The Washington times., 1929-09-07
D. c. BUILDINGS
MODEL FOR
NATION

Characterizing the development OF
Washington as a "clinic in archi.
lecture" where results Of import.
aIce to the entire nation are being
worked out, the American Institute
Aof Architecture has launched a cam
palgn for the immediate adoption OF
similarly co-ordinated city and re-
gional plans by every community
throughout the country, 1t was an
nounced here yesterday.
To bring before other cities the
object lesson of the work accom-
plished through systematic layout
and building in; the District of Co
lunbia, the institute has duplicated
film made under the direction of
Secretary OF the Treasury Andrew
w. Mellon, and through its chap
4 ters is exhibiting it widely to
: groups of architects city planners,
and civic bodies.
Progress Amazing
Not a casual. but an amazing,
progress has been made in the de.
, velopnent of the Federal City"
Horace w. Peaslee, chairman of
the institute committee on the Ma
ttonal Capital declared in a report
! made public by c. Herrick Ham
nond of Chicago, president of the
institute.
The extent of this progress can
Best be realized by comparing pres
ent conditions with conditions five
I years ago. In 1923 the development
OF washington was handicapped not
. only by lack of funds, but by lack
OF co-ordinated, comprehensive
planning. Not only was there lack
of cooperation in planning. but
there was a large factor of plan
ming at cross purposes.
Highways Jagged
The Mall idea was project of
disagreement. The park system
: was tagging away behind the growth
! Of population. The highway sys-
lem was developing without regard
sfof its Internationally with parks
and other elements of city planning.
aThe public buildings system was
practically at standstill. Private
building development was taking
sseant recognition of its obligations
the Capital of the Nation. and
Congress. witnessing the general
&c us o n, gave appropriations
grudgingly.
s At the 1923 convention, the in
stitute took the position that if a
: definite program of development
were :. established this confusion
would be eliminated and it ap-
pointed special committee to de-
velop this line Of procedure.
5, Theory Justified
+ Results have amply justified the
theory. In five years almost un-
believable. accomplishments have
been made. The planning commits
sion has evolved comprehensive
plans for the District of Columbia
: and for the entire region. 1t has
, the sympathetic and active support
, OF a. corresponding Maryland Plan
ming Commission. 1t has received
. the beginnings of support from
, similar Virginia planning commits.
sion.
Not only have plans of vast
: scope been developed, but they have
been actively gotten under way. The
country at large has caught the
! ioea and from every State has
come organized support.
: Considered Developments
The founders of the CITY care.
fuily considered the relation of pri-
vate to public development. The or.
tg1nal regulations, established by
President Washington, were based
on such conditions as thought rea.
sonable by the President for regu.
lating the materials and manners of
the buildings and improvements gen.
orally"
In detail they called specifically
even for minimum heights, chalac.
ter of materials. and coordination
with definite building lines on Ger.
tain streets.
"Yet for decades the main consid-
eration were structural safety and
fire prevention.
M Classify Areas
Gradually, under coming. came
other considerations Of, health,
safety. and public order. with c1assi-
flcatlon of areas according to use,
helght, and area occupancy.
Finally came a movement in
augurated by Washington architects,
voluntarily to censor their own
work. which they have carried for.
ward faithfully for eight years,
building up a clinic in architecture,
with weekly juries and finally with
monthly boards of review.
$116,OOO, 900 improvements
"The results obtained have been
due in large measure to sympathetic
contact developed between the Plan.
ming Commission and the legislative
/ bodies. In all, more than $116,OO0,-
900 have been authorized for Federal
buildings and improvements in the
/ capital.
From a standstill the public
buildings project has jumped to a
$500. 900 900 project for the entire
triangle between Pennsylvania Ave-,
nue., B Street and Fifteenth. OF
this total, $25,O0O, 900 have been
/ authorized for the purchase of the
land, and $4,000, 900 toward the
building development.
"An appropriation OF 5000, 900
has been made for the development