Evening star., 1954-02-17
Continued From First Page.

NOOQClQueQ from c1ISG 1dScI
posal is big, even to a firm used
to doing big things.
Webb & Knapp assembled all
the land - once rundown
slaughterhouse district - for
what is now the United Nations
headquarters site in New York.
Recently, the firm purchased the
Chrysler and Graybar Buildings
in New York, and it also has ex-
tensive holdings in other cities.
Mr.. Zeckendorf said the firm has
$50 million worth of construction
under way now and is planning
the worlds largest Office building,
with 6 million square feet Of
space, in New York.
Webb & Knapp want Congress
to pick up a $50 million tab to
pay for national opera house
and national convention and
symphonic halls. These Struc-
lures would form the heart of the
cultural center-a huge pedes-
trian "L'Enfant Plaza" to music,
the theater, sidewalk cafes.
speciality shops, dance halls and
skating rinkS.
The rest of the cost, which
might amount to as much as
$500 million in all, would be
handled under the city's rede-
velopment formula.
BaSically, it provides that the
Redevelopment Land Agency use
condemnation powers to acquire
all the land and sell the land to
private investors. The difference
between the cost of acquiring the
land and what it brought from
the private investors would be
made up by Federal grants and
the District. The total cost of
rebuilding would be borne by
private capital.
Mr.. Zeckendorf stressed that
the proposal so far is only "a
schematic plan" to show what
can be done. The financing pro-
poSalS are yet to be worked out.
Outline for Project.
Here, however, is what Webb
& Knapp officials told The Star
they want to do:
Within about 80 days, enter an
agreement with the Redevelop-
ment Land Agency. Webb &
Knapp would agree to make. at
their own expense, detailed en-
gineering and economic studies
necessary before they can make a
firm proposal. This might take
from six to nine months.
From the land agency, in re-
turn, Webb g. Knapp want as
surances that, within that six-to-
nine month period. no alternate
plan will be approved involving
any other investors. They also
want an expression that the land
agency is favorable in principle
toward the plan.
The firm virtually has the lat
ter assurance already. John A.
Remon, RIA chairman. said it
is "a realistic proposal and I
see no inSurmountable obstacles
in the way of its accomplish
ment."
John R. Searles, jr., RIA di-
rector, said he also feels inclined
to recommend that Webb &
Knapp be assured that no other
plan will be pursued until the
firm completes its study.
Mr.. Searles stressed. however.
that 'the real job during the
next 80 days simply is to agree
with Webb & Knapp on what
procedures we both viii follow"
Wants to Know Prices.
He also wants to map proce-
dures for determining how much
of the vast Southwest area Mr..
Zeckendorf wants Webb & Knapp
to develop, how much they would
pay for the land they would buy
and what the programs timing
would be.
Mr.. Zeckendorf told reporters
he would want to handle develop
ment of the proposed cultural
center. the new mall, part of the
waterfront area and some of the
residential. He refused fatty to
speculate on whether he would
pay as much for the land as it
cost the Government to acquire
it
He did say, however, that he
prefers to keep the way open for
other private investors to par
ticipate widely in the program.
He emphasized that his main
interest is in getting the plan
approved by the city as a hard
and-faSt pattern for remodeling
the Southwest.
Actually. this must be done
before any commitments can be