Evening star., 1927-05-11

STAR, WASHINGTON
Already the more expensive homes
along them are being abandoned. In
| some cases increased land values,
when there is reasonable hope for com
| mercial use, compensates for decreased
| building values.
Called Mere Expedients.
''In some cases apartment houses
are succeeding family homes, for the
apartment house dweller seems able
to endure more noise and vibration
than the home owner. But these are
expedients. They do not promise to
occupy all of the artcrial highways
frontage The only solution offered
is to redesign such highways. They
should be so broad that they can pro.
vide for at least three roads; one in
the center for through traffic, one on
either side, separated from the center
by grass and trees, which will serve
the abutting property, and then in res
idence districts, the houses must be
set back behind generous front yards.
This will be costly, but the alterna'
tive Of unused or blighted property
pay lIlS minimum ol LdAcS, Will DS
more costly"
Mr.. Reed, who presided this morn
ing. told the conference that real es-
t;ae men are more deeply interested
in the success of city planning than
any other group land they plan to
team with you in carrying on this
work THE real estate boards are
at your service" he said.
Land Values Considered.
In a paper on the subject of how
city planning affects land values,
Lawson Purdy of New York. and q
former president of the National Mu.
nicipal League, told of the attractive
plan prepared for the laying out of
residential community on the for
mer estate of the late Frank Munsey
outside of New York, to illustrate his
contention that a community well
planned will produce better land
values than if laid off on a gridiron
pattern of 20-foot lots cut through
the hills
Eugene S. Taylor. director of the
Chicago Plan Commission. cited in.
stances of how comprehensive plan
ming has improved values in Chicago.
and illustrated his paper with lantern
slides. A Joint committee Of the Ma
tional Association of Real Estate
Boards and of the Conference on City
Planning has been studying the sub
Ject of the regulation of land subdivi-
slons for more than a year.
1t was discussed at the conference
today by Morris Knowles, chairman
of the City Plan Commission of Pitts.
burgh, and by Irenaeus Shuler of Ne
braska, representing the Association
of Real Estate Boards.
VIII Go Down Potomac.
The city planners will go down the
Potomac River this afternoon on
board the Porpoise, returning in time
Tor the final business session of the
convention at the hotel at s o'clock
tonight. At that time seven vacan-
cles on the board of directors will be
filled, invitations for the next confer
ence considered and resolutions adopt
ed. 1t was reported today that the
city planners might take formal nc
tlon tonight before adjourning on the
general subject of skyscrapers in
large cities.
The program tonight also includes
an illustrated lecture by Henry
Burchen on the subject of The Re-
birth of Imperial Rome" Mr.. Burch.
y
Society and will describe the replan-
ming of Rome under the supervision
of Premier Mussolini.
Speakers Describe Capital.
washington, past. present and fu-
ture. including description of the
various plans for its development, was
pictured last night at Wardman Park
Hotel to those attending the National
Conference on City Planning by mem
bers of the National Capital Park and
Planning Commission. Those who
spoke were Lieut.. Col. L. S. Grant,
Sd, executive officer Of the commits
sion; Lieut.. Col. J. Franklin Bell,
Charles w: Eliot, "a; Edward H. Ben
nett, architectural adviser to Secre-
tary of the Treasury Mellon;
Frederic A. Delano, Milton b.
Medary, jr., and +. l.. Olmsted. Rep
resentatiVe Iihlman of Maryland,
chairman Of the House District com
mIttee and also a member of the Plan
ming Commission, presided.
Col. Grant illustrated his talk with
lantern slides, showing not only the
various plans which have been Gre
ated from time to time for the devel-
opment of the Capital City, but a
number of views taken in the parks
and illustrations of public buildings
He gave examples of how the develop
ment of parks had saved millions of
dollars in construction, taking Rock
Creek Park as typical. He said plans
had been made for filing in this great
valley, leveling it off, and building
streets across it, and providing a
sewer to carry the creek. Such a
sewer and the consequent fills would
have cost $6,500,000, he said, whereas
the park has only cost 81 10000 The
park has provided a better highway
system than could have been provided
by the construction of the streets, he
said.
Mentions Land Values.
But he pointed out in connection
with park purchases that land values
were rising faster than the lands
could be acquired by the Government.
He detailed the active cooperation of
the States of Maryland and Virginia in
building up and improving the metro
politan areas adjacent to the National
Capital.
With the establishment Of the Ma.
tional Capital Park and Planning Com
mission, Col Grant said, there is
every reason to hope that continuing
agency has been established, which
can study all suggestions made, bring
about co-ordinated action among the
III HN II II