Evening star., 1955-02-05
PIanner Agrees
Study New
Mall Proposal
Zeckendorf Warns,
However, His Firm
May Quit Project

NiOy Obs ttVISA
William Zeckendorf has agreed
to make a detailed two-week
study of a new National Capital
Planning Commission proposal
which revises key portions of the
Zeckendorf plan for redeveloping
Southwest Washington.
But he warned fatty that If
the new Planning Commission
ideas for Southwest cannot be
reconciled with principles pro-
posed by his New York real
estate firm, 1--WE shall regretfully
be forced to withdraw" from any
interest in the redevelopment
job.
The Zeckendorf statement was
generated by a new plan for
handling traffic in Southwest.
approved tentatively by the
Planning Commission yesterday.
It moved from Tenth to Ninth
streets Southwest a park-like,
300-foot wide South Mall" pro-
posed by Mr.. Zeckendorf as the
most essential part of the re-
development plan he envisions.
Monumental-Type Link.
The concept of the South
Mall" Is that it would provide a
monumental-type link between
Southwest and the rest of the
city, serving only local traffic
and blocking out the blighting
effect of railroad tracks which
sweep across the entire South
west area.
His firm, Webb & Knapp,
consistently has held that Tenth
street is the only suitable loca-
ton for such a mall, extending
from independence avenue to
the Washington Channel. He
sought agreement on this point
in a Bitten Statement of prin-
ciples" sent to the Planning
Commission several weeks ago.
eff for any other than para
mount reasons the statement OF
principles . cannot be carried
through. then to Webb &
Knapp the redevelopment of
Southwest Washington becomes
purely academic" Mr.. zecken-
dorf asserted yesterday.
The Planning Commission vote
of tentative approval was taken
after two members, District En-
gineer Commissioner Thomas A
Lane and John A. Remon, ,n-
successfully tried to halt any ex-
preston of sentiment lmmedi-
ately on the plan.
Col. Lane said the District has
highway consultants at work on
traffic studies which may dras-
tically affect the committee
findings. He also urged that
Webb & Knapp's reaction be
awaited and contended that the
plan presupposed construction OF
a six-lane Potomac River bridge
from Reaches Run. Va.
Mail Stand Explained.
The new plan, in response
to that request, emerged from a
study by three-man commits
sion committee, composed of
Conrad L. Wirth. National Park
Service chief: Leon Zach, repre-
senting the Chief of Army Engi-
neers, and H. J. Spelman, Bu-
reau of Public Roads district en-
gineer.
The committee cited several
reasons for rejecting the Tenth
street mall. But its basic one
was that Tenth street is needed
to handle heavy traffic
which is projected to pour
through Southwest from Poto-
mac bridges and the new South
west IF street, freeway.
AC least one Key question IN
the Zeckendorf study of the new
plan, officials said, will be
whether a Ninth street mall
would permit enough space for
commercial and public buildings
near the mall.
Meanwhile, District and Plan
ming Commission officials planned
further meetings to gather more
data on southwest traffic pros
poets. The data will come main
ly from two consultants, one
hired by the District to study
the proposed Southwest freeway
and one hired by the Planning
Commission to estimate future
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