Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-11-16
Variety of Problems Come
Up at Final Sessions of
TWo-Day Meeting.
VIEWS ARE PRESENTED
ON MALL DEVELOPMENT
Street Plans Also Discussed and
staff Authorized to Make
New Draft.

Frederic A. Delsno, prominent Wash
ingtonian, today was chosen chairman
of the National Capital Park and Plan
ming Commission, to succeed Lieut.. Gen
Edgar Jadwin, former chief of Army
Engineers, now retired. Observers saw
in this choice further recognition OF
the importance of the National Capital,
because Mr.. Delano is the representative
on the commission of the District OF
Columbia selected by the President.
The commission entered the last ses-
sions Of its two-day meeting today with
a variety of problems to be discussed.
A delegation from the Washington
Board Of Trade appeared to go over
with the commission problems relating
to the triangle development, partic-
ularly with reference to traffic outlet
southwark at Thirteenth street and
Pennsylvania avenue. Highway prob
lemS-particularly concerning Adams
Mill road, the entrance to the Zoo, the
proposed monumental entrance to the
National Capital at Wisconsin avenue
and the District line and the Fern street
underpass, as well as prospective land
purchases, were on today's sgenda.
Water Supply Group Reports.
A report of the water supply COM
mittee, representing interested Mary
land, Virginia and District authorities
dealing with the expansion of water
facilities In the Metropolitan area for
the next half century. occupied the
attention of the commission and was
explained by Charles w. Eliot, I'd, city
planner of the commission. The COM
mittee will continue its study and con-
centrate on specific recommendations.
c. L. Wirth, landscape architect, sub
mitted a report showing the improve
ments that have gone forward in the
newly acquired park areas. He dis
cussed in particular the foundry branch
and Piney Branch program.
Lieut.. Col. u. S. Grant, Sd, executive
officer of the commission, brought up
the question of the Rosslyn, Va, water
front and the application for permit
to build a wharf, made by the Sun OIL
Co. of Philadelphia to the United States
engineer office. After the colonel had
explained the sitaution, the commits
sion approved his action in protesting
to the Office of Mai. Brehon Somervell,
the District engineer for the War De-
partment for the Washington area,
against the granting of a permit. This
development of the Sun OH Co., in con-
structing wharfage and tankage facili-
ties would hamper the plan of the COM
mission for parkway up the Virginia
Bridge and Great Falls, as the oil
company proposes to build just north
of the Key Bridge at RosSlyn, Va.
Mall Development Taken Up.
The development Of the Mall and
street plans in conjunction with 1t was
discussed. and the commissions staff
was authorized to redraw the plans.
Frederick Law Olmsted and Harland
10 nf
American City Planning Institute and
planners for the st. Louis Planning
Commission, who assisted the National
Capital Park and Planning Commission
in its streets and transit studies, laid
before the commission their views on
the problem.
The question Of transportation, af-
fecting the public building program
and the probable effects of the triangle
development on transportation, was
taken up. The commissions staff was
authorized to make further study and
report at a later meeting. 1t may be
found necessary to rearrange the street
car tracks in the downtown section OF
Washington to accommodate the influx
of Government employees, who will &C.
cupy the new Government buildings
in the triangle when they are complet-
ed. The commission authorized the en-
pIOymenb OF SpeClaI experts 10 dSoioG III
the transportation and transit studies,
If this should be found necessary.
Change in Regulations Sought.
In an attempt to secure change in
the coming regulations for the increase
in height of so to 80 feet for apart
ment houses in certain residential
areas, representatives of the Washing
ton Chapter of the American Institute
of Architects and the Operative Build
ers' Association appeared before the
commission today for hearing.
The representatives are Louis l..
Justement for the architects and RUFUS
S. LuSk for the builders.
At the present time number OF resi-
Dental sections are zoned as B and G
60-foot areas. These are located on
streets ITO feet wide. If the proposal
of JustemenU and Lusk were put into
effect builders would be able to erect
eight-story apartment houses instead OF
fiVe-story structures in such districts.
The ground space covered by the build
ing would be lessened and the interior
cubic area would be increased by only
10 per cent.
The new plan calls for a setback at
the fifth story. Its proponents claim
that it would make possible a greater
variety of architectural style.
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