Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-08-25
Downtown Plan
Called Aid to
Small Firms
BY LEE FLOR
Star Staff Writer

But an analysis of relocation
problems by Downtown Progress
shows there is a way out Of the
dilemma, and that businesses
would be better off with urban
renewal than without it.
If urban renewal is not per-
mitted in downtown Washing
ton, and the area continues to
slide downhill as predicted.
says the analysis, many of
the businesses may be forced
out of existence. They will have
to relocate themselves. or exc
out a precarious existence with
declining patronage In a
blighted area. Downtown Prog
ress feels.
With urban renewal and the
expected rebirth of downtown,
about 2,059 of these businesses
will face displacement anyway.
Analyses Plan
But the staff of Downtown
Progress has analyzed this dis
placement over the expected
20-year life of the urban prof.
ect.
They have examples to show
that the rate of displacement
by urban renewal in many
cases will be no worse than
displacement by the current
pace of adjustment to a chang
ing downtown. In addition, ur-
ban renewal practices would
permit financial assistance for
displacement that would not be
under private renewal.
Downtown Progress has pro-
posed an Action Program Of
renewal for the commercial
area generally between M, Fiji
tenth and North Capitol
streets and Pennsylvania ave-
nue.. But to get Federal urban
renewal aid, Congress would
have to amend distinct legisla-
ton to permit commercial re-
newal under a national pro-
gram authorized by Congress
10 years ago.
Representative Dowdy, Dem
ocrat of Texas and chairman
of a subcommittee that has
been investigating urban re-
newal in the District, said Fri
day that the future Of small
businesses was of prime con-
Germ for Congress.
Cite Southwest
Witnesses have testified that
40 per cent of the small bust
nesSes in the Southwest urban
renewal program were put out
of operation because Of the
shock of displacement, Mr..
Dowdy said.
THE big businesses are
healthy, and can take care Of
themselves. I'm concerned
about the little people and
their relocation fate in down.
town." Mr.. Dowdy declared.
The person who has the
most to gain from this is the
small businessman. if down.
town rebuilds," replied Robert
H. Levi.
Mr.. Levi, president Of the
Hecht Company and vice pres
ident of Downtown Progress.
defined in testimony the dill
emma over displacement this
way:
g. The problems Of deter
/ ioration in the central city Of
Washington are similar to the
problems which the other major
cities of our Nation face.
Vacancies create more vacan-
cieS, blight feeds on blight.
Without urban renewal, re-
location often is more than the
small businessman can handle
and this is true whether reloca-
ton is required by loss of down.
town business or by normal dis
placement under open market
conditions.
Seen as Helpless
Without urban renewal the
small businessman in these cir
cumstances is often helpless.
THE financially strong may
push around the weak"
But with urban renewal.
moving expenses Of those dis
| placed can be paid and their
relocation problems eased in
other reSects." Mr.. Levi said.
| In a downtown urban re-
newal project in Baltimore.
Charles Center, 8S per cent of
the businesses have been sue
cessfully relocated so far. he
said.
With the testimony, Down.
town Progress officials in
cluded copies Of staff analy-
sis by Robert B. Whittlesey.
Several examples or yard
sticks for comparison with dis
placement under usual build
ing development or voluntary
choice were listed.
In a l2-block area around
Farragut Square, As new build
ings or garages have been built
or started in the last l6 years.
These have displaced lot re
tailers, $50 other businesses,
l8 parking lots, and l2l resi-
Dental units.
The average annual rate OF
business relocations from four
older office buildings was Is
per cent year. But the esti-
mated annual rate of business
relocations for the construction
of new buildings in the down.
town rehabilitation program is
1903, or only 2 per cent Of the