Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-11-09
AREA Renewal
Plan Presented

A plan for helping a deteri-
Grating neighborhood in North
west Washington to lift itself byt
its own bootstraps was pre-
sented to the National Capital
Planning Commission yester-
day.
The area is that bounded by
Florida avenue on the south,
Sixteenth street on the east.
Irving street on the north and
Connecticut avenue and Rock |
Greek park in the west.
The plan must still be adopted
by various agencies.
Another, smaller, area In H
which less severe blighting in
fiuences are at work. also came \
before the commissions atten-
ton. This section is a IA
acre tract bounded by Macarthur 4
boulevard, Foxhall road and @ II
street NV. The planners app
proved a preliminary program |
prepared by city authorities to |
remedy the situation there.
Government Grant
It is proposed that preliminary 4
work be started with a Govern
ment grant Of $43.S00. The spon-
sor would be the District Com
missioners through the office Of
the Assistant Commissioner for
Urban Renewal.
Carrying out Of the project
would be undertaken by Ameri-
can University. with the dean Of
the school of social sciences and
public affairs as project admins
tor.
The outline of the plan de-
scribeS the era as one "charac-
terized by galloping blight" But
it said the residents of the area
have started IAN unusual pro-
gram Of family life and child de-
velopment education to-cope with
newcomers having incompatible
living standards"
Also developed has been a net
work Of block organizations to
deal with neighborhood house.
keeping problems.
To Help Residents
The project aims to help resi-.
dents. owners of rental properties
and other business interests of
the area. They would be helped
to understand the problems in
volved and how to realize the
best potentials of the neighbor-
hoods. The help of various civic
and business organizations would
be sought.
The area involved is described
as "in the main line of the cityS
highest prestige residential de-
velopment." Now. it is said. the
area is experiencing a rapid
influx of families and persons
with living standards incom-
patible with those of the older
residents. But the residents al
ready have shown resourceful-
ness and a sense Of responsibility
IN coming to grips with the
problems, the planning COM
mission was told.
The project was previously
presented to the Urban Renewal
Council.
Small Blight Pocket
The Foxhall road-MacArthur
boulevard problem is typical Of
several small blight pockets that
conceivably can be cleared up
without resort to the full urban
renewal treatment.
AS explained by Col. Robert
E. Mathe, Assistant Engineer
Commissioner Of the District,
this is section of predominantly
good housing. 1t is threatened,
however, by such influences as an
excess Of public schoolaproperty,
poor surface drainage and an
absence Of recreation facilities.
The school land, which has re-
ceived virtually no public main
tenance, over the years, has be-
come a trash receptacle. A con-
ceivable plan, Col Mathe said.
would be to develop this excess
property for recreation purposes
and crack down on present illegal
usage.
The drainage problem, caused
by the fact that the center of
the area Is lower than its fringes.
could be remedied by land fill, |
Col. Mathe explained.
The measures would be under
taken at minimum cost by city
authorities alone, he added.