Evening star., 1955-02-25
Time Limit SET
By zeckendor
For Accord
Gives UItimutum
In Controversial
Southwest Issues

William Zeckendorf laid down
a firm ultimatum yesterday on
his continued participation in
Southwest Washington rede-.
velopment proposals and accused
Federal planners of having o
silly pride of authorship" in
the project.
The outburst was the first
strong display Of feeling voiced
by the head of the New York
firm of Webb & Knapp since the
National Capital Planning Com
mission tentatively approved q
plan conflicting with the Zecken-
dorf ideas.
The ultimatum was that the
Zeckendorf firm will drop its
interest in the Southwest If,
during this session of Congress-"
it fails to get:
/. A mutually acceptable solu-
ton with the planners over how
traffic should be handled in the
redeveloped area.
2. Legislation approved by
Congress to provide for the con-
struction Of new Federal build
ings in the Southwest to replace
existing Government tempos..
Aides Hopeful of Accord.
Ironically. Webb & Knapp Of
ficials were holding the latest
in an intensive series of meet
ings with the planners to try
to work out a solution when
Mr.. zeckendorf made his state
ment. officials of the firm are
still hopeful agreement will be
reached.
Mr.. Zeckendorf spoke at an in-
formal luncheon called by Harry
M. Davidow, executive vice
president of the Hecht Co., to
discuss an exposition Of the
future" to be held in Hecht's
downtown store starting May l.
The two-week-long exhibit will
include a number of develop
ment plans proposed for the
Capital, and Mr.. Zeckendorf was
asked if he would participate
with o model of his plan.
The New Yorker said that, in
view of the present confused
situation" he did not think the
$4,000 such model would cost
would be warranted.
Mall Idea in Dispute.
Basis for Webb & Knapp's
differences with the planning
commission is a Zeckendorf pro-
posal that q monumental south
mall" be built along the line
of Tenth street S.W. to serve az
a non-through- traffic entry to
the Southwest. The planners
came up with an alternate
scheme that the proposed mall
be built on Ninth street S.W.
and that Tenth street be devoted
to through-traffic routes. D
Mr.. zeckendorf yesterday told
the luncheon group, including
the District Commissioners and
Redevelopment Land Agency OFF,
cials. he would not hesitate" to
put $4,000 into a new model, II
it would contribute to research
that would do some good"
He took the position, however.
that there is no way at the mo-
ment to tell whether a model
prepared now would have any
validity by the time of the May
exposition.
Expects Settlement.
Re that time, he said, he ex-
pected issues to be settled in one
way or another.
If the project is to be con-
trolled by bureaucratic led
tape, silly and unwise pride of
authorship and personalities" he
said. it "is no place for real
estate man"
The planning commission, he
said, lis apparently interested in
its own ideas only"
The Tenth street mall con.
cept was outlined by Webb 81
Knapp more than a year ago as
the one indispensable, part Of
the firms ambitious redevelop-
ment proposal.
The firm is to present COM
ments on the planning commis-
sion's alternate idea at a com.
mission meeting next Thursday.
While Webb & Knapp officials
insisted they are optimistic that
a solution can be worked out, it
was understood they will not go
along with the plan to switch
the mall to Ninth street.
Presented by Wirth.
The Ninth street plan was pre-
sented to the planners last month
by a committee headed by Con-
rad L. Wirth. National Park
Service chief. 1t ran into stiff
opposition, but a majority Of
commission members voted "ten-
tative approval"
Col. Thomas A. Lane, District
Commissioner, a mem
ber of the planning commission,
opposed the approval on the
grounds that not enough traffic
data has been gathered to act
on what is essentially a traffic
plan.
The basic traffic data is being
gathered by consultants, who are
expected to report in about q
week. The consultafts are draw
Ing UP plans for the Southwest
IF street, freeway. a major
traffic artery which will traverse
the redevelopment area.
Eieanhnunv uae Welt