Evening star., 1961-11-15
Alexandra Council Action
Advances Renewal Plans
BY JACK KELSO
star staff Writer

The Alexandria City Council
has taken an important step
toward face lifting the down.
town area.
After a public hearing last
night, the council formally re-
ceived the Gadsby urban re-
newal plan for a 24-block
downtown area and sent it to
1.-THE planning commission for
| finishing touches.
The council will act on the
plan again after it is passed
on by the planners and then
send it to the Housing and
Home Finance Agency.
After the project is finally
approved, the Alexandria Re-
development and Housing Au-
thority, acting for the city, will
acquire the buildings that are
too rundown to be restored.
These viii be removed. the
sites cleared and the land sold
to private developers. Build
Iings that can be restored will
not be removed If their owners
can rehabilitate them.
Division of Costs
The difference. between the
cost of acquiring the properties
and the resale price will be
divided between the Federal
Government and the city at a
ratio of two Federal dollars for
each city dollar.
The private developers will
draw their own plans for the
new buildings, but their plans
must conform to the, general
plan for the renewal area.
The housing agency will be
responsible for relocating fami-
lilies displaced by the redevel-
opment group.
Congress has authorized a
special Federal mortgage insur-
ance program to help finance
construction work undertaken
in renewal areas.
The council also took action
last night on the Midtown re-
newal project, which provides
for redevelopment of a Negro
residential area along Quaker
lane. The plan sets aside part
of the area for a new high
school site.
The Gadsby renewal plan,
which is aimed at Frightening
the central shopping area of
the old city, received the gen.
eral approval Of most Of the
speakers at the hearing. There
were complaints, however,
about some items.
Subject to Review
The councils approval of the
plan is subject to further re-
view of development in the
renewal area 10 assure that the
city's eighteenth century, rose
brick architecture will be main
tanned.
The Old Town Citizens AS
ISOLATION and the Alexandria
Association both urged the city
to hire q full time staff of con-
sulting architects trained in the
l"Federal" style of building
fused in the city.
Both deplored the maximum
building height of nine stories
as too great. They suggested
-four stories instead.
John Thorpe Richards, pres
ident of the Old Town Associa-
ton, also asked the council to
issue a policy statement on
what the city hopes to achieve
by the Gadsby project.
Preservation Advocated
Preservation of the historic
AlfrieRd Building at King and
Washington streets received
support from many, including
the Alexandria Association, the
Mount Vernon Chapter Of the
Daughters of the American
Revolution and Armistead L.
Boothe, representing the Al
friend family.
Mr.. Boothe called the build
ing "a symbol of Alexandria
/. the last vestige of history
at King and Washington
streets" and proposed that it
be made "the cornerstone" of
the block.
Donald Mela Of the Straw
berry Hill Citizens Association
favored the general aims Of the
renewal plan and warned that
cutting the maximum height of
buildings could reduce the clty's
tax profit by as much as $780,
900 a year.
Edward Wolff representing
the Alexandria Chamber OF
Commences committee on ur-
ban renewal. suggested that the
council divide action on the
project into two sections, resi-
Dental and commercial.
Mr.. Wolff said the residential
section of the plan should be
given priority. Then the coun.
Gil could take up the commercial
section, he said.
Merchants Seek Exception
A. Carter Whitehead repre-.
sented a group Of merchants II
the 800 block of King stree
who want to be left out of thu
renewal project to develop theil
property themselves.
Councilman Eugene w. Zim
norman asked Mr.. Whitehead
why the merchants didn't ac
five years ago. Mr.. Whitehead
replied that the area has beef
"a rats nest" and that bank
. would not have loaned none!
for the job.
Daniel Fairfax O'Flaherty, al
Alexandria attorney, asked th'
- 4-l