Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-01-27
REPORT FAVORABLY
ON SH|PSTEAD BILL
Senate Committee Approves
Proposal to Beauty Build
ings in City.

The desire of the National Capital
Park and Planning Commission and
oSt1.- Commission of Fine Arts to insure
that future private construction along
the north side OF Pennsylvania avenue
from the Capitol TO the Treasury De-
partment harmonic with the Federal
Governments building program in the
triangle, came step nearer realiza-
ton yesterday. The Senate public
buildings and grounds committee sub
mitted to the Senate favorable re-
port on the modified ShipStead bill to
regulate the exterior design of private
structures fronting on certain large
Federal areas in the National Capital.
The measure goes on the Senate
calendar for consideration when the
calendar is called.
The Commission of Fine Arts, under
the bill, would have power to recon-
mend changes in plans for private
structures and make recommendations
to add to the beauty and attractivcneSs
Ind value of these buildings. The meas
ure is designed to guide future con-
structlon opposite the triangle develop
ment, but would not affect present
structures.
While the Senate committee was
making its recommendations the Ma
tional Capital Park and Planning Com
mission yesterday was considering pro-
posals OF the Chicago Chapter of the
American Institute OF Architects Tor
future treatment Of the north side of
Pennsylvania avenue. This plan con-
templates the retention of such struc-
lures as the Washington Hotel, the
Willard Hotel. the Munsey Building. the
National Theater, the Raleigh Hotel
and The Star Building.
Horace w. Peaslee. Washington archi-
tect, who is chairman of the commit
tee on the National Capital of the
American Institute of Architects, ex-
planned last night that the Chicago
plans are designed to show property
owners along the north side of Penn
sylvania avenue effects to be achieved
by harmonious and unified treatment.
Mr.. Peaslee hopes to secure the CO.
operation of graduate students of the
Yale School of Fine Arts in undertake
ing a study of the Washington airport
problem.
AS amended and presented to the
Senate, the modified ShipStead bill Is
confined to the property fronting on the
Capitol. the White House, Pennsylvania
avenue between the Capitol and the
White House, the Mall the frontage
along Rock Greek Park Geological
Park, Potomac Park. and along the
connecting link between Rock Creek
and Potomac Parks. l.
The purpose of the bill is to protect
the appearance of the Government
buildings and the frontage of the park
areas listed. The plans for private
buildings in these areas would go be-
fore the Commission of Fine Arts for
flafi to
pearance. color and texture of the ma
terials of exterior construction" The
commission would recommend such
changes "aS in its judgment are neces-
sary to prevent reasonably avoidable
impairment of the public values belong
ing to such public building or park"
The District Commissioners then
would take such action as in their
judgment would effect reasonable
compliance with such recommended
tons 4 ,es-l
Government Program Cited.
In recommending the bill to the Sen
ate, the committee called attention 10
the amounts the Federal Government
is about to spend around. the Capitol
for Supreme Court Building, an, ad-:
ditional House Once structure, and
pointed out that more than SIS. 100000
has been pledged for sites and Federal
buildings along Pennsylvania avenue
between the Capitol and the Treasury"
The report also makes the predic-
ton that early needs of the War and
Navy must demand costly building in
vestments bordering on Potomac Park
west of the White House. The greater
parks of the Capital already represent
great material as well as moral values"
mr.
FeSs, Republican, of Ohio.
The National Capital Park and
Planning Commission left consideration
of the Washington municipal airport
to the next meeting. scheduled for
March 8 and 9. Studies by the COM
mission, in cooperation with the Army
Air Corps. showing potential landing
fields in this area, have not yet pro-
crossed sufficiently to engage close at
tention, in conjunction with the air.
port study.
The commission was advised on several
land purchases, but information on
these was not made public. Highways
in relation to the Lee Boulevard were
considered by the. commission and
further studies win be made con-
corning roadways around the south
side of Fort Myer and their relations
to the Arlington reservation.
The commission decided that due to
its Importance as traffic artery and
the vista it affords of the Washington
Monument, Virginia avenue, between
Eighteenth and Nineteenth streets,
should not be closed. The commission
likewise declared that in the Rock
Creek-Potomac parkway project, circle
treatment at the foot of New Hamp-
shire avenue should be omitted and the
proposed Titanic Memorial should be
placed in an alcove on the banks of the
Potomac River 1t Endorsed the views
Of the Fine Arts, Commission that two
outer roads around the suggested Lin
coin Memorial circle should be omitted.
Albright Attends.
H. NJ Albright. director of the Ma
tional Park Service, attended as COM
mission member for the first time, sue
ceeding Stephen T. Mather, who recent
ly resigned from the Interior Depart
nent.
Alfred Granger, Chicago architect
who is chairman of a committee of the
Chicago chapter of the American Insti-
tute Of Architects forwarded to the
commission letter explaining what has
been done by his organization in map
ping plans for the development of the
north side of Pennsylvania avenue.
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DDEClnEMT nHhKEC lhCT