Evening star., 1955-02-03
Southwest Plan
Faces Crucial
Policy Test
~
Commission Also
Hears of Tunnel
Costs Tomorrow
By George Beyeridee

Critical policy decisions on
the Zeckendorf plan for rebuild
ing Southwest Washington
possibly affecting success of the
plan-will be considered by the
National Capital Planning Com
mission tomorrow.
At tomorrow's windup session
of the two-day commission
meeting the planners also will
hear Ole Singstad, New York
tunnel expert, estimate costs of
building a tunnel beneath the
Potomac River near Lincoln
Memorial.
The key question on the Zeck-
endorf proposal is whether the
commission will indorse the
300-foot t-wide South Mall"
which would be built along the
line of Tenth street S.W. be-
tween Independence avenue and
the Washington Channel.
William Zeckendorf, head of
the New York firm of Webb &
Knapp, actually has submitted
list Of 13 points on which he
asked general planning commits
sion concurrence to spell out in
broad terms general aims of the
redevelopment project.
Adamant on Mall.
Only one, the Tenth street
mall, is of critical Importance
Immediately. But on that point
the New Workers are adamant.
In March, 1854, when Webb
e. Knapp agreed to a one-year
study of the redevelopment pos
sibilities, officials made it clear
that the firms participation
hinged on approval of the Mall
concept. The zeckendorf people
since have repeated the condi-
tion without getting a firm re-
sponse from the planners. The
concept of the Mall is that it
would be for local Southwest
traffic only and would serve as
a dramatic entranceway to the
waterfront area.
The commission referred the
Zeckendorf Statement of prin-
ciples" to a three-man commit
tee, headed by Conrad L. Wirth,
National Park Service chief. The
committee, officials said, would
file a report as well as a plan
based on its studies. It's details
were not disclosed.
Complicated by Site Request.
One problem is that the
Smithsonian Institution three
months ago asked the commits
sion to approve a site for its
proposed national air museum
which lies directly in the path
OF the proposed Mall. The site
requested is bounded by Inde-
pendence avenue and Ninth,
Twelfth and D streets S.W.
The Wirth Committee also will
report on this request. Webb g.
Knapp officials proposed that the
air museum site be established
just east Of the Tenth street
Mall.
The cost estimates of a Poto-
mac traffic tunnel will be pre-
sented by Mr.. SingStad to help
determine whether it would be
feasible to build a tunnel instead
Of the Constitution avenue
bridge authorized by Congress.
The tunnel idea is backed by
the Federal Fine Arts Commits
sion and has the sympathy of
park and engineering groups. It
is opposed by city highway Off
cials, whose cost estimates based
on previous plans have been at
tackled by Mr.. Singstad as being
too high.
The New Yorker refused to
disclose his estimates in advance
OF the meeting, but said they
would relate to both a four-lane
and a six-lane traffic tunnel. The
bridge would have six lanes.
Subjects on Agenda.
Other subjects to come up at
tomorrow's open-door commits
sion session include:
l. A request from the District
Redevelopment Land Agency for
the planners to designate a
small. three-block southwest area
as redevelopment project inde-
pendent from the Zeckendorf
proposal. The area borders
South Capitol street south of
and would be called Project C-1.
2. A request from Chairman
Murray of the Senate Interior
Committee for deferral progress
on portion of Maryland's inter-
county belt freeway which passes
through Rock Creek Park ex-
tended. Senator Murray two
days ago introduced a joint
resolution which would ban use
of the park for such roads and
require the planning commission
to withdraw its approval of the
inter-county belt project. He
said his committee would hold
early hearings on the contro-
versy.
8. Formal affirmation of a
commission action taken by
mail vote which grant rights-of-
way to Maryland road builders
for projects in Bladensburg area
parks.
The commission met in execu-
tive session today to consider
other matters. mainly dealing
with land acquisition and coming
procedures.
Representative Smith