Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-06-28
District Money
Held Unneeded
For z Projects
BY ROBERT J. LEWIS
Star Staff Writer

mlSSlonerS were told today.
Phil A. Doyle, executive d.
rector Of the Redevelopment
Land Agency, said work could
begin on both the proposed
North Capitol-West project and
the Adams Morgan project
simultaneously.
Testifying at a public hear
ing before the Commissioners,
Mr.. Doyle said new RIA esti-
mates show there would be q
sufficient surplus" left over in
non-cash grants-in-aid from
five current renewal projects to
meet the Districts share Of the
cost of the two additional
projects.
Under the law, two-thirds Of
the net cost of a project is paid
for by Federal grant and one
third must come from the Dis
trict. Local services including
streets, schools and other i'm
provements may be included as
part Of the Districts contribu-
ton.
Series Of Hearings
Along with officials of the
National Capital Planning Com
mission and the National
Capital Housing Authority, Mr..
Doyle urged the Commissioners
today to approve renewal plan
for the 95-acre North Capitol
West area.
The hearing was the first Of
a three-day series to consider
renewal plans for the Adams
Morgan and North Capitol-West
areas. both in Northwest WASH
ington.
Together, the two neighbour
hoods cover a total of 1872 acres
and have a population in excess
Of 10000 persons.
Hearings on the renewal plan
for the 237-acre Adams Morgan
area will be held Monday and
Tuesday.
Presiding at today's hear@
ing, Walter N. Tobriner, presi-
dent of the Board Of Com
missioneys, said a decision on
the North Capitol-West plan
would be announced July 10.
Good Housing Seen
Appearing as chairman Of
the Planning Commission, Mrs.
James H. Rowe, jr., told the
hearing the North Capitol
West proposal will pave the
way to providing good housing
in the part of the city where
it is most needed"
This area, a part of the
me-ridden second precinct,
is bounded by New York avenue,
New Jersey avenue, Second
street, Massachusetts, avenue
and North Capitol street.
Those Of you who know the
area within the projects boun-
daries know it as one Of the
more shameful corners Of the
city, Mrs. Rowe said.
g. Although relocation is
bound to bring heartaches and
problems to many of the fam
lilies in the area. the commits
sion felt that the increase Of
almost 800 new units in the
area was justification for the
resulting relocation problems"
she added.
Public Housing
The area would be largely
redeveloped with public and
moderate-income housing.
Appearing to urge adoption
of the plan on behalf Of the
National Capital Housing Au-
thority, Walter E. Washington.
the executive director, said his
agency had concluded the plan
holds great promise for i'm
provement Of the area"
Approval Of the District Com
missioners is needed before
either neighborhood legally
could be turned into an urban
renewal project area and thus
be brought within the juris-
diction Of the Redevelopment
Land Agency.
At present. 1855 families are
living in the North Capitol
West, OF which LOTS live in
homes or apartments to be
purchased and razed.
Under the plan as now writ
ten, use Of 24l dwellings desig-
mated for rehabilitation by
their owners would be limited
to housing for families Of mod
crate income.
In case an owner fails to
conform his properties for the
specified use. RIA would be
empowered to take over the
property, under powers Of
eminent domain. and make 1t
available 10 NCHA for use as
additional public housing on
scattered sites"
Also designated in the plan
is an additional 10 acres for
use OF the Government Printing
Office, plus land for enlarge
ment OF the sites OF the District
Police Women's Bureau. the
Terrell Junior High School and
q a a