Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-02-21
Agency toAudy
Bigger Border
For 'ProjectC
D. G. Lund Group
D. c. Lond Group
Gets Loan to Make
Southwest Survey

Southwest Survey
The District Redevelopment
Land Agency this week will con-
slider a move to expand bound
aries Of its second redevelopment
project to encompass virtually
all Of Southwest Washington.
Only area excluded from such
a move would be the so-called
Project Area B, a 76-acre tract
near South Capitol street in
which redevelopment planning
already is well under way.
The Housing and Home Fl.
nance Agency yesterday an
nounced ALLEGATION of $l32 500 in
loans to the land agency to plan
the second project, designated as
Area c. This area, containing
165 acres. is bounded by I street
on the north, Fort McNair on the
south, Maine avenue on the west
and Canal and South Capitol
streets on the east.
However, John r. Searles, jr.,
land agency director, said he
would raise at a board meeting
Wednesday the question whether
Area c should be expanded to
take in the entire Southwest
area earmarked for slum clear
ance and rebuilding.
Addition of 200 Acres.
This would involve adding to
Project c about 200 more acres
east of Twelfth street and 'front.'
ing on the Washington Channel.
Main purpose behind such q
move would be to permit a single
detailed plan to be mapped for
the whole area, even If the re-
development job were done in
stages.
This would At in well with o
proposal made public last week
by the New York firm Of Webb
g. Knapp to redevelop the South
west in compliance with a $500
million plan featuring broad
malls. cultural and entertainment
centers, Office buildings and resi-
Dental areas built for high as
well as low income residents.
Webb & Knapp called on the
Federal Government to put up
$50 million worth of improve
ments, but said the rest could DO
financed by private capital.
Want Single Overall Plan.
Officials Of the firm stressed
that their main desire was to see
a single hard-and-fast plan
adopted to set the pattern for de-
velopment in the whole area.
Land agency officials will try to
work out procedures with the
firm later this month as to what
basic agree ents must be
reached.
Whether or not the New York
plan works out, however. Mr..
Searles said he feels personally
it would be deSirab BILE to have a
single plan adopted for the en-
tire area.
Boundaries for Project c were
proposed by the National Capital
Planning Commission and app
proved by the District Commits
sioners. Both groups would have
to agree to any change.
Agreement would be needed
also from the HHFA, which all
located the new $132, 500 plan
ming loan on the basis of the
present Area c boundaries. AS
part of the same loan, HHFA
granted S38,500 for more work
in Area B.
Loan Far Below Request.
The loan, totaling $17l 900. was
far below a total of $373,000
which the land agency had re-
quested. officials said the cut
was made on grounds that it was
all the agency needed at the
present time. Most of the deleted
money would have been set aside
for a second detailed land ap-
praisal. a title search of all prop
critics and a door-to-door survey
of each property.
Generally. the planning money
will be used to get data needed
in connection with land acquisi-
ton. relocation of present resi-
dents and new public improve
mentS.
Under redevelopment, the land
agency would acquire title to all
the land, clear it and sell or
lease the land to private invest
ors for rebuilders in compliance
with the adopted plan.