Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-07-27
NEW IDEAS SHOWN
/. IN SPRING VALLEY
Streets Follow Contour of
Land, Trees Saved, and
Houses Fit Sites.

Substantial progress made during the
past year in the development of wash
ington's newest large residential sub
division. Spring Valley, now illustrates
In definite form two new ideas In mod
ern community planning.
These are that the natural beauties
Of a section should be preserved so far
streets, where not prohibited by traffic
requirements and other conditions, be
laid out in a rectilinear plan following
the natural contours of the land, rather
than on dogmatic, gridiron scheme.
There are approximately 800 acres of
land in the Spring Valley section, most
Of which Is thickly spotted with trees
of varied species. with many trees of
great age and height There are hills
and ravines in this rolling terrain.
In the planning of this section done
In advance Of any physical operations
the tract was considered as a whole
and street grades were determined upon
with an eye to preservation of hills and
valleys, streams and trees. Streets were
planned to follow so far as possible the
natural contour of the land.
Grading work thus was reduced to a
minimum and all trees in good condi-
ton, except those that stood directly in
the path of the streets, were left to
stand as part Of the basic community
landscape plan.
Approval by the National Capital
Park and Planning Commission was re-
quired for the winding streets because
OF the change from the established
grtdiron scheme. This new plan les
Sened the number Of cross streets than
usually required under the old method
This is in conformity with experiences
in the newer large community develop
ments in other cities. At the same time
major streets were laid out with con-
sideration for trafic to main arteries
leading to and from the section or pass
ing nearby.
Where the sweeping curves Of the
streets come upon ravines the road is
or substantial weight, having arched
underpasses for the waters of the
creeks.
Valuable trees are here and there pre-
served by the erection of stone retain
ing walls Of character conforming to
the rustic atmosphere of the section.
The section is covered with a heavy
stand Of timber. the predominant spe-
cies Of trees being red, white and black
oak. beech, walnut, tulip poplars, wild
cherry pine and cedar.
The houses in the section, built under
contract for the most part, were
planned especially for a particular site
and the general architectural style,
composition of materials, the silhouette
size, exact location, orientation and
other features of each house were
planned with attention to the features
Of the site and neighboring terrain.
There are frame houses, stone houses
and brick houses and others of a COM
bination of materials and while the
styles vary. attention was paid to see
that one adds to rather than detracts
from its neighbor. This modern idea
Is achieved by a requirement by the de-
velopers that plans must be submitted
to and approved by them before con-
struction Is begun.
The houses erected in Spring Valley
are OF the more costly type and the
provide ample space and elbow room"
OF overcrowding. There are wide lawns
to garages, formal gardens with foun-
tainS, sloping lawns and wooded Sec
tons forming frames for houses.
To eliminate the sight of wires and
electric light and telephone poles these
services to houses are run under
ground, with the necessary poles more
or less hidden in the rear lots amid
tall trees
The section lies just to the west of
Wesley Heights in the sector between
Loughborough road and Massachusetts,
avenue beyond American University It
is being developed by w. G. &, A. N.
Miller, who estimate that when the tract
Is completely developed II will add ap-
proxirnately $4,000, 900 taxable value to
the District.