Evening star., 1961-01-08
Co-ordinator Urged
For Urban Renewal
-.
Stuff of RIA
Wants OfficidI
In D. c. Setup


The staff of the Redevelop-
ment Land Agency has recon-
mended to the Senate District
Committee that a civilian cor
ordinator for urban renewal
be placed in the Dist
rict Building.
The recommendation was
limited to this municipal gov
ernment COORDINATION on the
ground that any proposal for
a more drastic reorganization
should come from the District
Commissioners.
The Commissioners on Fri
day proposed to the committee
that the Redevelopment Land
Agency, which has charge Of
carrying out city urban renewal
projects, and the National Cap
ital Housing Authroity be
brought under the commission
ers' Jurisdiction. The two Fed
eral agencies would be meShed
with the city's urban renewal
machinery. The National Capt.
tai Planning Commission should
remain independent, the Com
miSSiOnerS said,
Mclaughlin Dissents
The Commissioners split 2 to
| on the proposal, with Robert
E. Mclaughlin, president of the
board, dissenting. Mr.. Nc
Laughlin sent along a minority
statement.
The city's urban renewal
program is under investigation
by the Senate District Com
mittee. A parallel inquiry is
being conducted by the Federal
City Council at the request Of
the House District Committee.
The RIA staff concept, still
subject to approval by its
board, envisions a co-ordinator
expert in public administration
rather than in the technical
tiles Of housing and urban re-
newal. This proposed back
ground is in direct contrast
to the one recommended late
last year by Commissioner
Mclaughlin when he came out
for a civilian co-ordinator Of
urban renewal.
Assistant to Lowe
Under the RIA plan, the CO.
ordinator would be a top
flight" assistant to Schuyler
Lowe, head of the Districts
Department of General Admin
istration and the closet thing
the District has to a city man
ager.
The RIA staff feels that
someone expert in urban re-
newal and housing would tend
to involve himself in various
aspects Of the city program,
rather than coordinate the
total effort among all depart
ments and agencies.
The District governments
urban renewal machinery is
now supervised by Assistant
Engineer Commissioner Thom-
as K. Fullerton, an Army colo
mel.
More Reports Coming
It was understood that the
other agencies that have been
asked to submit reports to the
Senate committee-the National
Capital Planning Commission.
the National Capital Housing
Authority and the Federal
Urban Renewal Administration
will not recommend any dras-
tic governmental change. In
stead, like RIA, they are likely
to make suggestions for improv-
ing the present machinery.
John r. SearleS, jr.. executive
director of RIA, said he was
"basically sympathetic" to the
Board of Commissioners pro-
posal. but added that it raises
very severe problems"
For one, Mr.. Searles said,
putting RIA under the District
Government would subject the
city to lawsuits resulting from
urban renewal actions and also
require Congress to axe
changes in the RIA act.
Goal Is Speed
A basic goal of the congress
Sional investigation is to find
ways to speed the urban re-
newal program here.
Meanwhile, it was learned
yesterday. that the Senate
District Committee staff feels
a lag in submitting the re-
quested information by the
District Government and some
of the urban renewal agencies
has set back the investigation
by as much as two months.
Chairman Bible mas been
considering sending letters Of
reprimand to the District Com
and the National
Capital Housing Authroity for
delays.
The committees request for
background data and recon-
mendations went out Septem-
ber more than three
ago. The commission
ers submitted some background
information December 81, fol-
lowed on Friday with the
boards proposals. The Hous-
ing Authority sent up some in
complete information four days
ago.