Evening star., 1926-08-09
MANOR PARK GROUP
FIGHTS ROAD PLAN
Making Blair Highway Wider
Than so Feet Opposed
to Commissioners.

Vigorous objection to increasing the
width of Blair road to more than 60
feet was registered by a delegation
from the Manor Park Citizens Asso-
citation at a public hearing on six i'm
portant proposed changes In the high
way plan conducted by the Commits
sioners in the boardroom of the Dis
trict Building today
The plan proposed is to widen the
road from 33 to 80 feet between Ogle-
thorpe and Underwood streets, and
abandon all projected streets lying
east to the Metropolitan branch of the
Baltimore & Ohio Railroad tracks,
so that it may be developed CONNER
cially. The Manor Park delegation,
headed by T.. Fl. Pullman, contended
that there is no extreme necessity
for boulevard greater than 60 feet in
width, and that approximately $4,000
worth of improved property would
have to be condemned to carry out
the plan.
Mr.. Pullman pointed out that Blair
road is not n heavily used traffic
artery and that in his knowledge not
an accident had occurred on 1t in
five years. c. H. Galliher. real
CSCdlS ODSIdlOI, IloNCNSl, lpltt lHC
Commissioners that the heavy traffic
on the road necessitates it's widening y
and that while an accident may not
have happened in recent years. there
had been many narrow escapes due
to its narroWness.
In addition to Mr.. Pullman, the
Manor Park delegation was composed
of j. p. Henkle, John d. Smoot. c. II.
Langley. Herbert Wilson. Leo Sim
mons and Mrs. {. w. Smith.
Conduit Road Plan Favored.
The proposal 70 sta ndardiZe the
width of Conduit road and make it
a monumental highway was given the
Endorsement of the Conduit Road
Citizens Association, through its
president. Il. +. Adams. An objec-
tion to the plan was made by Mrs.
s A. Stehbins, who declared that Con-
duit, road would be converted into a
speedway and make her property
worthless.
The plans for developing Conduit
road provide for a magnificent 100
foot boulevard with parkway 49,
feet wide, in the center from Reser-
voir road to the District line. From
Foxhall road to Reservoir road. the
boulevard would be 80 feet wide
The widening plans provide for the
center parkway over the old water
conduit. fianked on the sides by 81
foot paved roadways. The change
also would allow for sidewalks with
parkings on both sides of the boule-
ward. which the Conduit road section
has lacked because of Federal juris-
diction over the road. A recent act
of Congress placed control of the
road in the District Commissioners.
The four remaining proposed
changes are designed to preserve the
natural contours and topogra Apply of
the outlying sections. One provides
for shifting the lines of the streets in
north Brookland and the absorption Of
Sargent road by Michigan avenue;
another for the preservation OF the
famous grove Of old oak trees In
Wilson Park southeast as we'll as the
surrounding natural contour OF the
territory south of St. Elizabeth $
Hospital between Nichols avenue and
Boiling Field. Under the present
highway plan. rectangular streets
would be cut through this section with
the result that many old trees would
have to be felled.
The other proposed changes would
take North Carolina avenue between
G street and Benning road off the
highway plan. and the development
OF curved highways in the section
bordering Southern avenue from the
District line TO Branch avenue. The
rugged topography of this territory
is ideal for carrying out this plan, In
the opinion of Melvin c. Hazen, Dis
triCt surveyor.
After consideration by the Commits.
sioners. the proposed changes will be
sent To the National Capital Park and
Planning Commission for final action.