Evening star., 1935-03-15
PROPOSED SCHOOL
CENTER EXTENSIVE
CoIored Educational DeveI'
opment to Occupy A.
; Acre Tract.

On a 42-acre plot overlooking the
Potomac River from Twenty-fourth
street and Benning road northeast
the Board of Education plans to set up
the most extensive Negro educational
center in America, so far as element
ary and high school needs go.
Abutting land that is part of the
Speedway Development, this center
when completed will overlook a series
of recreational parks and parkways to
be devoted exclusively for use OF COL
ored people.
What is now known as Anacostia
Flats will be totally obliterated, bur-
led beneath channel soil from the bot
:om of the Potomas. The Fedora Gov
ernment plans to do for the eastern
part of the city-and particularly the
Eastern Branch-what was done along
the old marsh lands that preceded
Potomac Park.
On a lofty hill looking down on
what was once AnacoStia Flats the
new colored school development will
some day Standard that day is not
far distant Already. some buildings
are there; and in actual use. These
are the Young Elementary School, the
Browne Junior High School, and the
Phelps Trade School for Boys.
New Trade School.
The new Trade School was opened
last May-exclusively for trade in
struction 1t is the only school of its
kind in the city, according to G. c.
Wilkinson, first assistant Superintend-
ent in charge of colored schools.
With these as a starter, the first
step in the carrying out OF the con-
templated plan will be to erect an an
mex to Browne Junior High. This will
ready available. In day or so the
municipal architect will let the con-
tract, it is understood.
After that comes the erection of a
100000 colored senior high school
Congress has been asked for 100000
to start plans and specifications for
this building.
In anticipation of this educational
development, the school authorities
have their eyes on an additional
tract of land containing 10 acres.
This is between the present site,
owned by the District government
and the sweeping tracts of land
owned by the Federal Government
With the additional 10 acres the two
governments would control enough
land to insure the perfect develop
ment.''
To the north of the tract is the
National Arboretum.
To Face Development.
All the new buildings, and some
OF the old, will face the new develop
ment along the Speedway
Looking far into the future, DR..
Wilkinson sees here the greatest cul-
tural center the colored people will
have in or around Washington. He
visualizes teachers college on the
Bennlng road.
There is an underpasS from this
42-acre tract, leading under Ben
ming road, to admit pupils coming
to school. This is the one big safety
feature of the tract.
On sloping terrace, the buildings
that are already erected on this prop
erty are in keeping with plans for
the new colored high school. As yet
all the landscape effects are not
finished; the approaches are not COM
plete. Outline for the final plan
calls for terraces, fine greens, fields
and campus-while across the way
will be the Speedway development,
with golf courses and swimming pools
for use of colored citizens.
DR.. Wilkinson. in outlining the
plan, said: It look upon this as an
outstanding achievement"