Evening star., 1955-01-14

be tightly integrated so as to
achieve maximum benefit for ur-
ban renewal within the range of
needs which must be served by
the public works program.
Staff Needs Noted.
A 10-year program will require
adequate staff to carry out the
extensive public activities in
volved in this undertaking on an
orderly and efficient basis. Given
property scheduling and organ-
ization, the staff requirements
should not be excessive. The
Redevelopment Land Agency.
which will be the principal oper-
ating arm of the program, has
developed extensive experience
in most of the basic phases Of
this program through its activi-,
ties in Southwest Washington.
The development Of effective
techniques for determining the.
feasibility of the rehabilitation Of
substandard structures will rep
resent a new staff requirement in
the handling Of the urban re-
newsl program. Likewise. the
preparation of detailed neighbor-
hood plans involving the retefl-
ton and improvement of a
substantial portion of existing
buildings will involve planning
problems different from those
presented by the Southwest Re-
development Project. Obtaining
the necessary skills for such new
functions. however. should not
present a major problem.
The staff requirements Of the
National Capital Planning Com
mission will be increased, par
ticularly for neighborhood ana
lyses to apply the standards Of
the 1850 comprehensive plan to
urban renewal areas, but these
expenses can be financed at
least in large part through the
Federal planning advances Sc
cured by the Redevelopment
Land Agency.
From the standpoint Of the
District of Columbia Govern
ment itself, some increase in staff
VIII be required. primarily for
the Office of Urban Renewal pro-
posed in this report and for the
Housing Division Of the Depart
ment Of Licenses and Inspections.
The major operating workload
will be In the Housing Division
OF the Department of Licenses
and Inspections. Utilization of
the inspection staff of that d.
vision to make the initial strrc-
tural surveys in urban renewal
areas, as has already been pro-
posed for the Northwest renewal
area, will provide a good basis
lor co-ordinating the operations
OF the housing division with
those Of the Redepelopment Land
Agency and in preparing for the
subsequent area enforcement ~
the housing code by the housing
DIVISION in accordance with the
urban renewal plans. The cost
OF making such initial SURVEYS
also can be financed through the
planning advances secured by the
Eedeyelopment Land Agency. Il
While the housing code on. /
iorcement program win un-
oouDtedly require additional staff |
IN the housing division. the cost 1
OF TINS expansion in. terms OF
the District Of Columbia budget .
would be small in relation to the |
ultimate benefits. Based on ex- |
perience in other cities, IL is safe |
TO estimate that the annual cost |
OF the expansion necessary in |
the housing division and the /
stating Of the Once OF Urban |
Renewal would not exceed $780, !
600.
Expect Congressional Help.
The feasibility Of the lo-year |
program objective emust also
assume that action will be taken |
BY Congress to increase the con.
tract authorization for capital |
grants under title Of the Hous- |
ing Act Of 1919. as amended. In |
order to meet the needs OF the !
urban renewal program nation
ally and on long-range basis,
The District Of Columbia's maxi |
mum share under, the present
$500 million contract authorizes
tion would be sufflcient only TO /
start the program. Title / limits !
the proportion Of capital grants |
available to any one State fin- |
lcludine the District Of Columbial /
to 10 per cent or $50 million, |
with 4 provision for q further /
increase Of s35 million II funds
remain available.
fThe report then continues /
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