The Washington times., 1922-11-11
ASKSSUbURbS
To CONFORM
To 0C|TY PLANS
Commission to Bring About
Unity Sought by Board Of
Trade Committee.

Creation OF a commission to CON-
troll the development OF new COM
munities in and near the District
OF Columbia. SO that their general
plan will conform with the layout
OF streets and avenues In Wash
ington. and SO bear the proper
relations to each other and TO the
National Capital. is asked today by
the committee on municipal art OF
the Washington Board Of Trade.
The recommendation win be laid
before the board at the annual
meeting at the Willard Monday
night, with the request that the
board appoint a special committee
to lay the plans before the proper
authorities in the District. Mary.
land and Virginia.
Appleton p. Clark, jr.. well-known
District architect. and chairman OF
the municipal art committee. today
declared that the city has reached
one Of the most important stages OF
its development---the absorption OF
what were separate outlying com.
munities.
Mr.. Clark's Statement.
"The building communities have
reached the boundary lines OF the
District. and across the border
towns have sprung up which are
essentially a part of the city OF
Washington" Mr.. Clark said.
These new communities are
destined to become an integral part.
In point OF effect II not actually In
law" he added. of the city OF
Washington. 1t n vitality important
that they should be developed 70 az
to become q part of the city system
and that they should bear the proper
relations to each other ~ well as
to the city. There should be q com.
mission to control these develop
ments.
This commission should consist
OF representatives Of the adjoining
states and Of this city. II should
be given authority to act and to
use the services OF town planners.
architects. and engineers. and other
expert services"
Mr.. Clark cited the fact that the
original street extension plans for
the city had not contemplated de-
velopments beyond Florida avenue
and that. as q consequence, the
laying out OF streets beyond that
boundary had not conformed to any
definite plan, with the result that
II Is now being found necessary to
condemn property in many sections
in order to even approximate an
adequate street system.
He declared that the beauty OF
this city is imperiled by poor street
planning In the outlying sections.
which are ineYitably destined to
become q part OF the city. and
, that only by prompt action in reg.
ulating future highway planning
can the proper setting for the Ma.
tional Capitol be assured.
Delay in carrying out such a
plan, he declares, would result in
a situation similar to that In Lon.
don and Paris where, precisely the
condition which has arisen in Wash.
ington today Snade necessary the
condemnation Of entire sections OF
those cities. 1t was necessary to
| raze every building In those sec.
tions. he explained, and to lay out
plans and begin afresh the work
OF building in conformation to an
adequate system OF city planning.
Prizes For Proper Buildings.
The committee, he reported, had
decided to resume the practice,
abandoned since the war, Of award
ing prizes for buildings Of various
types which showed meritorious de-
sign, arrangement, and construction.
New buildings In Washington which
conform to the terms Of the award
will be thoroughly examined by the
committee In the near future.
The committee will ask the board
at the annual meeting to recommeno
the preparation Of plans for the de-
! velopment of the Washington chan
mel water front from an artistic as
well as q better commercial stand
point. The report to be made to the
| board states that the plans can be
prepared for a moderate sum and
that they will be q definite step
toward the accomplishment Of the
4 project.