Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-05-07
Mojor Decisions
ByOther Agencies
Declared Needed

The Redevelopment Land
Agency recommended today that
the District postpone indefinitely
any further progress on the pro-
posed l1-block Foggy Bottom
urban renewal project.
The agency determined that
Slum conditions technically quail
ify for urban renewal treatment
the area bounded by Twenty
fourth street, Pennsylvania av-
enue. the Rock Greek parkway
and Virginia avenue and H street
NV.
In a letter to the District
Commissioners, however, RIA
said it was not feasible to carry
out a renewal project there until
major planning decisions" are
made by other agencies on the
location Of big expressways which
may crisS-cross the area.
In March. 1856. the Commits
sioners ordered studies to de-
termine whether conditions
justified an urban renewal pro-
gram. A number of property
owners contended they did not.
In a report on the areas 49,
structures today, RIA said 47.3
per cent met decent housing
standards, 1872 per cent were In
fair" condition and PTS per
cent were "substandard."
Area Barely Qualities
Since Federal urban renewal
rules require projects to be at
least 20 per cent substandafd.
the Foggy Bottom area would
qualify barely. But the agency
commended that mo valid urban
renewal plan can be prepared"
until after decisions are made on
the controversial expressway
possibilities.
In other action. the RIA
Board:
l. Disclosed that it will waive
rental payments on properties
to which RIA takes title until
the Federal courts set actual
dates for RIA possession. The
agency has been bitterly at.
tackled for requiring rental pay
ments before court procedures
have permitted owners to be
paid for the property taken. In.
effect. the new decision will
waive rental payments to RIA
until the owners can get their
money in condemnation cases.
2. Agreed to rent a $500
square-foot tract in the Area B
project for Washington's first
commercial helicopter opera
ton. The tract. in the block
between Second. Third, G and H
street S.W- will be rented to the
Pilgrim Helicopter Services, Inc.
which intends to begin next
month a contract and charter
service with one helicopter.
3. Received from Webb &
Knapp. the william Zeckendorf
firm. a definite proposal to
build half of the residential
units proposed in the 442-acre
Area c Southwest project. Price
OF the land Mr.. Zeckendorf Will
pay for the development is to
be set by a panel of private
appraisers selected by RIA. -
Church Can Keep Building
4. Voted to inform the Fifth
Baptist Church that 1t can re.
tain its building at E and Sixth
and One-Half streets S.W. in
Area c. The board also said ID
would welcome an offer from the
church to buy additional lana
for expansion. -
5. Hired the engineering con-
sulting firm Of Frederick M.
Babcock to study the need and
possible future locations of the
wholesale produce center, the
farmers market and the fish
market. all Of which now are 10.
Gated in the Area C project.
Some Of the produce and mar
ket facilities will be knocked
out by the Districts Southwest
freeway, on which construction
soon is to start. Since they were
established by specific acts Of
Congress. the new study will be
to determine the city's future
need for them and possible new