Evening star., 1927-05-29
TREES OR FREE STORAGE
BY ALLEN B. MCDANIEL,
the Research Service. Inc.

makes provision such that IL will be
possible to erect in their place mods
ern, we'll constructed commercial ga
RACES five or six stories high, the up
per story being arranged as a we'll
lighted series Of apartments for the
attendants of the garage and others.
Such have been built in other cities,
and successfully operated. either as
private or municipal enterprises.
The amount now contributed do
rectly or indirectly by the taxpayers
In providing free storage along the
line of the travelled streets might well
be contributed in the constructors
and operation Of these public garages,
or they can be operated on a ssj$-
supporting basis, all charging mod
crate fee. The location of these, in
and adjacent to the business centers,
will greatly facilitate the transaction
Of business. There Is nothing novel
in the proposal, but it is logical out.
come of the experience Of other cities.
The steady line of autos may be seen
pouring into one or more entrances
Of these garages at the busy hour Of
the day, and other lines of machines
may be seen at other times pouring
out of exits of what formerly were
the alleys.
zatiOn OF alley property for parking
purposes as q matter OF gradual de-
velopment-one block or a group Of
blocks at a time. BY such proce-
dure 1t will be possible to begin the
application of this plan in section
of the city where the traffic conges-
ton has led to the cutting down OF
trees in order to widen the streets In
this section Of the city there are rela-
lively few alley habitations and a.
very inefficient utilization Of the
space in the interior of the blocks
as general thing.
The District government is at pres.
ent authorized to condemn property
for such public uses as schools, play.
grounds and markets; but no provision
exists on the statute books which will
allow the condemnation Of property
for the parking and storage of motor
vehicles. In order to make 1t possible
for the District government to utilize
alley property for the parking and
storage of motor vehicles, and. at the
same time, to clean up the sanitary,
unsafe and hazardous conditions that
now exist In our inhabited alleys. 1t
legislation that will give the needed
authority to the District Commission
ers. Such condemnation of property
could be done as provided for in the
so-called Alley act, 3S Stat, 716.
The utilization of alley property
| made available by condemnation pro-
ceedings could be made on the follow
ing basis:
/. The development Of the areas by
the District government for free public
parking space.
2. The development of these areas
by the District government for public
parking space, with a small fee or
charge.
8. The leasing of such areas to
private individuals or organizations by
the District government for parking
and storage purposes.
Case i, as noted above, would in
| volve no returns to the government
| for the expense involved in the con-
demnation proceedings. the removal
of the existing property and the
| preparation of the site for parking
| purposes. Under item 2, provision
| would be made for a small return to
| the District government. Under item
8, opportunity would be afforded to
| private parties to secure a long-term
| lease of desirable alley property for
| the erection and maintenance Of
| garages under the supervision of the
District authorities. The provisions Of
the leases would bring the ownership
of such developed property under the
| jurisdiction Of the government at their
expiration. The rentals from this
leased property would be returned to
| the fund established by the Congress
| for this purpose, and thus establish a
permanent revolving fund, which
| would allow the District Commission
ers to gradually utilize additional alley
property to relieve the parking con-
! gestion, as conditions demand.