Evening star., 1937-06-19
W0RLDART CENTER
DEVELOPMENT FOR
MALL IS APPROVED
Planning Body Co.ordinates
Mellon Gallery and Two
Other Buildings.
SITE FOR SMITHSONIAN
STRUCTURE ENDORSED
Recommendation for Widening of
Seventh Street Is Adopted
by Commission.

Washington as the worlds greatest
art center was brought nearer reality
today.
The stamp OF approval has been
placed by the National Capital Park
and Planning Commission en- the pro-
gram that will create an art develop
ment on the north side OF the Mall,
between Fourth and Fourteenth
streets. along Constitution avenue.
Three buildings will house outstand-
ing paintings, sculpture and other
forms Of art-the Mellon Art Gallery,
soon to be constructed; the extern
sions to the National Museum and
the future art gallery Of the Smith
sonian Institution, to be built be-
tween Twelfth and Fourteenth streets,
where the Agriculture Department
green houses stand
The commission, at its session yes
terday. indorsed the general plans for
this development. 1t conferred with
representatives of John Russell Pope,
New York architect. and gave final
approval to his detailed plans for
the setbacks and approach to the
Mellon Art Gallery, at Seventh street
and Constitution avenue.
Building Boundaries Fixed.
The building, which will house An
drew w. Melons famous collection
OF paintings. will be set back 100 feet
from Madison drive on the Mall. at
least 30 feet from Constitution ave-
nue., $50 feet back from Fourth street
and $50 feet from Seventh street.
The commission unanimously
adopted the recommendation OF its
co-ordinating committee that Seventh
street be widened from IS to IS feet,
across the Mall, between Constitution
and Independence avenues.
This mornings session was devoted
TO consideration Of the status OF
legislation in which the planners are
interested, as well as a number of
gasoline station designs, on which
the commission must pass.
Around noon today the commission
arranged to make an inspection OF Lee
Boulevard-an approach to Arlington
Memorial Bridge. between the Poto-
mac River and Fort Myer. Va. Vir-
Rinia civic interests, anxious to MAIN
tain the memorial character OF the
boulevard. are insisting that it be
soned residential, to keep out hot dog
stands and other undesirable CONNER
cial enterprises.
Extension Plans Incomplete.
The extensions to the National
Museum-still in the planning stage
will be set back $50 feet from Ninth
street. under this program, to give 4
symmetrical treatment to the buildings
and park. The panel from Seventh
to Ninth street, under the commits
SONS plans. will be left open across
the Mall, at its cross axis.
DR.. Alexander Wetmore, assistant
secretary of the Smithsonian 1nstitu-
ton, conferred with the commission
and brought with him plans pre-
viously approved for extension OF the
National Museum. The planners
asked him to give further study to
the problem and in view OF the Mellon
Art Gallery development, to cut down
the size OF the extensions to the Ma
tional Museum to conform to the
new plan.
Senator Walsh, Democrat, OF Mas
sachusetts has pending 4 measure to
authorize the drafting OF preliminary
plans for a gallery of art, under the
Smithsonian Institution, to be located
on Constitution avenue between
Twelfth and Fourteenth streets. The
commission went on record ~ ap-
proving that location.
Further Donations Seen.
Frederic A. Delano, the commits
slon's chairman, who presided, told
hiS colleagues that he felt donations
OF money and art objects would be
made to the Smithsonian Institution
and that funds for the construction
OF the building itself might be forth
coming from wealthy donors. The
Mellon Art Gallery will be under the
Jurisdiction OF the Smithsonian In
stttution. There are a number Of art
donations now reposing In the Ma
tlonal Museum, which lacks the proper
space to display them to ADVANTAGE
ofncials said.
In addition to these art develon.
ments. the Corcoran Gallery of Art
and other centers here will aid In
making Washington the world,
greatest art center, in the opinion Of
Thomas 8. Settle, the commission.
secretary.
The commission passed q resolution
indorslng the report of the Baltimore.
washington Annapolis survey fo,
parks. forests and recreational use,
OF the area. As well ss its genera
1nture development. Maryland and
FEDERAL planning groups co-operatet
IN making the study possible. Johr
Nolen, 1r.. the commissions directo,
Of planning. served with the surye,
group. Is did Max 8. Wehrly, a.
sistant landscape architect Of tn,
Planning Commission. This repor
is to be made public shortly, setth
said.
Further cooperation will be rive,
Virginia authorities In studying tn
son1ns problem that has arisen on tn,
lower end Of the Lee boulevard, from
Fort Myer, Va, to the Potomac River
as an approach to the Arlington Me-
mortal Bridge.