Evening star., 1957-12-30
Renewal Aid Shift
To States Is Fought
Leaders Fear
Program Would
Die in Transfer

leaders have fought for two
weeks a move in the Budget
Bureau to shift Federal urban
renewal programs to the States.
1t was learned yesterday.
Indications now are good"
that they have made their case,
according to George A. Garrett.
former ambassador to Ireland
and president of the Federal
City Council. He expected Pres
ident Eisenhower to ask Con-
gress next month to continue
Federal aid to cities combating
civic decay.
Continuance Of the program
was in question after the Presi-
dent last fall strongly advo-
Gated freeing the Federal Gov
from State and local
functions. The whole urban
program also appeared in dan.
ger after the Presidents secu-
rity speech. He warned that
some very important domestic
reforms would have to be aban-
doned entirely so that United
States could meet the chal-
lenge of Soviet advances in
scientific weapons.
Decision Called Adams
Spokesman for ACTION. a
national group dedicated to
preserving the centers Of ci-
ties. converged on Washington
when they heard Budget Bu-
reau proponents of State re-
newal financing were making
headway, Mr.. Garrett said yes
terday on the WTOP television
program, "Cityside."
They talked with high-rank-
ing White House officials and
may have reached Sherman
Adams. assistant to the Presi-
dent. who Mr.. Garrett said
made the final decision.
IF urban renewal goes back
to the States. it will die" Mr..
Garrett predicted. Under the
program. cities are able to OBJ
tain UP to two-thirds financing
for local renewal efforts.
This whole renewal pro-
gram is greater and better than
the Presidents highway pro-
gram" Mr.. Garrett added. 1T
must stay with the Federal
Government-that is the only
way it win live"
Southwest Project Cited
Both Mr.. Garrett and John
A. Remon, chairman of the
District Redevelopment Land
Agency. said on the program
that building in the Southwest
area B redevelopment project
would spur urban renewal
throughout the city.
Construction of an elevator
apartment and row houses is
scheduled to start in March,
they said. once we get this
show on the road. it will stir
imaginations and incite other
groups, particularly in the
Northwest urban renewal area,
into action" Mr.. Garrett said.
Mr.. Remon predicted a tre-
mendouS flight back from the
suburbs into Washington would
be hastened by the new city
to go up on vacant Southwest
land.
The men also said they
favored setting up a new au-
thority with power TO regulate
interjurisdictional activities in
the metropolitan area. Mr..
Garrett was optimistic that
Congress and the Maryland and
Virginia Legislatures would ap-
prove the idea. 1t would not
Supplant local governments, but
give them more power by work
ing with them. Mr.. Garrett
said.
Less Optimistic 4
Mr.. Remon warned. however,
that it would be very difficult
for the great commonwealths
Of Maryland and Virginia to
give up any of their powers.
Il am not so optimistic a.
Mr.. Garrett" the RIA chair
man said. Il have lived in
both States and know their
political situations quite we'll"
Mr.. Garrett said Federal
buildings must be centered in
Washington itself. He suggest
edo lining UP new construction
on an East Mall between the
Capitol and AnacoStia River.
Some dispersal of Govern
ment buildings was favored by
Mr.. Remon. who said enough
Federal Offices such as State.
Commerce and the Capitol
always would be in Wash.