City May Review Donnelly Project

Cambridge will petition the Federal Government for an extension of the February 28 deadline for Urban Renewal action in the City, Mayor Edward A. Crane '35, told the CRIMSON yesterday.

Unless the petition is accepted Federal books will be closed on the Donnelly Field, Houghton and Cambridge-port renewal projects and their $20 million Federal appropriation. "Once the books are closed you sometimes have a very difficult time reopening them," Crane said.

However, no official action has yet been taken by Cambridge authorities and according to Paul J. Frank, acting director of the Cambridge Urban Redevelopment Authority, "I am proceeding on the basis that our accounts on the three projects will be closed on February 28." The only present function of the Authority is to complete the small-scale Riverview Project across from the Mount Auburn Hospital.

Work on the three major urban renewal projects in Cambridge was halted last June when the City Council reversed its position and vetoed the Donnelly projects on the grounds that it would displace over 200 families. Mayor Crane and three other Council members were on the losing side of that 5-4 vote, after Councillor Pearl K. Wise had switched her earlier vote.

Hopes for Renewal

In applying for an extension of the Federal deadline Crane said, "I hope the books can be kept open so we can reactivate the three redevelopment plans when and if there are revised plans acceptable to a majority of the City Council." Crane said he was optimistic about the eventual reactivisation of urban renewal in Cambridge and on the chances for extension of the Federal deadline, "since it would involve no additional Federal expenditures."

Revised Donnelly Field Project

Crane also said that within the next month the Council will consider a "revised Donnelly Field project which would try to beef up the neighborhood as far as neighborhood approval would permit." The new plan would initially focus on the Wellington School and the junk yard in the Donnelly area, both of which Crane termed "eyesores."

All of the Council members would say they are in favor of urban redevelopment," said Crane, "but the distinction is on the type."

Crane added, "The romance goes out of renewal when you get into the relocation of families."