Evening star., 1955-01-16
Experts Plan
ToCIear SIunns
Gains Support
Keith-Rouse System
IS Close to District
Ideas. Seurles Suys


the mechanics proposed BY cons
sultants for the progressive re-
moval Of slums in II big District
urban renewal areas.
John n. Searles. jr.. District
Redevelopment Land Agency di-
rector. said procedures being
worked up BY his Office closely
parallel those proposed by Con-
sultants Nathaniel s. Keith and
James w. Rouse in a report they
submitted to the District Com
missioners Friday.
The report was intended to
detail a vigorous official and
private campaign aimed at rid
ding the city Of slums within
the next 10 years.
It proposed that II specific
areas. containing the city's
highest concentrations Of slums.
be designated as official ''re-
newap projects. Unlike WASH
ington's southwest redevelop-
r1ent projects. where vast areas
are to be completely cleared and
rebuilt. the attack in the other
parts Of the city would take
many forms.
May Need New Facilities.
In the worst parts Of the other
renewal" areas. the drastic re-
development weapon would be
used. But in other parts Of the
areas, renovatiofls and improves
ments. or the provision Of new
recreation, park and shopping
areas might be the only things
needed.
In other sections Of the city.
not blighted enough to demand
area-wide renewal" treatment,
the consultants feel vigorous en-
forcement Of a new housing code
and other police-power regula-
tions will be sufiicient to wipe
out "spotty" defects.
To do the city-wide job, the
consultants proposed greatly ex-
panded administrative machtn-
cry, centralized efforts between
all official and citizen groups.
and broad participation by pri-
vate builders and investors.
After an extensive review
and possible revisions the COM
missioners are expected to adopt
the report as Washington's Of
fetal workable program" for
the slum war. Under the new
Housing Act Of 1854, such pro-
grams Of general guidance, poll
icy and ability must be adopted
before cities can qualify for
Federal aid.
I'd Precinct Comes First. g
But if the report Is q general
guide, how would renewal" ac-
tually work in each area? Who
would decide what parts Of each
area have to 60 and what parts
could be saved? Which agencies
would be responsible for what
lob?
The Rouse-Keith report an.
swered these questions In pro-
posed sequence of steps, To be
followed in the northwest I'd
police precinct area. already
agreed upon as the first to un-
dergo urban renewal"
The Redevelopment Land
Agency already has applied for
81, ,250,000 in Federal aid to be-
gin planning for the attack in
the 925-acre section. bounded
roughly by Fourteenth street on
the west, u street and Florida
avenue on the north. Union Sta
tion railroad tracks on the east
and K street and Massachusetts,
avenue on the south.
The area contains about 15.-
TOO dwellings. Only IA per cent
of them are owned by the people
who live in them. Thirty-siK
per cent are "dilapidated" or
have no bath or running water.
Many Of the homes can be saved.
But some must go. And many
Of the community facilities. such
rs schools, parks and shopping
areas, are BADLY deficient"
Backs Housing Code.
AS a first step, the Rouse
Keith report said. the city should
set up the new administrative
machinery 1t proposes, and
should adopt its new housing
code.
But meanwhile. 1t said, the
renewal process should get under
way Immediately in the follow
Ing three stages:
STAGE I.
1. The RIA should pay for
structural surveys" Of the entire
area to determine the general
physical condition Of buildings
and basic data on their residents.
This would be done by inspectors
assigned to the city's new Hous-
ing Division who, working in
teams. would be the same men
later TO enforce housing code
standards.
2. The National Capital Plan
ming Commission should stimuli
taneeusiy begin studies TO de-
termine natural neighborhood
boundaries" within the areaAand
recommend standards for Inn
proving each neighborhood.
A constant theme Of the con-
sttltants' report is that renewal
should develop defined neigh
borhoods, each grouped around
a school and served by all the
public facilities it needs. Since
the renewal areas DESIGNATED
are so large, the consultants
propose the attack be made on
neighborhood- neighborhood
basis.
STAGE III.
l. Definite n neighborhood d
boundaries should be set, and
each should be given a priority