Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-01-08
Two Firms Plan
Shop Centers
In Alexandra
Projects Mile Apart
To Cost $50 Million
And $l2 Million
BY PAUL HOPE

Plans have been disclosed by
two real estate men for multi
million dollar regional shopping
centerS within mile of each
other on Shirley highway in
Alexandria.
Mark Winkler, Washington
real estate man, said today his
firm and the firm of Webb g.
Knapp Inc, of New York and
Washington. are planning a $50
million center on the Winkler
tract at Shirley highway and
Seminary road. He has said for
several years that he planned
a big shopping center on the
tract, but today he detailed plans
for the development.
Omer L. Hirst, Fairfax County
real estate man and a member
of the Virginia House of Dele
gates, plans to ask commercial
coming Thursday for a tract at
Shirley highway and Duke street
for a $l2 million center.
The Winkler proposal would
dwarf the new Seven Corners
shopping center in Fairfax
County. Mr.. Hirst's plans dis
closed yesterday are for a center
about the same size as Seven
Corners.
Possible Race Seen
The possibility of a race to
construct the first development
shaped up as both promoters ex-
pressed doubt the area would
presently support two centers
the size of those proposed.
If both were built, it would
mean a major shopping area
would be located at nearly all
the traffic interchanges on Shir-
LEY highway out to the Spring.
Ifield-Franconia overpaSs.
Either or both of the centers
would give Alexandria tax reve-
nues a tremendous boost, Mr..
Hirst estimated his center would
do $50 million to $40 million
worth of business year. Alex
andria's present business volume
is about $3.50 million year.
Mr.. Winkler said his center
would be among the largest in
the Country. The Webb g.
Knapp firm is controlled by Will
liam Zeckendorf of New York,
who has planned the develop
ment of Southwest Washington.
The firm also has designed sew
eral large shopping centers in
the East, Mr.. Winkler said.
Mr.. Winkler said plans are
progressing and that the firm
definitely will build the center.
He said he is negotiating with
the Hecht Co., to occupy the
largest department store planned
in his project. The other small
Washington department stores
are interested in the center,
which would have two depart
Iment stores and so smaller
shops, he said.
Now Zoned Commercial
The Winkler land already is
zoned commercial. The first
phase of the center. Mr.. Winkler
said, would be on 100 acres at the
southwest corner of the inter-
section. He SAID this would cost
at least $50 million. Another so
acres adjacent would be Gevel-
Ioped later, he said. About $500
parking spaces would be pro-
vided.
Mr.. Hirst's 47-acre tract is on
the northeast corner of Shirley
highway and Duke street. A re-
cent city planning department
report said the site is ideal for a
regional shopping center. 1T is
now zoned for apartment devel-
opment. Mr.. Hirst said he does
not now have title to the land
but has had an agreement since
1855 to purchase the tract when
he is ready to develop it.
He said his plans call for
building 100000 to 100000 feet
of floor space, about the size of
the Seven Corners center, but
with about double the parking
space of Seven Corners. He said
he has been negotiating with
Washington department store Of
Ificials and feels certain he will
get definite leasing commitments
once the tract is rezoned. He
said the center probably will have
one large department store or two
smaller ones. plus smaller shops.
The rezoning application goes
before the planning commission
on Thursday, and the City Coun-
Icil, on January 30.