Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-02-07
Planners Back
Projects Study
In Northwest
Renewal Procedure
On Sub-Areos Set;
II Decisions Asked

1 1
The National Capital Plan
ming Commission yesterday in
dorsed a procedure for the i'm
mediate, detailed study Of sew
eral small projects within the
giant 9O0-acre Northwest Ur-
ban Renewal Area.
This procedure was set UP by
the District Redevelopment
Land Agency, in view Of a new
Federal regulation saying that
planning should be completed
on current renewal projects by
May is to retain Federal urban
renewal grants.
1t will not be possible, OH
Gals feel, to complete planning
on the entire huge Northwest
project by that date. But de-
tailed planning can be COM
pleted on several "sub-areas."
along with continued planning
on the area as a whole.
Meanwhile the Washington
Real Estate Board warned that
no urban renewal of the North
west sector can be planned un-
til II questions of public policy
are answered. Among these,
Board President Edward j.
Kyle said, are the locations of
freeways. coming regulations,
size of parks, sites of Federal
buildings and realistic" re-
ports on the economic feasi-
bility of property rehabilita-
ton.
City-Wide Plan Urged
Reaction still is pouring in
from many quarters on a
tentative plan for the big
area, drawn a few months ago
by the planning COMMISSION
staff. Charles Conrad, COM
mission staff member, explained
yesterday that this plan was
entirely preliminary and that
its purpose was to stimulate
civic comments. He warned,
however, that about halt the
5000 persons in the area will
have to be relocated, regard
less of what form the final plan
takes.
Commission Chairman Har-
land Bartholomew said this
points up the need for a "city-
wide" approach to the "astro-
nomical" problem of what is to !
be done with families who must
be moved from slum areas.
On another matter, the COM
mission decided to await more
word from Maryland authorities
before reviewing the problem of f,
locating a proposed new Balti-
more Washington expressway
in the northeast part of the city.
Earlier Bid for Study
The commission earlier had
said such a route should be ,
studied within the area be-
tween Kansas avenue NV. and
Bladensburg road NE. Mary
land agencies recently ex-
pressed favor with extending
the study area further east
ward. and asked commission
support.
The Real Estate Board presi-
dent in his enumeration of
questions cited the need for de-
cisions on street closures and
widenings, school and recrea-
ton center boundaries, the /
lineup of through streets other
than freeways. public transport
tation routes and the location ,
OF business districts. ,
Mr.. Kyle's warning came in
a letter to the District Urban \
Renewal Council. He empha-
sized the information is needed [
regardless of whether the
Northwest renewal area is re-
habilltated as an entity or as
small neighborhood areas.
The renewal area in question
is bounded mainly by Four
teenth and K streets, Massa-
chusetts and Florida avenues
and Union Station.
U. S. Building Plan OK'd
On other matters, the plan 4
ming commission
/. Approved revised plans
for a large new Federal office
building to be built under the
Federal lease-purchase pro-
gram south Of Independence
avenue between Seventh and
Ninth streets NV.
2. Urged the Army Engineers ,
to consider an increase from .
Is to 20 feet in the elevation ,
OF bridge across Oxon Run
Bay as part Of the Anacostia
freeway, now under construc-
ton. The higher clearance was
asked in order to enhance the !
bays use for boating and other
recreational purposes.
a Il