Evening star., 1960-04-03
D. c. Authority.
Over Housing,
PIonning Asked
By SAM EASTMAN
star Stan writer

urban renewal co-ordinator.
Assistant Engineer Connlis-
sioner Thomas K. Fullerton.
and qualified Endorsement from
John r. Searles. ir., Redevel-
opment Land Agency director.
Opposed to the recommenda-
ton, however. are Harland
Bartholomew, chairman of the
National Capital Planning
Commission. and James Ring.
director of the National Capital
Housing Authority - the two
other agencies involved.
Mclaughlin Stand
Commissioner Robert E. Nc
Laughlin also is known to. ia
vor the present structure for
dealing with planning, redevel-
opment and public housing
problems in Washington.
If approved by the Commis-
sioners, legislation still would
be needed before this re-
organization could be put into
effect
The idea behind the pro-
poSal, which has been sug-
gested in past years. is to set
up machinery to carry out
these related planning, redevel-
opment and housing projects
with more effectiveness and
speed. according to Col. Fuller
ton.
This authority would be
placed directly under the Board
of Commissioners.
Col. Fullerton, the city's as
.siStant engineer commissioner
for urban renewal, emphasized
that the NCPC would continue
to have its authority over Fed
Ieral projects. The Commission
Iers would take over only the
planning control for municipal
matters.
Now Independent
As presently organized. the
three agencies are independent
and more or less autonomous.
While the District Commission
ers have overall responsible
ity for urban renewal, the Re-
development Land Agency mi
tiates the projects and carries
them out.
Although the District Com
misisoners must approve urban
renewal plans and the city pays
|one-third of the cost of such
projects. members of the Re
development Land Agency
board of directors are ap-
pointed by the President.
The District Commissioners
also have review authority over
plans approved by the National
Capital Planning Commission.
but have no plfnning authority
themselves. The NCPC is a
Federal agency under sthe
Executive Department, whose
members are appointed by the
President.
The National Capital Hous-
ing Authority is a quasi-Fed-
eral agency whose board con-
sists of members representing
the Board of Commissioners
Redevelopment Land Agency.
Planning Commission, Welfare
Department and School Board
The reorganization question
formally will go before The
Board of Commissioners in the
form of a proposal form the
District League of Women Vot-
ers. The league said it is con-
cerned over "the need for LEXIS.
lative tools essential in over
coming blight and maintaining
a liveable city"
Under its proposals, a single
administrative officer With au-
thority for local planning and
urban renewal would report di-
rectly to the Commissioners.
The independent agencies
would be integrated into the
city's urban renewal program.
Searle's Stand
Mr.. Searles said it "mirht
be desirable to Consolidate
many administrative flfnc-
tions" as has been done in
other cities, including Chicago.
Norfolk and Baltimore. He
added that while "centralized
responsibility is a good thing
there is still the strong Ped
eral interest to be considered
especially in planning matters. .
He also questioned whether
citizen leadership of the inde-
pendent agencies might be
lost. -,
Mr.. Bartholomew in oppos-
ing the recommendation. said
the planning Commission
should be concerned with the
overall analysis and develop
ment Of the growth of the
city" rather than be tied up
with any specific phase of
development.
The reaction from Mr.. Ring.
of the housing authority wae