Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-13
Site to Be Purchased Despite
lndeCision as to Location
to Be Used.
ELEMENTARY BUILDING
MAY GO ON PROPERTY
Adjoining Plot Would Be Required
for Senior High for Reno Sec
ton of Chevy Chase.

Despite indecision as to the location
of the proposed senior high school for
the Reno section of Chevy Chase,
condemnation proceedings will con-
tinue in the Districts efforts to pur-
chase land at Thirty-ninth and Fessen-
den streets for school purposes, it wa
announced early this afternoon at the
office of Mai H. L. Robb, Assistant
Engineer Commissioner of the District.
Maj. RobbS Office explained. however,
that continuation of the condemnation
proceedings did not mean the proposed
senior high school would be built there.
1t was pointed out that the land has
been sought as an elementary schol site
in the face of vigorous protests of
property owners whose pretentious
homes adjoin the site.
Neither does the purchase of the land
as school site mean it will be used
for elementary school purposes. it was
said. The idea is to buy the land
for some school use. If the school au-
thorities can be convinced that it may
be the most advantageous site for the
new senior high school, prices of the
various available properties considered,
the area may be doubled with the pur-
chase of an adjoining tract of partially
developed property. On the other hand,
if the District authorities are success
full in obtaining a different site for the
senior high, the Thirty-ninth and Fes-
sender street land will be used for an
elementary school building
Will Have to Be Doubled.
If the Thirty-ninth and Fessenden
street site, known as site c in discus
sions between District and Federal au-
thorities, is TO be used as a senior high
school site, it will have to be virtually
doubled through the purchase of ad-
Joining developed land in the same
block
Site C, in the purchase of which
Engineer Commissioner John G. Got
walls is purported to be bound by q
| "gentlemans agreement" with one or
more members of Congress, is consider
ably more costly than two other sites,
either of which is desired by the public
school authorities.
According to a memorandum submit
ted April 2 of this year by Charles w.
Eliot. I'd, of the National Capital Park
and Planning Commission. to Maj. Got
walls. the site C is valued at 1892 600.
Site IA the most southerly of the three
sites. and that preferred by Mr.. Eliot.
was priced in that memorandum at
S728 $50, while site b located between
the other areas and Immediately ad-
Cheaper Site Favored.
In stating these values the Park and
Planning Commissions city planner took
into account minor shifts of established
and proposed thoroughfareS While un-
able to determine just what territory is
included in Mr.. Eliot's tabulation. Dis
trict Building authorities today said
they valued site &C" at SHASTA. The
least expensive of the three sites. and
that preferred by the city planner, the
District valued at $50 625. while they
assessed site "B" at S131,253
In his memorandum to Maj. Got
walls last April, Mr.. Eliot wrote that
the B" site. which is Immediately
south of the Reno Reservoir, would re-
quire changes in the Fort drive line,
the closing of some streets, the use Of
park lands already owned by the Gov
eminent. and the purchase Of 4.93 acres
of additional land. The price of SAL
1853 given by him as the cost of site
"B' represents the cost only of the adj
ditional land which is to be bought.
This site would permit the use of a
one-ffth mile track in the athletic
field.
Early Decision Due.
site b is more expensive than
site A" Mai. Gotwals was advised,
because IL lncIuCeS NUMBER OF MONIES
occupied by colored people. The only
study for a Fort Reno Park made by
the District and school authorities prior
to the establishment of the National
Park and Planning Commission. called
for public control of the area bounded
by Fessenden street, Chesapeake street.
Nebraska avenue and Forty-fourth
street. This site OBJ would conform
to that scheme in SO far as wiping out
the old Reno subdivision is concerned
Following a conference between Com
missioner Luther Reichelderfer and
Commissioner Crosby Saturday with
school board members, DR.. Reichelder-
fer told The Star that decision proba
bly, would be made on a specific site
early this week. The Thirty-ninth and
FeSsenden site for the proposed school
is objected to by the school authorities
because it is too small to accommodate
both the building and an athletic field.
In Saturdays meeting the school au-
thorities advised the Commissioners
that a new senior high school in the
Reno section is most urgently needed
if part-time instruction as allowed by
double shift" schedule Of classes is
to be appointed at the Western High
School.