Evening star., 1934-05-17
RESIDENCE PLAN
is PROPOSED FOR
|LOPS|DED CAPITAL
Commission Turns Attention
to Northeast and South.
east Sections.
STAFF INSTRUCTED
TO DRAW PROGRAM
Traffic Problem and High Price
of Land in Northwest Due to
Condition, Says Nolen.

Because 81 per cent of Washing
toms population lives in the North
west section, the National Capital
Park and Planning Commission con-
siders the city is lopsided and today
declared that desirable residential
areas in the Northeast and Southeast
should be developed by stimulating
public improvements there.
The commission said the park and
playground facilities should be en-
couraged, and it is ready to do its
part IL funds can be secured. So
interested is the commission in the
Northeast and Southeast that it in
structed its staff to draw up pro-
gram for presentation at the next
meeting.
John Nolen jr, the commissions
director of planning, said the feeling
is that there are number OF ideal
areas for residences in the Northeast
and Southeast sections that could be
encouraged If proper public facilities
are installed.
Effect of Condition.
The trafic problem and the high
price of land in the northwest is due,
said Mr.. Nolen, to the lopsided de-
velopment of the city. This requires
the District Government to extend its
facilities and concentrate its work in
one particular area. The 81 per cent
living in the northwest does not in
clude those residing in nearby Mary
land, Mr.. Nolen asserted.
The recent abandonment by the
Capital Transit Co. of street car lines
leading to the southeast is an exam
pie of the uneconomic situation
brought about by unequal develop
ment, the director of planning de-
clared.
The commission adopted six-point
program for the development of Un-
ion Square, just west of the Capitol,
on the basis of recommendations
process consulting landscape architect,
Frederick Law Olmsted.
This insures that the trees now
growing in the old Botanic Garden
area will be preserved.
Avenues to Remain.
The commission decided that in
the development of Union Square,
Pennsylvania and Maryland avenues
will remain untouched, but that
Third street, across the Mall, should
be. widened, as one of the major
crossings. The old Botanic Garden
area will be treated as a unit, and
Second street will not be cut through.
In the central vista, from the Cap
itol to the Washington Monument,
no trees are to be planted in Union
Square, in that section.
Because of the size of the Grant
Monument there must be an opening
of the vista Immediately in front of
1t to the west The existing fine
large trees in the old Botanic Garden
area, north and south of the requisite
open space should be preserved, and
where the mass foliage is weak, the
trees should be reinforced by the
addition of trees that will have to
be moved to give the central vista.
The paving of the Rock Greek and
Potomac parkway, from P street to
West Potomac Park, today was placed
by the commission at the top Of the
list of the most essential public works
projects needed for development and
improvement of the park system here.
Placed high on the list was the re-
quest for $4,000 required for plans
for a stadium at the end of East
Capitol street, on the banks of the
Anacostia River.
Secretary Morgenthau will be re-
qIested to send the model of the Tri-
angle development, now exhibited in
the main lobby of the Treasury De-
partment, to the Century of Prog
ress at Chicago. The commission de-
cided its own model of the Mall and
the central area must be kept in
Washington, as important decisions
are coming up this Summer and its
presence here Is necessary.
Plans of the Pennsylvania Railroad
for the electrification of its tracks
here will be considered by the COM
mission at the afternoon session, as
will the modified program for the
Municipal Center development.