Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-09-13
Downtown Razinqs
Seen for Renewal
Doyle Says Plan
Would Bring
Firms to Area
BY ROBERT J. LEWIS
Star staff Writer

RENEWAL OF downtown wash
ington would require fairly
extensive" demolition Of build
ings but no exact estimate could
be made of the extent of the
area to be RACED without a
comprehensive study, a House
District subcommittee was told
today.
Testifying on proposed leg
islation to make the downtown
business district eligible for
urban renewal treatment, Phil
A. Doyle, executive director of
the r developmen 1t Land
Agency, said redevelopment
would be scheduled to mini
mize relocation and disruption"
Mr.. Doyle told the subcom4
mittee which is studying the
legislation that after renewal
was completed there could be-
more retailers, rather than less,
as previously was suggested be-
fore this committee"
Questioned by the House Dis
trict Committees general coun-
sci, Hayden s. CARRIER. as to the
time which might be needed for
the work, Mr.. Doyle replied ac-
tivity would be carried on at
a "tolerable rate-whether is
or 20 years, I don't know"
market Forces"
The RIA official said he be-
lieved market forces would
have to determine the exact
uses of the land after renewal
began.
This would preclude the
Governments having to make
all the economic decisions" he
said.
will disposition Of land be
open so that free-enterprise
forces can operator" he was
asked by Mr.. CARRIER.
II certainly would like to see
it that way" Mr.. Doyle replied.
Today's hearing was one of a
series which began last March
as an investigation of urban re-
newal activity in Washington
in connection with pending
legislation.
The committee today also
heard three other witnesses,
two Of whom opposed the bill
currently being considered.
Backs Extension
Reuben Clark, president of
the Washington Planning and
Housing Association, said his
group supports extension of
tested urban renewal powers to
all areas Of the community"
He said his association is op-
posed however, to any legal
provision to require that land
be disposed Of on the basis of
competitive bidding.
In downtown renewal, he
said, "objectives" should in
clude provision of middle
income, low-income and public
housing"
Two other witnesses, Peter
Glickert, representing the Fed
Grafton Of Citizens Associations,
and r. v. Courtlandt Herbst,
a real estate broker, differed in
their opposition to the pending
measure, similar to one recently
passed by the Senate.
In opposing extension Of Fed
eral renewal powers to down.
town. Mr.. Herbst said the
pending bill would put the big
boys in a preferred position"
Hits Pending Bill
Speaking as chairman Of
the Federation's city planning
and coming committee, Mr..
Glickert said his organization
favored downtown renewal but
opposed the pending measure
because 1t stretches the blank
check which the present re-
newal law has given to the
Redevelopment Land Agency"
I'VE believe that urban re-
newal should have rules; that
urban renewal should repre-
sent government by law, not
government by men. Whether
benevolent or not, the RIA
represents despotism and this
despotism should not be given
more power.
I'VE believe that urban re-
newal in the District should
have rules tailored to the
unique nature Of government
In the District, regardless Of
whether the same restrictions