Evening star., 1962-09-13
Planners Take
initial Step
For 1,020 Units
BY LEE FLOR
Star staff Writer


today by the National Capital
Planning Commission.
The commissions approval
clears the way for the National
Capital Housing Authority to
receive funds for detailed archi-
tectural drawings and site
planning.
At a meeting today, the cornI
mission also approved a change
in the urban renewal plans IN
Southwest Washington.
The change would permit
the Government to build a Fed
eral office building across the
Tenth Street Mall along In
dependence avenue. Construc-
ton Of a TOO to 800 car garage
under the Mall for Federal of
ficials would be permitted.
The controversial question Of
the duration Of controls over
urban renewal plans was de.
bated and referred to the Fed
eral Urban Renewal Adminis-
tration. The controversy COM
Germs controls for five urban
renewal projects in the Dis
trict. -e
Louc4lheim Opposed
The commission approval OF
the five public housing sites
came after opposition by WAL
ter c. Louchheim who cues-
toned a project which would
require demolition Of 121 units.
prior to construction for $50
new units.
Frederick ]. Clarke, District
Engineer Commissioner. said
the 5 sites presented q unique
opportunity" to get public hous-
ing in general areas which
later will be slated for larger
urban renewal projects. The
location Of the sites also would
avoid too heavy concentration
Of public housing in the South
east, which civic groups have
protested.
| Walter Washington, director
Of the Housing Authority. said
the five sites were the best
combination Of vacant land
with a few dwellings that had
ever been presented by his
agency.
i Sites Listed
The sites, the type Of hous-
ing units tentatively proposed
and the type Of existing hous-
ing are:
Two hundred and eighty
units, replacing 110 existing
units in an area between
Twelfth, Thirteenth, and @
streets and Potomac avenue
Sc.
One hundred and fifty units,
replacing two existing resi-
dences, in an area between
Nv. Thirteenth and Eighteenth
streets and Montana and Bryant
avenues in NE. This would
be on a portion Of the National
Lutheran Home.
Sixty units on three blocks
of land that are now vacant,
in the area of Second, !, and
IN streets Sc.
Three hundred units on land
now vacant and owned by the
st. Vincent's Orphanage, In the
general area of Edgewood road
and Fourth and Claiming
streets NE.
Two hundred and thirty units
replacing 121 existing units be-
tween Seventh, Eighth and 8
streets and Rhode Island ave-
nue. NV.
The change in the Southwest
project would permit construc-
ton Of Federal Office Building
No. S, a structure for 1000
office workers for the Defense
Department, over Tenth street.
This proposal has been opposed
on the grounds it would block
off the views of the rest Of
the Tenth street Mall from
Independence avenue, and
would be a Chinese Wall.
Today's approval will permit
Federal officials to proceed
with architectural work. @
Tenth Street Narrowed i
The Commission also ap-
proved a change which would
narrow the width of Tenth
street from 200 to $50 feet. :
The question of the life of
controls for urban renewal
areas revolves around a prof.
ect near Union Station.
The Planning Commissions
position is that after the prof.
ect is completed. the District
Government should enforcs
very high standards for the
rebuilt neighborhood.
Gen. Clarke said the contin-
uation of controls after the
project was finished would
make future transfer or sales
Of land difficult, and would
cause duplication between StaffS
of several agencies.
Phil A. Doyle, executive dr.
rector of the Redevelopmens
Land Agency asked that the
Planning Commission and Dis
trict iron out the technicalities
concerning the life Of the plan
before in effect passing the
buck to Federal agency.
Donald Bozarth, head Of the
urban renewal planning division
of the commission, said that to
accept the District position
would be to cut the life Of the
plan from 20 to five years.