Evening star., 1960-07-28
Adoms-Moreon
Project Louded
And Criticized
BY GEORGE WILSON
Star STAFF Writer

Building, the supporters asked
the Commissioners to approve
the boundaries of the Adams
Morgan urban renewal project
so that application for Federal
money could be made.
The AdamS-Morgan project
is bounded by Sixteenth street,
Columbia road, Ontario road,
Lanier place, Calvert street,
Rock Greek Park, Connecticut
avenue, Florida avenue and U
street. The plan is to fix up
most of that 300-acre area and
raze only portions of it.
Cites Point at Issue
Donald Gartenhaus, chair
man of the Adams Morgan
Citizens Planning Committee,
said "the real point at issue is
whether the fine work which has
been started in our community
will be given the assistance it
needs to complete a final defini-
tive plan for restoring our
neighborhood or whether our
sincere efforts to cooperate
with the District government
have been, in fact, a waste of
long hours of serious delibera-
ton"
Mr.. Gartenhaus stated that
q of the 25 citizens groups or
ganized on a block -by-block
basis voted to develop the
whole area under the urban re-
neWal program. He said the
citizens inspired request for
urban renewal help was un-
precedented and should not be
ignored or delayed by failure
of the District Commissioners
to approve the project boun-
darieS.
Endorsement of the Adams
Morgan venture came from
the National Capital Planning
Commission and the Redevel-
opment Land Agency, the
bodies which would do most of
the urban renewal work in the
Adams-Morgan area.
Called Priceless Asset
Gordon E. Howard, acting
executive director of the RIA,
said the citizen participation
was "a priceless asset" and
added that his agency was
particularly interested" in the
possibilities of a rehabilitation
project as opposed to a demoli-
ton one.
Sidney F. Faber, representing
the businessmen at Eighteenth
and Columbia road NV, said
only the Governments urban
renewal powers could cure the
Ills OF the ailing businesses
there.
Don't slow up progress now"
he said.
Other Endorsements came
from the Washington chapters
OF the American Institute of
Architects, League of Women
Voters and the Washington
Housing Association.
Vigorous opposition to ap-
proving the boundaries of the
Adams Morgan project came
from w. K. Norwood. preSi-
dent Of the Federation of Citi-
zenS Associations. He called
for a more realistic survey" of
the area before the renewal
machinery went into motion
and limiting public redevelop-
ment to specific areas only.
Realistic Approach Urged
Mr.. Norwood said spending
Federal urban renewal money
in the Kalorama Triangle area
would be- "unjustifiable." He
said the approach should be
more realistic and less idealiS-
tic Several individuals pro-
tested the proposal to place a
parking lot on the south side of
Lanier place NV, a street
which runs behind a block of
stores.
John H. Haas. general sccre-
tary of Metropolitan Associa-
ton of General Improvement
Contractors. called the Adams
Morgan project impractical.
Instead of making it an over
all urban renewal project. Mr..
Haas said the area should be
attacked separately as a busi-
ness and residential problem.
Commissioners Absent
None of the District Com
mlSSlonerS attended the hear
ing. But incoming Engineer
Commissioner Frederick Clarke
was in the audience. Assistant
Engineer Commissioner ThOm-
as K. Fullerton, chairman of
the hearing, said the verbatum
record of the hearing would be
studied by the Commissioners.
Col. Fullerton said there was
nothing unprecedented about
the hearing beng held With
out the Commissioners them
selves on hand.
If the District Commissioners
approve the boundaries Of the
Adams Morgan project. the
RIA will apply for Federal
money to work out a plan for
redeveloping the area. The
plan itself, expected to be
ready late next year, if the ap-
plication is approved, would be
subject to public hearing and
approval by the District Com
nissioners and National Capital
Planning Commission.