Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1961-07-20
Witnesses Differ
|OnRenewaIMerqer
Smith Unit Hears
Stiff Criticism
Of Council Plan
By JOHN McKELWAY
Star Staff Writer

Lie ceuerdl ClCy COuncuS
plan to streamline urban re-
newal by placing it directly in
the hands Of the District Com
miSSioners today ran into its
stiffest criticism so far.
Hearings on the bill, drawn
up by the council after an in
veStigation of redevelopment
operations in the District, were
resumed today before a House
District subcommittee headed
by Representative Smith, DEM
ocrat of Virginia.
Mr.. Smith said he hopes to
hold one more Session-next
Thursday at 10 a.m.-before
taking action on the proposal.
One of its major provisions
would be to consolidate the Re-
development Land Agency and
the National Capital Housing
Authority in an attempt to
centralize authority.
Bisic Difference Seen
But Walter E. Washington,
executive director of the hous-
ing authority, testified today
this would "hobble the opera
tons" of both agencies.
ut is our view," he said,
that the two programs of RIA
and the NCHA are basically
different and should not arbi-
trarily be coupled"
Mr.. Washington said the
proposed consolida tion, as
spelled out in the bill, seems
to be rather vague" and lacks
an analysis of the legal and
financial questions involved.
For example. he said. the bill
does not explain the future
status of some 500 million in
bonds issued by the authority
to finance public housing.
Mr.. Washington pointed out
also that New York and Phila-
delphia. after studying a SINH
lar. proposal, did not consoli-
date, but kept the emphasis on
housing alive and strong in sep
arate housing and redevelop-
ment agencies"
He urged the committee to
enable NCHA to continue as a
separate and distinct entity"
HOrsky Backs Bill
However, Charles A. Hor-
sky, president of the Washing
ton Housing Association. testi-
fled in support of the bill. Mr..
Horsky said the present setup,
which subjects urban renewal
projects to review by a number
Of authorities, cannot be justi-
fled"
He also supported the pro-
posal in the bill which would
eliminate the veto power now
held by the National Capital
Planning Commission over
urban renewal projects.
He spoke in favor of a con-
troverSial element of the bill
which would permit the dis
posal of property in an urban
renewal area by means other
than public auction or COM
petitive bidding.
i Another witness, Harry A.
Barbour. a former consultant
to the United States Housing
Authority, charged that the bill
would relieve the Federal Gov
eminent of its responsibility
to the Nations Capital. Calling
the proposal a poor BILL" he
said the District Commissioners
could not possibly carry out
the new responsibilities for
urban renewal granted them by
the proposal.
Women Voters for Bill
But strong support for the
bill was sounded by Mrs. Rich
ard SimonSon, president of the
League of Women Voters.
Mrs. Simonson said the
league has been concerned over
the flag in redevelopment, re-
Mobilization and in prevention
of the spread of blight"
She said it is the leagues
opinion that the bill will
end the -obstructing me-
chanisms that have shackled
urban renewal efforts and give
the Capital the needed machin-
cry for vigorous and effective
action"
One witness, Byron Scott,
representing the Capitol Hill
Restoration Society, asked the
committee to prevent any Gov
ernment-sponsored renewal OF
the Capitol Hill area. He said
private enterprise can and ID
doing it without Federal as
sistance. He asked the COM
mittee for its help in keep
ing the bulldozers out Of our
section in the city"
Mr.. Smith, commented: "a
few years ago that used to be
considered a reasonable re-
quest"
HOgate's Asks Priority
Thomas s. Jackson, repre-
setting Hogate's Seafood Res
taurant, which will be moved
because Of redevelopment of
the waterfront, also testified.
He asked that the bill include
policies which will assure pri-
ority Of opportunity to COM
mercial concerns which mighe
be displaced in any future
urban renewal area.
Peter Glickert, representing
the Capitol Hill-Southeast
Citizens Association, said the
bill fails to provide for thu
name property acquisition and
for the relocation Of all per-
sons and businesses displaced
by all Government land ac-.
QUESTIONS"