Evening star., 1955-01-14
Clearance Of SIums
Is Recommended for
1O-Year Program
Continued From First Page.1


areas. and the first to which
measures other than the drastic
area-wide redevelopment process
will be applied.
The eonsultants stressed that
renewal" as defined by the
1854 act. includes such steps as
the rehabilitation Of individual
blocks or structures. code en-
forcement and others In which
entire areas are not razed.
The consultants, in detail, pro-
posed a shake-up In slun -iight-
ing administrative machinery and
made 81 specific recommended
tions for putting their l0-year
proposal into effect.
They estimated that the total
cost of renewal In the II areas
might range between $l54 mil
lion and "an outside figure Of
5000 million. OF this, the Fed
eral Government would pay
two-thirds of the cost and the
District would pay one-third.
Virtually all, If not all, Of the
Districts share, the consultantS
said, would be paid in the form
of public improvements such as
streets, schools. public utilities,
parks and recreation areas which
would serve the new areas.
They estimated that the "re-
newed" areas, after the program
is completed, however, might
well give the city increased tax
revenues of more than 81 million
q year, so that the Districts
share would be amortized In
roughly 10 years" after compile
tion.
Additional HighIights.
Other highlights of their rec.
concentrations:
/. Responsibility for the urban
renewal program should be
vested permanently in an as
sistant Engineer Commissioner.
This job is now being done by
Assistant Engineer Commits
sioner Giles Evans. In this pro-
posal. the consultants junked
suggestions that q new civilian
post be set upI
2. That a new ONCE Of Urban
Renewal be formed. headed by
a director and adequately stated.
This complete administrative
setup might cost $500, 900 q year,
the consultants said.
8. That the existing Slum
Prevention and Rehabilitation
Committee, a steering group
made up Of officials from vari-
GUS agencies. be reconstructed as
the Urban Renewal Operations
Committee, headed by the as
sistant Engineer Commissioner
in charge OF the whole program.
4. That specific renewal func-
tions be given the new Depart
ment Of Licenses and Inspec-
tions, which the consultants re-
viewed in detail.
Propose Housing Court.
5. That all cases involving
infractions Of housing, building,
health, zoning and other laws
dealing with housing be handled
by a single judge--in essence q
housing court"
6. That the new housing code
be drafted so as ito give major
impetus to the accomplishment
Of" the renewal program.
7. That the new anti-slurn
effort be meshed closely with a
revision Of the Districts coming
ordinances. also under way now.
8. That the city officials work
closely for ALLEGATION of ade-
quate public housing units to
rehouse persons displaced from
slunl areas. National Capital
Housing Authority officials have
determined that 1.500 new units
are needed to take care of 'ini-
tial phases" Of the renewal pro-
gram.
Seek Business Support.
Q. That D private business
corporation should be formed
lin the business community" Of
the city to assure vigorous and
financially competent leader
ship" in private programs to re-
habilitate rundown dwellings.
This must have substantial
capital. between 81 and 50 mil
lion, the consultants said.
10. That the National Capital
Planning Commission should ini-
tiate immediate programs for
"neighborhood planning analy-
ses" which would assist In the
renewal program. The con-
sultants also proposed a definite
administrative procedure for
moving ahead In the northwest
and other renewal areas.
IL. That q citizens advisory
committee should be formed and
that a "neighborhood renewal
committee" should be organized
In each renewal neighborhood by
the Once Of Urban Renewal.
''Fight hight Fund.
That a Fight Blight Fund.
should be established by a non
profit. private organization. a.
BY at lease 500, 900
privately-raised, to aid low-ine-
come home owners about re-
habilitation possibilities. loans
when not available elsewhere,
and actually to develop nom
prot rental housing under finan-
cling provisions Of the new
housing act.
13. That the Commissioners
should ask Congress Immediately
10 remove the prohibition
against possible, redevelopment
In the Marshall Heights and
Barry Farms areas In southeast
washington.
IA. That the clty's urban re-