Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-08-14
PLANNING GROUP
TOPASSONN NEEDS
IN BUSY SESSION
$500, 900 rk-Buying Prof.
ect and Memorial Site
on Program.
MINOR COURT BUILDING
CHANGES TO BE STUDIED
Nathan Wyeth to Report on Pro-
posed Municipal Center
Set-up.

A crowded program awaits the at
tention of the National Capital Park
and Planning Commission, which will
meet tomorrow and Friday to con-
slider and pass on number of long
pending projects for park and civic
development.
The acquisition of park and play
ground areas under the 100000 pro-
gram provided in the second deflci-
ency bill and the selection. possibly.
Of q site for the proposed Thomas
Jefferson memorial are the two major
matters to be taken up on the first
day, according to the program out
lined by John Nolen. jr., director Of
planning for the commission.
Changes also will be considered
in the plans for the three minor court
buildings proposed for Judiciary
Square in view of the recent action
taken by Congress calling for re-
modelling OF the old Pension Euild-
ing.
ATCnitcCL 70 hCpOTI
Nathan Wyeth, municipal archi-
tect of the District, will make a re-
port to the commission in connec-
ton with the three minor court build
inss with which it is proposed to start
the new municipal center in Washing
ton. Public Works Administrator Ickes
however has refused thus far to make
any allotment of p w. A. funds for
their construction.
The remodeling of the old Pension
Once Building. it was said, will neces-
state some drastic changes in the
plans for the Municipal Center. 1t
was the site of this building, on the
north end of the square. that the Dis
trict Commissioners had chosen for
the location of the new building 10
house the District Supreme Court.
Tomorrow morning several archi-
tects and designers will report to the
commission on a number of different
sites being considered tentatively for
the Jefferson memorial. Frederic Ohm
stead, former member of the COM
mission, has submitted memoranda in
connection with the memorial and
Maj. Gilmore D. Clarke, a landscape
architect, who is a member of the
Fine Arts Commission, also will ad-
wise the commission.
Land Buying to Be Talked.
The purchase of necessary land to
complete program of 20 Fairgrounds
and carry out plans for minor park
acquisitions will occupy most of the
Afternoon session.
Nolen said the land acquisition pro-
vides for well balanced program
scattered all over the city" Most of
the Fairgrounds to benefit under the
$500, 900 program are nearly completed
now. The commissions planning ex-
pert emphasized emphatically that no
new projects are being considered.
The commission has no intention of
announcing the sites of these play
grounds because of apprehension that
their identity will bring about an in
crease in land prices. Reports will be
submitted on the status Of all the prof.
ects now under way. especially in re-
lation to real estate developments in
the surrounding sections.
supt. c. Marshall Finnan of the
Once Of National Capital Parks will
submit plans of the coming year for
the Roosevelt Island Improvements.
This work will be done by the Civilian
Conservation Corps.
Coordination to Be Surveyed.
The commission also will confer
with Irving c. Root. chief engineer
Of the Maryland National Park and
Planning Commission. on several de-
velopments which require co-ordina-
ton between the two bodies. He will
report progress made on the Cabin
John Parkway northward to Conduit
road and plans for the extension of
Sixteenth street from the District line
to Georgia avenue. A committee rep
resenting five civic associations in
Montgomery County has asked the
National Capital Commission for It's
views on the Sixteenth street extern
sion. This has been included in the
regional plans for the last five years.
Another matter requiring co-ordi-
nation with the. Maryland authorities
is the extension Of New York avenue
eastward from Bladensburg road. This
would involve proper road connections
with the District and other roads in
Maryland. T. s. Settle. secretary to
the commission, will submit a report
On the status of legislation involving
local projects. This will be done at
Fridays meeting. His report will in
elude the airport controversy.
The commission also will study the
plans for the new Federal Reserve
Board Building, which will be located
on Constitution avenue between Twen-
tieth and Twenty-first streets. The de-
sign, by Paul Cret, who will appear
before the commission, already has
been approved by the Fine Arts Com
mission. The plans will be up for
6nal action.
Flood Protection On Program.
Approval also was expected for the
plans OF the National Capital Parks
Once for grading the Monument
Grounds to provide flood protection.
The low point of the Monument
Grounds Is 10 feet below the new
level which viii, be provided as q pre-
caution against flooding.
Other details concerning plans
under the $1,cOo,o0o P. w. A. allot-
mert for the parks will be considered.
AL of these are of q minor nature.
Questions relating to possible ways
In which the commission can CO.
operate with nearby Virginia COM
munities on regional planning will be
taken up during the afternoon. At
present there is no planning agency
In the Virginia territory as in Mary
land, although legislation looking to
this end Is being considered by the
Legislature.