches Run
proposal, the Zeckendorf group
also is concerned over District
Highway Department plans for
using Tenth street S.W. as a
major traffic artery connecting
with existing Fourteenth street
bridges. The New Yorkers want
to use Tenth street as a tree
lined mall to serve as a. grand
entrance to the rebuilt water.
front area.
A traffic consultant hired by
the New Yorkers already has
presented a tentative plan for
resolving the conflict in uses to
District highway officials. The
consultant is to meet here again
next week with Highway Direc-
tor J. N. Robertson.
HAHe AR .