Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1960-03-06

OChOAoA w b4NoOO OPSA oOOA
alone, and that the best inter-
estS of the community can be
served by turning it into an
urban renewal project.
On the other side are the
private business interests-Sup-
ported officially by the Metro
politan Washington Board of
Trade-who contend that urban
renewal is unnecessary and that
it would unfairly defeat their
efforts over the last 10 years
to assemble large tracts of land
for private development.
Oppose ''Piecemeal" Building
The area in question is the
Columbia Plaza project, first
proposed by the National Capt.
tai Planning Commission and
District Redevelopment Land
Agency last November. The
project area is bounded by Vir-
GINA avenue and E street and
Twenty-third street and the
proposed Innerloop Freeway.
William Finley, director Of
the planning commission, said
the plan was conceived to pro-
vide for unified" development
of the area, as opposed tc
"piecemeal' building of apart.
ment or Office buildings by
private developers.
1--WE saw an opportunity
after the location of the freeway
was set to use this land in 6
manner which would enhanc'
the overall development and
complement the National Cul.
tural Center, approaches to the
Theodore Roosevelt Bridge and
the Lincoln Memorial" he said
Sees Aid to Housing
There is also the considera.
tion," he added, "of providing
more residential units near the
heart Of the city. This Is ar
opportunity to bring more
middle and high-income fami-
lies into the city"
Mr.. Finley said there is q
desperate need" to include a
large number Of off-street
parking spaces for the area.
The redevelopment plan calls
for $500 parking spaces in a
garage under the plaza. This
would provide about 700 more
spaces than required for the
800 apartment, hotel and row
house units in the develop
ment.
These additional spaces
could be used by spectators at
tending events at the new
George Washington University
field house, State Department
employees or patrons Of the
Cultural Center" Mr.. Finley
explained.
Developers State Views
Opposed to this plan are
D. F. Antonelli and Kingdom
Gould, jr., who own about 2.5
acres or IL per cent of the
land in the proposed redevel-
opment area. This does not
include land dedicated for
streets, alleys or highways.
1--WE already have two apart
ment buildings in excess OF
500 units on the drawing
board" said Mr.. Gould. I'VE
will build under either R-5D
(high density apartments) OF
SP (high density apartments
and limited Office use).
Mr.. Gould and Mr.. Antonell
own also most of the triangular
block just east Of the Columbis
Plaza project area.
"Mr. Finley encouraged us Il
expand our holdings in thii
square," said Mr.. Gould. "Aftel
we had purchased most of thu
land in the block, we couldn'
get it rezoned for an Office
building. Yet, the planning
commission supported a bill
which authorizes condemnation
Of the square and construction
Of an Office building for a Par
American health organization.
Calls Move 'Perversion"
Concerning the project area
Mr.. Gould said he thinks it i!
q "perversion of the law tt
allow the RIA to come in wher
the area is not q slum.
Even If it were," he added
"the present owners are ready
to redevelop it."
Mr.. Gould said he does moi
believe the District Redevelop.
ment Land Agency was con.
ceived to create luxury hous.
ing.
ut. seems to me the RLl
has plenty Of areas which neec
slum clearance" he said.
Replying to the argument
that a unified development
would be in the best interest.
OF the city, Mr.. Gould said:
MIR. Finley undoubtedly ha.
good taste, but so do we.
don't think everything in the
city should be dominated BY
one kind Of architecture. What
makes a city interesting is 6
variety Of architecture provided
under private enterprise"
Mr.. Gould said he is opposed
to condemnation Of his lane
for other than financial reas.
ons.
I'VE probably would make
out better under condemna.
tion," he said. I'VE could TAKE
any profit and reinvest it with.
In one year tax free"
Mr.. Gould thus raised the
one feature in the proposed
Columbia Plaza plan which i,
different from the slum clear.
ance program now underway ir
Southwest Washington.
The planning commission anc