Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-08-03
D. c. TO CONDEMN
LAND FOR AVENUES
Will Act Immediately in Plan
to Provide Park Way Be-
tween Bridges.

Condemnation proceedings will be
instituted Immediately by the District
of Columbia Commissioners for the
acquisition of the necessary land for
the establishment of Potomac avenue
from Nebraska avenue to Reservoir
road for a width of 10 feet. At the
same time similar proceedings will be
inaugurated for the widening of Res
ervoir road from so to 80 feet from
Potomac avenue to Conduit road.
These announcements were made by
Mai. Carey H. Brown following a
meeting today of the co-ordinating
committee of the National Capital
Park and Planning Commission.
At the same time the committee de-
cided to present to the commission at
its meeting on August 20 the recon-
mendation that the commission begin
the purchase of all the land between
Potomac avenue and the shore line
of the Potomac River in accordance
with the general plan for providing a
parkway between the Chain and Key
Bridges.
Feared Erection of More Buildings.
The condemnation proceedings were
made necessary, it was pointed out,
when it was discovered that building
was being erected on the line OF Po-
tomac avenue, as laid down on the
highway plan 1t was decided that
the condemnation proceedings were
necessary to forestall the erection of
any other building in this area, which
the Government would have TO pay
damages for, when, later, the highway
plan would have to be carried out IN
this section. The proposed purcha Sc
of the land for park purposes al TINS
time also would result in saving
to the Government the loss that would
follow the erection of any buildings
in this area.
The construction which brought uT
the question was dwelling in the
course of building by Peter Wander
loo. jr., near Ashby place. Part OF the
building is on the proposed line oil
Potomac avenue. Mr.. Fanderloo ap
peared before the committee today
and said, according to Maj. Brown
that he would be willing TO suspend
building operations for a period or 81
days in order to give the Government
an opportunity 10 act on it's condemna-
ton plan. 1t developed that when the
permit was given to Mr.. Vanderloo 10
build the dwelling he was not IN
formed at the District Building that
his property extended over the pro
posed line of Potomac avenue.
Plats to Be Prepared.
In an effort to obViate any action
of this kind in the future at the Dis
trict Building plans were formulated
by the co-ordinating committee today
to have the District government pre-
pare plats of the highway plan sc
that when a permit is requested for
a building, if it extends over or INTO
any of the proposed highways, the
builder will be furnished one of these
plats in order to notify him OF the
danger he faces of later having his
structure condemned as the highway
plan is pushed forward. 1t was be-
lieyed by the co-ordinating conmit-
teemen that this action will save the
Government many thousands of dol
lars in damages when they seek TO
condem land for highway purposes.
Taking up the suggestion of Lieut.
Col. J. Franklin Bell. District Engineer
Commissioner, that the committee
provide for special treatment OF
the area at Sixteenth street and
Columbia road, so that traffic coming
east on Columbia road and turning
north into Mount Pleasant street
would not jam traffic coming south on
Sixteenth street, it was decided to pass
this over because of the fact that the
Sixteenth street traffic lights will be
extended into this area within short
time. 1t is believed that these lights
will take care of this situation but
when they are installed the commit
| tee will then make another study tc
ascertain their effect in clearing ur
this serious traffic situation.