Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-02-08

piece Of planning.
Often Under Attack.
For rs years, this plan of 1901
has been generally accepted as the
controlling plan. 1t has guided the
Fine Arts Commission in all its su-
pervision of public building develop
ment. 1t has had the support of the
planning professions throughout the
| country. But for 25 years it has suf-
| fered from occasional attacks made
possible by lack of general informa-
ton or understanding of the plan.
| To-day the fundamentals of the
| Washington plan are in jeopardy.
| Only immediate action will avert
| costly corrective measures or lasting
regret.
"The plan of 1901 called attention
| to the fact that the White House is
one of our finest national monuments,
| but that 1t is a relatively modest, un-
| pretentiouS structure in architectural
mass and could easily be dwarfed or
rendered insignificant If thrown into
| sharp contrast with large buildings.
| The plan also called attention to the
ultimate Importance of Sixteenth
street as q main approach to Wash
| ington from the north. 1t provided
| for both conditions by enframing
Lafayette Square with dignified de-
partmental buildings. uniform in
mass, low enough to respect the
| White House. imposing enough to
| give an adequate first impression to
| the visitors.
| For 25 years the general accept
ance of this plan has prevented ex-
ploitation of the White House district.
Only two commercial buildings have
| been erected. In 1925 the Carlton
Hotel was scheduled for the corner of
Sixteenth and III streets, but the pro-
moter, recognizing a civic obligation,
agreed to build elsewhere. Two struc-
lures were launched in accordance
with the plan of 1901: one the Treas
| ury Annex, the other the Chamber or
Commerce. The Treasury Annex was
| designed to cover the entire east side
of the square. eliminating the Belasco
Theater and the Cosmos Club, and
one-third of the building has been
completed. The Chamber of Com
merce, although privately built, fol-
lowed the established monumental
| type of the annex, making 1t harmo-
nize with the great plan.
| I'm 1926, at the end of the last ses-
sion of Congress, and over the protests
of all professional planning groups,
an amendment was forced on the Pub
| lie Buildings bill TO eliminate areas
north of Pennsylvania avenue. from
| Government development. This re-
moved the blanket protection of the
plan, and Immediately the results
were evident. The historic residences
at Sixteenth and II streets are being
demolished and are to be replaced by
an apartment hotel; and plans are out
for a second commercial Office build
| ing to be erected on the west side OF
the square, with third to follow.
| LAS matters now stand, the future
holds this prospect: The Treasury
Annex, which must eventually be COM
pleted, will give an imposing monu-
mental appearance to the east side or
the square On the opposite side will
| be tall commercial office buildings.
Directly opposite the Waite House
| will appear one monumental structure
t(privately erected), one apartment
hotel, one church, one commercial
office building erected by the Govern
ment). and one private residence.
This is hodge-podge-the worst miX-up
| that could be devised, inexcusable in a
city pre-planned as a national capital,
Ireplanned, Zoned, supervised and
sponsored by many patriotic inter
ests. The White House, it's most cher
Iished heritage, is INTELLECTUALLY
affronted.
Abandonment Seen in Delay.
"Is the plan Of 1901 to be definitely
and finally abandoned, or is 1t to DE
maintained? Delay means abandon,
ment, because of added millions OF
| improvements, or makes future accom-
IpIishment extravagantly expensive, II
| not impossible. If order Is to pre-
| vail, the ban against Government
buildings on Lafayette Square should
| be lifted and the property In jeopardy
ACQUIRED before the improvements are
made.
! "If action Is not taken by this Con-
| gress, the damage will be done before
another Congress conVenes.
| Exactly the same situation holds
| for the Capitol frontages. The seat
| of Government is too important to be
surrounded by commercial structures.
1 THE n1an Of 1901 urged purchase OF
surrounding properties. For 20 years
| improvements have been made, prices
have mounted. The Government al
ready has partially carried out the
| great plan. In addition to the Library
Of Congress, the Senate and House
Office Buildings nave peem eiec ,, L
| 4 second House Office Building and q
| supreme Court Building are in im1ne-
date prospect. The balance OF the
nronerttes must eventually be ac'
puircd Why allow more improve
| ments? Last year two otace build
| ings-this year a hotel, apartment
| houses. ,.1. 4ha
Planning Commission, nor the PuDlc
Buildings Commission nor tlle dile
| Arts Commission can even CONSIDER
+he purchase of property fronting the
| no nitoI or the White House, north OF
panuGyIVa MIA avenue.
"FoiIr lines of legislative action
suggest themselves:
Il Definite establishment OF the
future character of the Capitol ano
White House frontages.
"2 Rezoning of the areas involved
AGAINST further commercial develop
ment. - ~, ,,or;o,,e
commissions to include these areas III
their planning. .., 90 x,.o,,
ertihs for which improvements are
definitely projected. ,.,,
"The proposals are consistent WIFI
good planning, since addltlonai sltes
must be provided in the near Iuture
NAV are likewise consistent with
,aroorano of economy in acquiring, be-
FORE the addition of millions In I'M
movements. property which, In the
nninion Of the ablest planners
throughout the entire country snoulo
eventually be controlled by the GOV
eminent. 49,, .,ooo,,,
"This committee offers these recon-
oendations relating to the Capltol ant
the White House solely on the merits
IF tha cases. and without regard u
nending legislation lerating to the
acouisition of the Pennsylvania ave
nna triangle. which Is likewise an IN