Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-05
u. S. Purchase of Property
for 1864, 900 Virtually
Closed.
U. S. INDICATES SUIT
WILL BE WITHDRAWN
Analostan Tract Will Not Be Used
for Stadium-Grant Says River
Road Will Be Built.

Negotiations are expected to be COM
pleted shortly for the purchase of
Analostan Island, downstream of Key
Bridge, in the Potomac River, by the
Roosevelt Memorial Association from
the Washington Gas Light Co. for
1864 1000. The contract has not been
signed, and Hermann Hagedorn, the
associations executive secretary, who
lives at 4767 Indian lane, Spring VAL
ley, said today that title to the prop
erty is being searched by the Columbia
Title Co. If this proves satisfactory,
and the Federal Government lifts its
pending condemnation suit, as has been
forecast. the deal will be closed
Mr. Hagedorn made it clear that at
no time has the Roosevelt Memorial
Association considered erecting a sta
dunn on Analostan Island The idea
of stadium was advanced by local
trade groups, but the association never
officially sponsored this.
The Department of Justice is in
shutting condemnation proceedings
against Analostan Island, so that it
might be procured for inclusion in the
George Washington Memorial Parkway
program. Off1cials of the National
Capital Park and Planning Commission,
which initiated the condemnation suit,
said today that they would be glad to
release the property from litigation
when the deal between the Roosevelt
Memorial Association and the Wash
ington Gas Light Co. has been closed.
Riverside Drive Planned.
Lieut.. Col u. S. Grant, Sd, executive
officer of the Planning Commission,
said today that a drive would be con-
structed along the island shore on the
river side as a companion development
to the Rock Creek and Potomac Park
way, now being expanded on the
that the central portion of the island
would be left wooded and that an
appropriate memorial to Theodore
Roosevelt would be erected.
Numerous walks would be constructed
through the island. the colonel ex-
planned, for the convenience of picnic
parties. The development Of Analos-
tan Island will harmonic with the
Arlington Memorial Bridge development
and the George Washington Memorial
Parkway program, as officials OF the
Planning Commission have already Sc
cured the concurrence of the Roosevelt
Memorial Association in this.
Oficials of the National Capital Park
and Planning Commission view with
favor the acquisition of the island by
the Roosevelt Memorial Association.
Some time ago real estate interests en-
deavored to purchase the island as an
apartment house development. At one
time George Washington University
was interested in securing the island
and had tentative plans for erecting a
stadium on 1t.
Eliot FavOrs Stadium.
Charles w. Eliot, I'd. director Of
planning for the National Capital Park
and Planning Commission. said today
that his organization still favors the
erection of a stadium at the east end
of East Capitol street, near the banks
of the Anacostia River. He confirmed
Mr. Hagedorns statement that the
Roosevelt Memorial Association has
never considered having the tribute 10
Theodore Roosevelt take the form of
stadium.
Under tentative plans of the Plan
ming Commission, bridges would link
up Analostan Island with the Virginia
shore and the Lee Highway, as well as
the George Washington Memorial
Parkway development, to the north
ward. and with the Arlington Memorial
Bridge and the Mount Vernon Memo
rial Highway to the south.