Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-08-08
Definite Steps to Achieve Old
Dream of Boulevard to Be
Taken This Week.
WIDE ROAD WILL FOLLOW
RICHLY WOODED COURSE
Great Palisade Park Development,
to Include Preserving Canal,
Coming Later. "a

Preliminary steps will he taken
this week to preserve forever tie
wooded Potomac cliffs between
Georgetown and the District line as
heritage for Washington and the
Nation.
The vision of high. broad houle-
ward skirtinG the river is 10 he
changed in the near future-within
three or four years--from Il sur
veyor'S dream to q reality.
The project has been long IN the
minds of District and Federal Off
Gals. a definite part of the nehulous
Washington of Tomorrow. Il has
been preached with all sorts of vari
ations--and in the meantime the
area involved has itself come dan
gerously near TO disruptinE the
vision. The real city of today has
been creeping around it.
The plan. briefly. is as follows:
The construction of n boulevard
from Nebraska avenue to
Conduit road, running along the very
edge of the north cliffs overlooking
the Potomac and giving full view
of the palisades on the opposite
shore.
Eventual extension of this boule-
ward in the opposite direction from
NebraS ska avenue through the dis
tributing reservoirs in Georgetown 10
link up with the proposed Virginia
avenue at Key Bridge and thus with
the Rock Greek and Potomac Park
way. -
Eventual purchase and condemna-
ton of the land between this houle-
ward and the river through which
runs the Chesapeake and Ohio
Canal.
CONSTRUCTION of a link between
Canal road. running along ;he north
bank of the canal, and the new
boulevard at Chain Bridge, which Is
approximately the termination OF
Nebraska avenue.
Cliff Drive Comes First.
II is only toward the realization
of the Potomac avenue or GIN drlVe
part of this project that immediate
attention will be given.
This boulevard will run through
tho area between Conduit road and
the canal, eventually linking up win
the former through the grounds OF
be continuous as far as Great rams.
1t will run through a country not
only of magnificent natural beauty
but rich in history and Legendary. and
will become one of the most beaut1tul
drives in the neichborhood OF Wash
ngton.
District officials were spurred to i'm
mediate action last week by the IN
va sion of the area by home building
projects. The news came out OF Il
clear sky when Melvin Hazen. Dis
riot surveyor, discovered that a per
nit had been given for the construc-
ion of a residence on the proposed
line Of Potomac avenue where IL
would be cut by the present AshbE
place.
Mr.. Hazen at once sought out the
builder and urged him to delay hi
project for 80 days while condemna
ton proceedings were started. 10
this the man agreed as civic duty.
Mr.. Hazen then reported the situation
% the co.ordinating committee of the
National Capital Park and Planning
He stressed the argu-
uent that unless action was taken AT
once the CitV would lie faced by the
necessity Of buying improved prop
,rty instead of undivided land. as AT
present. This would greatly increase
he cost OF the project and might de.
ay it for years. The District would
ACE the same situation as 1t has
laced so often in the past because Of
delays in laying out some OF the
projects.
Avenue Planned i'm 1901.
Potomac avenue is a part of the
mark project as laid down in 1901.
Until the discovery by Mr.. Hazen,
however. officials had intended to let
it lie dormant until other projects
considered of more pressing lmpor-
ance, had been cleared up. They are
now convinced that the cliff drive
must be put at the top of the list.
Condemnation papers, it is eX-
oected. will be filed this week. The
necessary land will be taken TO give
he boulevard width of 40 feet from
Nebraska avenue to Reservoir road
and from thence TO Conduit road,
where it will follow the line of Res
eryoir road to give it u width of 80
'eet.
From Nebraska avenue to Ashby
place it will be necessary to condemn
he full amount. From that point TO
Reservoir road only half must be
aiken by this means. as the north
portion of this section already has
been subdivided and the owners have
donated the necessary land. The
same is true where the drive will fol
ow the route of Reservoir road.
As soon as preliminary moves have
,een made surveyors will prepare
olats. necessary for condemnation pro
,eedings, for acquisition of the land
or the full width from Nebraska ave
hue TO Carolina place. From thence on
20 Norton street the right of way is
owned by the Government. From
Norton street the drive will pass
through the filtration plant property,
md there curve to connect with the
present Conduit road.
After their work on the upper end
s completed the surveyors will start
work on the Georgetown end. where
much of the land is Government
owned. 1t is expected to have the
,liff drive ready in three or four
ears.
Park to Take Longer.
The park project between the cliff
and the Potomac River edge is ex-
Dected to take a much longer time
because of title entanglements. A re-
Iuest to proceed with this project will
,e laid before the National Capital
Park and Planning Commission at it's
lext meeting. August 20
The area to be purchased is an
$1,000 feet long and from
80 to 1000 feet wide. The total area
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