Evening star., 1955-10-02
How Does City Stond
On Its Various PIons
8 RedeyeIop SIums?


The investor win build st his own
expense. and reap the financial
returns. he win pay the RIA an
nlial ground rental for the cleared
land be gets. This win help pay
on the costs, incurred hy RIA.
Bush,s Vain Effort
About two years ago the RIA
selected q Norfolk builder. Ralph
e. Bush. to handle the rebuilding
Mr.. Bush dropped out this year,
after he was unable to arrange
Federal Housing Administration In
surance on his construction nlort-
gage.
This time. the Ria board has
three bidders to choose from. Each
has submitted an attractive build-
ilag plan. An are established husi-
nsssnen who have agreed 70 meet
financial terms set BY the Govern
ment. All are anxious FOR the JOB.
The problem this poses for. the
board members. III the absence Of
any clear-cl1t basis for competitive
bidding Is pretty much one Of judg-
ment. And certainly 3 major factor
win be which one Is considered most
likely to stick with the project
through the financial and admins
trative hurdles ahead.
chonge il Plans
Already. agreement has been
reached BY Federal planners TO re-
wise original specifications. 80 that
Area b viii be an all-reside
project. So plans VIII have to be-
changed to eliminate = large retail.
shopping area originally called for.
Meanwhile, the winning bidder
win have to work out financing de-
tails with the FLA. Congress has
set up special mortgage insurance
inducements to attract redevel-
opers, but also has tied TO It numer-
lous restrictions.
In another step, Federal housing
officials win have 70 approve the
whole package.
Finally, the RIA win negotiate 4
contract with the private investor
and turn over land to him. The
first shovel may so into the ground
six months 10 = year from now.
Aside from Area ,, meanwhile.
the Ria Is moving ahead withyilve
other urban renewal projects
here.
One, called Area C-I. Is an eight
block project on the west side Of
South Capitol street. Immediately
south Of Area B.
The most samhitious--in Wash-
ington OF. anywhere Ia the Nation
is the 4OO-acre Area G. proposed
for redevelopment by William
ZeckendOrf. the New York real
estate developer and promoter.
The third involves 3 number Of
small areas tn the old part of North
west washington south Of Florida
avenue and west Of Union Station.
The fourth and NTH are two
smaller areas IN the vicinity 0f.
GeorEe Washington University and
Foggy Bottom.
Zeeksndoris Job
The zeckendorf arm has been
working for 10 months with FILA,
District and Federal olIicials on the
gigantic Area G project. At the
November meeting of the planning
commission. officials hope for APP
proval Of 3 land use plan q general
layout Of streets and buildings ap-
proved tentatively last month.
This plan then win have to b.
reduced 10 written specifications.
detailing the types Of housing. cona-
mercial. park. school and other.
development there viii be IN the
area. When this is approved, the
zeckend0rf project viii be about
where Area B was three years ago.
Area B. however: is still teaching
officials the right and wrong ways
to 90 about redegeIopment. It's de-
gree Of success viii do more than
anything else to determine what
happens TO other rundown areas of
the Capital.