Evening star., 1933-10-22
SLUM CONDITIONS
TO Be DISCUSSED
Airport improvements Also
to Come Up in Meetings
This Week.

Improvement Of the airport and
elimination of alley dwellings and slum
conditions in the city will be the sub
ject of meetings this week after the
two-day session Of the National Capital
Park and Planning Commission, which
closed yesterday after considering these
and other subjects.
Chairman King Of the Senate Dis
trict Committee. who Is interested in
improving housing conditions here, is
sponsoring meeting to be held at 10
am. tomorrow in the conference room
of the Commission in the Navy Build
ing. on this problem. The District
Commissioners have been invited to
participate, and Robert D. Kohn, head
Of the housing division Of the Public
Works Administration, will be present.
Other interested parties are to attend.
The Planning Commission had before
1t an informal report from q committee
OF the Allied Architects, Inc, who told
1t what could be done A number Of
locations were suggested. in which the
Public Works Administration might
well conduct its demonstrations" in
erecting model housing projects to show
what can be accomplished, not only in
eradicating slum areas but in saliva ging
buildings that are worth renovating.
These locations are being kept secret,
inasmuch as the Government is appre-
hensive lest land owners kite the price
for their properties. The rent to be
charged in the projected low-cost
houses, the architects told the Commits
sion, depends upon the amount Of
money that must be paid for the land.
Special Measure Likely.
VYv
unomcially, that if landowners here at
tempt to charge exorbitant prices for
land In the slum areas that a special
condemnation measure will be requested
OF Congress. giving authority such as
IS credited to the Tennessee Valley Au-
thority for speedy acquisition Of de-
Henry Y. Hubbard, Harvard pro-
fessor and landscape architect member
Of the commission, discussing particu-
larly the Improvement Of the north side
OF Pennsylvania avenue, opposite the
public buildings development, sug-
gested that the unsightly structures
that the architects work out a general
scheme, to be approved by the Fine
Arts Commission and the National Cap
ital Park and Planning Commission, to
match in beauty and utility the Gov
ernment's expansion on the south side
owners. he indicated. might form an N
association to bring this about, work.
ing with civic pride for the improve
ment OF the area in the shadow of the
Capitol
The County Board of Arlington
County, Va, will meet Wednesday to
consider substitute road for Military
road, which now cuts the airport apart
Meeting with the commission last week
to discuss the whole problem, the three
would RECOMMEND Acceptance of T a
suitable substitute. They believe the
airport authorities should finance this
new roadway.
Lights Are Advocated.
Immediate installation of traffic
lights on Military road, to reduce the
present trafnc hazard in having air
planes brought across the roadway, was
advocated in the commission discussion.
No formal action, however. was taken.
Samuel Solomon. general manager Of
the Washington Airport and vice presi-
dent Of the National Aviation Corpo-
ration, owners of the field. said he
thinks the Government should provide
q roadway around the airport in the
interest of public safety. He said his
firm IS willing to pay the Government
the amount the Government paid for
Military road. Mr.. Solomon said he
hopes the Government would apply
this sum to building a roadway from
Columbia pike, along the railroad for
100 yards to connect with Military
road. thus bypassing the airport.
Mr.. Solomon'S plan would be to close
Military road from the Highway Bridge,
all across the airport property, to q
point near the gasoline station and the
railroad overpass. The new connecting
link would thus run to the south of the
airport, adjacent to the railroad tracks.
The general managers contention Is
that only about 100 yards of new road
would thus have to be constructed.
The commission yesterday directed
Arno B. Cammerer. director of the Of
nee Of National Parks, Buildings and
Reservations, its executive officer, to re-
quest the Public Works Administration
Tor funds to undertake a study Of both
the proposed new National Guard Ar
mory and the stadium at the east end
of East Capitol street on the banks Of
the Anacostia River. The commission
believes the stadium could be made q
self-liquidating project, holding in 1t
athletic events, water carnivals, drills,
pageants and other displays.
Estimates Of the amount Of money
required for the study, as well as for the
completed project, will be made by
Conrad L. Wirth, assistant director Of
the Office Of National Parks, Buildings
and Reservations. and John NoIen, j.,
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