Evening star., 1960-12-27
Bad Timing

0OO UIISHy
It Is disappointing to read
the editorial Of December Is,
1860, entitled bad Timing"
I would hope that upon fur
ther investigation Of the true
facts Of the matter you viii
flnd that there are distinctly
two sides to this question.
Two hundred thousand dol
lars has already been appro-
priated and spent on o So
called survey Of this project
area, with little accomplish
ment, in spite Of the exag-
gerated claims Of the Adams
Morgan people. Your edi-
torial, incidentally, neglected
to state that $464. 900 is the
amount now requested for o
further survey.
I question the accuracy Of
the statement in the edi-
torial to the effect that
Charm q n Mcmillan has
produced no evidence to
support his charge that most
OF the Adams Morgan resi-.
dents want no part Of urban
renewal" In this connection,
may I point out that large
numbers Of residents and
property owners do not be-
long to the block orKaniza-
tions Of the Adams-Morgan
project and obviously did not
vote for urban renewal. The
block organizations, I con-
tend. do not represent the
majority Of residents and
property owners Of long
standing Of this area. I agree
with the observation made
by Chairman Mcmillan that
"he believes q majority of
the Adams-Morgan residents
oppose the project"
I commend Chairman Nc
MILAN. without reservation,
for the stand he is taking in
requesting that the Housing
and Home Finance Agency
hold up the planning grant
for the AdamS-M Morgan urban
renewal project until the en-.
tire District urban renewal
program is investigated.
Irene C. PiIsOn.
The editorial Of December
is. 1860. entitled: bad Tim
ing" needs some refutation.
I do not know Congress-
man Mcmillan. Based upon
what I know of urban re-
newal, however, including its
good and bad aspects, I chal-
lenge your assertion that he
Is justified in requesting
Withholding of the grant
only III he feels that the
project is wrong"
This is placing his re-
sponsibility on q personal
basis and I am sure that as
the chairman Of o very busy
and important committee, he
would resort to such action
only because Of compelling
reasons - that is - that
enough people have COM
planned about the actions of
the Commissioners, the Re-
development Land Agency
and the National Capital
Planning Commission in the
field Of urban renewal. II
this would not be enough, the
fact that two congressional
, investigations are being con-
Quoted would be sufficient
reason to tighten the reins on
the dispensers of public
monies.
AS a resident Of Lanier
place northwest, I assure you
the record will show that the
actions taken by the guiding
geniuses Of Adams-M Morgan
and the planners Of the
NCPC. insofar as they in
volved Lanier place, were
voluntary" only on the part
Of these gentlemen. At this
writing, we are faced with
the prospect of having the
south side Of 1700 Lanier
place rezoned commercial
(for parking for a few 18th
and Columbia road business
men)-all this based on an
alleged wish Of 39Tc Of non-
resident. businessmen prop
erty owners, without consid-
Grafton for 618o of the resi-
dents and/or property own
ers Of both sides Of Lanier
place. You call this planning? I?
Why not see II perhaps
Mr.. Mcmillan isn't right in
trying to apply the brakes
until the investigations are
completed and evaluated.
X. W. Patrum.