Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-02-09
New Site Suggested
For Cultural Center
Adoption Would
Mean Changes
In S.W. Plans

geSted by redevelopment officials
as a possible location for the
proposed national auditorium
and cultural center.
The area under study re-
portedly is south of the South
west IF street, expressway be-
tween Seventh street S.W. and
the Washington Channel water
front.
If selected by Congress as an
auditorium location, the site
would require changes in the
officially adopted Southwest re-
development plan, including pos
sible removal of Jefferson Junior
High School, elimination of a
block earmarked for residential
development and changes in
traffic patterns.
John r Searles, jr., Redevelop-
ment Land Agency director.
pointed out the site on a tour
of the area two days ago to a
party that included Mrs. Agnes
E. Meyer, District Auditorium
Commission chairman, and
Charles Luckman, chairman of
an architectural advisory board
to the commission.
Prefers FOggy Bottom
Mrs. Meyer said today that
she agreed her group would
consider the new idea"
She emphasized, however, that
there is mo change at all" in the
commissions position that it
definitely prefers" q site in
Foggy Bottom instead of a
Southwest location.
She said she did not consider
the area she saw to be a new
site" but rather an extension of
ia Southwest location her com.
mission had already listed as a
suitable alternate to Foggy
Bottom. That site was north
Iof the Districts F street express
way, however. and the new area
under study lies south of the
expreSsway.
The new area also lies at the
foot of a proposed South Mali"
extending from independence
avenue to Washington Channel.
Mrs. Meyer said the cultural
center in this location would
give "a meaning to the mall"
but she insisted that no firm
Endorsement to the new location
has been given by her group.
She said she was encouraged,
however. by signs of greater CO.
Operation from redevelopment
Officials than we have had in
J the past"
At Capitol Hill hearings which
ended yesterday on the audi
forum proposal, Mrs. Meyer
urged House and Senate Dis
trict subcommittees meeting
jofntly to form a study group
to iron out a decision on a
site. The subcommittee are
Expected to meet soon behind
CLOSED doors to determine a
course of action.
The Foggy Bottom location
would require a change in the
route of the Districts Inner
loop" expressway there. and
such a move is locked in con-
troversy.
ZeckendOrf Firm Concerned
Officials of the William Zeck-
endorf firm of Webb & Knapp,
meanwhile. said they were very
much concerned" over the new
proposal for an auditorium site
near the waterfront.
A waterfront location, how
ever, is one of the chief factors
which influenced the Auditori-
Ium Commissions preference for
Foggy Bottom, and repeatedly is
the reason for reminding inter-
est in the Southwest.
William l.. Slayton. chief Of
Webb g. Knapp's Washington
office. said he feared interest in
the new site might require such
substantial changes in the off,
cial redevolpment plan that the
redevelopment program could be
held up.
Webb & Knapp largely drew
the redevolpment plan. and
hopes to negotiate contracts to
rebuild much of the area.
/ Senator Morse. Democrat of
Oregon, chairman of the Joint
House Senate subcommittee,
declined to comment on his pref
erence for Site-if he has one,
"Half Century" Plea Uurged
However, he did urge that
Congress pay more attention to
the dwindling amount of de-
velopable space in the Capital
and chart a master half-cen-
fury plan" for future Federal
development.
I'VE in Congress ought to
face up to SO years ahead" he
said. ito see to it that we pre-
serve in the heart of the city
what we need for the Federal
establishment" This problem,
he said. is bound to involve con-
flicting private development
projects.
AT the same time. he said the
Federal Government should
carry more of the cost of run
ming the District, and that resi-
dents should not have to bear
as large a burden as they do.
An advocate of a larger Fed
eral payment over the last sew
eral years, Senator Morse sug-
gested it might be we'll to re-
study the Federal share formula,
perhaps extending such a study
back to 1890.
Much of the testimony yester-
day centered around whether
the Districts proposed inner
loop expressway route in Foggy