Evening star., 1959-12-20
RENEWAL

Continued From First Page
routine purposes. The case in
point is not routine. The con-
slant and persistent delay that
has characterized the renewal
program in Southwest Wash
ington cannot, in my opinion,
be attributed to routine factors.
Everyone in this day and
age has come to expect delay as
an offspring of our ponderous
bureaucracy. But the delay and
bungling of the Southwest
project cannot be explained
away on these grounds. The
reasons for the southwest fias-
co go far beyond procedural or
organiZational obstacles.
This is why I requested the
investigation and in my think
ing. it is far removed from
mere routine
SearleS Explanation
Mr.. Searies said yesterday
that I'VE certainly didn't mean
the investigation was routine
in the sense that 1t was unim-
portant. We meant that it was
one of many surveys made OF
Government agencies by the
House Appropriations Commit
tee surveys and investigation
staff"
Mr.. Searles said he did not
know the inquiry was requested
by Mr.. Rabaut until that fact
was reported in news stories
The RIA director said the let
ter informing the agency that
an investigation would be made
was signed by Thomas Jenkins,
the investigation staff director
Mr.. SearleS said this was one
OF the reasons he did not view
ltsaS any different from other
inquiries the survey and in
vestigationS staff makes. .
Mr.. Jenkins said he had not
issued any special orders or
instructions on the RIA in
vestigation and that there was
not anything unusual about
it."
The RIA has been acquiring
property and tearing down
srnmS in the 540-acre south
west project for more than
five years. Only two privately
financed projects, the 402-unit
Capitol Park Apartments and
the new Southwest Market
Center, have been completed.
Webb & Knapp, a New York
development firm, signed a
contract with the Blake Con-
Struction Co. Friday for con-
struction of the first half of
a $4.5 million shopping center
and two elevator apartments.
MIR. Searles said that the
only land that has been "as-
sembled" or ready for develop
ment and has remained vacant
for a long period, is 25 to 30
acres in Area B. This land,
IN the G and Third streets area,
was leased to New York de-
velopers James Scheuer and
Roger Stevens.
Mid-1960 Deadline
Under their contract with
the RIA, they have until mid
1851 to build 1000 apartment
and row house units. The de-
velopers are still waiting for a
Federal Housing Administra-
tlon loan guarantee and have
not started construction. RIA
officials said if Scheuer and
Stevens do not meet the con-
tract deadline, they may have
to pay a $4,000 penalty.
Mr.. Searles pointed out that
some of the other vacant land
in Southwest is earmarked for
Federal office building con-
Struction. Cleared and being
used for parking are the sites
for Federal Office Building 8,
between Second, Third and D
streets, and FOB 10, a tract
bounded by Independence ave-
nue., Sixth and Ninth streets
S.W.
The RIA director said the
slum clearance authority plans
in the future to speed up re-
development by marketing
some land before it is actually
ready for construction, so that
the developers will be ready to
move in as soon as the land is
ready for building.
y