Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-03-11
PLANS FOR CAPITAL
DEVELOPMENT LAID
BEFORE COMMITTEE
Continued from. First Page.l

now stands In the way of desirable
changes in the permanent highwa,
plan Another is now pending before
the judiciary committee providing FOL
a new judge to specialize, In condemna'
ton cases and thus result in more uni.
form awards.
One of the most important things
the Congress is advised TO do Is to de-
termine now whether Washington Is
to have the encircling drive, SO tina,
portions of the right of way may be ac-
ouired. which would otherwise be lost
Congress must approve the plan in its
entirety. otherwise the piecemeal acqui-
sition of the land would be futile.
The committee was impressed by the
fact brought out by Col. Grant and the
other speakers that the developmen!
plans are not merely to beautify the
| Seat of Government, but to make pro-
vision for city Of more than 1000, 00O
residents with proper community i'm
proVements
Three Main Features.
Col. Grant emphasized at the outset
| that there are three main features OF
the commissions Work--planning, ex-
ecutive control over the highway plan
and purchasing park lands. He de-
j Scribed the aig-2ag development OF the
park plan and the interlude in which
| the plan was entirely forgotten.
| Col. Grant surprised the committee
! by stating that there Is sufficient room
under existing 2oning regulations for
! 700 600 additional residences in the Dis
! trict. and room In the general environ
ment for 4.000. 600 residences. He en-
phasi2ed that it is desirable to bear this
! housing possibility in mind in planning
; the future city. He called to attention
! that 90 per cent of the disable area Of
! the District Is reserved for highways. to
! illustrate how important highway de-
| velopment is.
one feature of special interest on
which the commission Is now active Is
| changing the highway plan where that
| is still possible. so that it may conform
to the topography.
Nine Changes Since June 30.
| Twenty-three such changes were
made before June 80. last, and nine
> since then. and progress along this line
| Is continuing. Such changes, he
pointed out, not only improve the ap-
| pearance of the city by preventing the
| leveling of hills and the filling In OF
| valleys, but Is also q matter of consid-
| cradle economy to those purchasing
| homes, as 1t eliminates considerable
amount of grading.
Representative Underhill. Republican
! of Massachusetts,. questioned Col. Grant
| closely regarding what can be done to
prevent despoiling the natural beauty of
| the region by those engaged in Subur-
ban real estate developments. Mr.
Underhill emphasized that "a great
deal of harm was done previous to the
establishment of this commission less
than two years ago.
Col. Grant told the committee that
the planning commission has found it
self handicapped by law and Is seek
ing remedial legislation which will ia
| cilitate its work In altering the high
way plan.
He also called attention that great
deal Of money IL being spent by the
Government for Identification projects
but that the commission has no con-
troll over construction on adjacent prop
erty, which may spoil the Government
development. Representative Underhill
suggested control through the assessors
once. Col. Grant expressed the opinion
that the assessment system In WASH
ington Is safer than In most other
places. being based on full value as de-
termined by sales. Mr.. Underhiii en-
phasszed that there will be a treuaen-
&Ses@ tasNsb00E AA AGB&S8 %d&uG NElN as
sesseo value Of property on the north
side of Pennsylvania avenue in the near
future. Col, Grant urged passage of
the Shipstead- bill to control
the character Of structures adjacent to
| Government development. Mr.. Under
NH cited the necessity Of resorting to
a limitation In the District appropria-
ton bill prohibiting the use of any
FUNDS Tor locating the house of deten-
taon adjacent to the Capital grounds
az an illustration Of what the proposed
Law would do.
ASKS Change In Condemnation Law.
Col. Grant told the committee that
the commission has found difficulty in
procuring land under condemnation
ano suggested a change In the con.
usmnauon law TO speed up procedure
30 that the cases will not be kept pend
ing Tor SIX or seven years and the Gov
eminent can get better presentation of
the value OF the property condemned
through the assessors Office. AL pres
ent II Is limited to paying l25 per cent
OF the value.
MIR. Underhill offered the help of the
committee In getting action upon the
proposed legislation which Is pending
before the judiciary committee. because
1t calls for an additional Judge who
would be an expert In condemnation
cases and so uniformity OF award
would result. The Director of the
Budget Is awaiting an opinion from the
Attorney General
Maj. Cary Brown. engineer of the
National Capital Park and Planning
Commission. described the work that In
being done In the suburban park area so
as to properly coordinate it with the
District development. He illustrated
with charts how close In area within
d minutes transportation from the
center Of the city, such as the area be-
tween Beltsyille and Olney is now UNI
developed. but II Is foreseen viii even
tualiy afford homes TO many thousands
of persons.
Maj. Brown said that the Commits
sion's advisory powers In regard TO rail-
roads, coming. and all features regard
Ing physical development Of the region
are helping 10 carry forward the Capital
beautiful program, He discussed the
proposal for building a belt line from
Potomac Yards circling Georgetown. TO
connect with the railroads 10 the north
and said the study by the Commission
| have convinced them that such a line
IL quite unnecessary,
show undeveioped Area.
He pointed out on maps large areas