Evening star., 1954-04-27
80 Voice Views on Alexandra Project
By Moy Lou Werner

tlon TO the full council.
The committee, headed by
Vice Mayor Leroy Bendheim
heard conflicting opinions at
the hearing it conducted last
night.
The plan was drafted by the
Alexandria Redevelopment and
Housing Authority, with the help
of Harrison, Ballard and Allen,
New York consultants. It pro-
poses commercial redevelopment
Of more than six acres of pre-
dominantly Slum dwellings in an
area bounded generally by King,
Duke. Peyton and West streets.
If the plan is approved by the
council, the housing authority
would acquire all property within
the project area, clear it and re-
sell it for private commercial
redevelopment. The city and
Federal Government would share
the cost of buying up the
property, under Federal slum
clearance legislation.
Opposed and Supported.
Opposition and support came
from various sources.
A majority of those who OBJ
Jected live in the area. They
questioned the moral right to
move people from their homes
for the commercial benefit of
some one else. Richard S. Luc-
kett. attorney for IL residents
within the area, attacked the
legal right and promised to fight
the plan in court if necessary.
Other foes were businessmen
with stores in another section of
the city. They frankly feared
the competition and suggested
that commercial development
should be left to private enter
prise.
Then there were commercial
owners and tenants in the pro-
ject area who wondered why
some commercial properties were
exempted and others were not.
Business Stressed.
Support came from the hous-
ing authority. from the League
of Women Voters and from
businessmen located near the
project area. Officials of the
housing authority stressed that
Alexandria needs business. They
attempted to assure property
owners within the project area
that fair priceS-baSed on COM
mercial values-would be paid.
The hearing lasted four hours,
and about 80 spoke. Speeches
pro and con were punctuated
with loud bursts of applause. and
shouts of amen" Here is what
some had to say:
Winder Harris, member of the
housing authority-Alexandria' s
purchasing power is going into
Washington and into suburban
shopping centers. Something
must be done. We hope and be-
lieve this new shopping center
would draw from miles around
create a growing tide of trade.
Few, if any, would be hurt. The
city would benefit.
Richard S. Marshall, execu-
tive director of the housing
authority-We propose to pay
the people commercial prices for
their homes because the property
already is zoned commercial. The
families will be assisted in find
ing new homes.
Richard S. Luckett, attorney
for IL residents fighting the
plan-Why were some CONNER
cial properties excluded and
others included?
Frederick H. Allen, planning
consultant-It is not our policy
to take commercial property. but
in some cases we couldn't avoid
it.
Edwin C. Brown, attorney
representing group Of colored
residents-My people would have
a hard time finding new homes.
They can't get into public hous-
ing If they have good incomes.
and there aren't many homes
available that colofed people
can buy.
James HALL rent a house on
Prince street. I've been looking
for a place to move for 20 years.
but can't afford it.
Goodman Rubin-If you were
going to build houses it would
be a different thing.
The Rev. Moses Beasley, pas
tor of Shiloh Baptist Church
A woman in my parish is blind.
She owns her own home in this
area. Would she get enough to
live comfortably the rest of her
life?
F. HI. FannOn, member of the
housing authority - Certainly
she would be eligible to live in
one of the public housing prof.
ects at a very low rate.
James A. BOden, resident of
226 South West street-What do
you call slum property?
Robert Warren-I'm in busi-
ness in this area. Will you find
commercial property owners and
tenants new locations - good
ones?
Mr.. Marshall-No. You'll have
to find them yourselves.
Ed Scotia, representing Ben
dali Pontiac located near the pro-
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