Evening star., 1933-04-01

flOIlUIlS III SIllUy VI Tie SuD1eCC
The plan, prepared by a group of
craftsmen under the supervision of the
Allied Architects, Inc, contemplates a
communicative restoration program,
rather than individual house recondi-
tioning, and takes into consideration
also the replatting OF certain streets.
Remodeling Is Favored
The studies of Georgetown were mi
tiated primarily in the interest of un-
employment relief, the architects be-
lieving that because of the existing
financial situation, renewal of construc-
ton activity probably could best be
started through renlodeling operations.
After 20 weeks of study, the archi-
aects committee drafted lengthy re-
port and drew extensive plans on the
subject. As the study proceeded, the
members found themselves going con-
siderably beyond their original intent,
embracing in the survey related prob
aen1s, such as traffic relief by re-rout-'
ing and extending certain streets, and
other matters.
The group became involved in GER
tain general planning studies for what
it described as ''the protection OF old
Georgetown
"These studies says the report,
shave undoubtedly a certain value in
the shaping Of community plan en-
phasizing Georgetown's individuality
1t is felt that If interest can be To-
cused upon the problem as a whole,
and community consciousness aroused,
the prospect of realizing all of the prof.
ects involved will be materially i'm
proved.
Business Areas Noted
Georgetcwn,s distinctly pre-Revolu-
tionarv and early Federal characters
tics. the architects said, have been
largely .cogal1ed in residential remod-
cling, but considerably disregarded in
commercial alterations. There has
been a certain vogue for old George
town houses" the report states, but
no such appreciation has existed in the
commercial sections and very few YES
tiges remain of the old buildings which
formerly lined M street"
The studies began with that section
of Georgetown lying between Twenty
eighth street and the new Rock Greek
parkway In reporting on this area,
which the report described as '.one OF
the least attractive sections" the ar
chitacts said this barrier, separating
good residential section from George,
towns new park might be transformer
into picturesque connectlon.
Photographs were made OF many OLD
houses in various parts of Georgetown,
including frontages on wisconsin avenue
and. NJ street, and companion drawings
were made depicting what changes IN
exterior design would be necessary IN
order to bring these old buildings PACK
to Georgetown types"
The architects found, according to
their report, that hopeless looking
buildings Of post-Ciyil-War days, ana
even more recent commercial struc-
lures, could be brought into harmony
with the work executed during carrier
periods with surprising ease"
In analyzing traffic problems, Whlch
Government planning agencies have
held must form an integral part OF any
study of Georgetown's future, the main
considerations of the studying COM
n1ittee were given to the handling. OF
traffic through Georgetown to other
outlying suburbs and points beyond
in Maryland and Virginia, rather than
strictly community traffic problems.
Traffic Changes Outlined.
The report states:
THE first problem considered was
congestion of M street with the Key
Bridge d Conduit road traffic, fed
by no Georgetown, M street end
Fe1rsy. lio avenue. It was felt that
the KeS ndge head needed an ex-
pansion c, area for the digestion OF
traffic; an area difficult to obtain be-
cause Of the precipitous hillside abut-
ing. Also that Virginia traffic, headed
for departmental offices, could and
should be diverted from the CONNER
cial section of the community"
Utilization Of the abandoned canal
bed offers the simplest and most direct
connection possible, the committee held.
This would mean developing semi
oval bridge head. with traffic separators,
$50 that morning and afternoon traffic
can be Immediately diverted to a lower
level, which can underpass all the con-
nections between NJ street and the
waterfront, overpass the new Rock Creek
parkway bridge, and feed directly into
L street. Twenty-seventh street, and
thence to Virginia and Constitution
avenues. tapping the main office area. y
The group proposes also a traffic
"sifter' in the form of a circle, with
''separators," placed at the intersec-
ton Of M street and Pennsylvania
avenue, and extending Pennsylvania
avenue to the bend in Wisconsin avenue
at street, and lengthening Prospect
fToD+ipund ~, Third paoel