The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-01-08
PURCHASE OF TRIANGLE
AS PUBLIC RESERVATION
Plat Lies on the Line of Six
teenth Street.
WOULD BENEFIT THE CITY
Need of Parks Pressing in Portions of
District Beyond Florida
Avenue.

Efforts now being made by a number
of citizens for the condemnation Of the
triangle formed by Sixteenth Street.
Mount Pleasant Street. and Kenesaw
Avenue. should receive the hearty CO.
operation Of the entire community.
While this Improvement appeals very
strongly to the citizens and property
owners in the vicinity Of the triangle re-
ferred TO, the benefits to be derived
therefrom mean m"ch more to the en-
tire city.
II Is well-known fact that neither a
park nor a triangle has vet been opened
for any rdrt of the city lying north or
northwest of Florida Avenue. 1t is TO be
deplored- that such serious mistake
SEould ever have been made Much of
the beauty of the city proper is due i'm
large measure 70 the splendid parking
system adopted many years ago. The
Falue OF many breathing places for a
large city cannot be overestimated The
vast sums already expended. and the
larger sums appropriated for the parks
and boulevards in Boston. Buffalo.
Cleveland, St Louis. aud other cities.
/ point out how important this entire
question has become to the citizens of
these municipalities
Park Is Needed.
The rapid growth of the city and the
vast improvements to be made I'm the
Northwest section demand that the sec
| tor beyond Florida Avenue shall be in
keeping with the older city. This most
conspicuous triangle. situated as ii is
upon the high ground north of the city
and commanding an extensive view OF
the Potomac River. should be reserved
1 forever as a park. thereby relieving the
monotOny Of the long rows Of houses
which are certain 10 be erected in that
| locality at no distant date. II is certain,
| too. that IL this triangle is set aside as
/ a public reservation the class OF build
/ ings to be erected about the same will
b. Of a much better class Of structures
than would otherwise be built in that
particular neighborhood-
| Every possible effort should be
made to develop the three main arteries
Of the North vest section Of the city
] namely. Massachusetts Avenue. Connec
ticut Avenue and Sixteenth Street II
these three streets ere properly develop
cd il must follow as a natural sequence
that all intersecting streets will also
/ be benefited No disapprOval has eve
been heard Of the present parking sys
| TEN. and II IS certain no protest will
| ever be filed unless the present system
IS not followed in the newer sections.
Means Greater Revenue.
The greater the development of the
streets and parks beyond Florida Ave
nue.. the greater viii be the revenue to
be derived therefrom- The increased
assessments within the next few years
viii more than pay the entire cost OF
the condemnation Of this triangle. II
seems entirely just that owing TO the
widening Of Sixteenth Street. and the
great expense incurred by the adjacent
property owners, this reasonable reQues
should be granted.
\ If Sixteenth Street is to become a
] great boulevard as has been planned
by the Park Commission it is most i'm
portant that this triangle be purchased
at once by the United States before any
/ buildings are erected on It, in which
| case the cost will be very much greater
than at present. II is hoped therefore
/ that all puhlic-spirited citizens win co
l operate with the Commissioners in their
recommendation TO Congress to acquire
/ this triangle as a Government reserva-
/ ton for the city Of Washington.