Evening star., 1937-06-18
76-F0OT Artery /
ACROSS MALL Up
BEF0REPLANNERS
Seventh Street Widening
Due for Action in Two.
Day Session.
TO HEAR OF EXPANSION
FOR NATIONAL MUSEUM
Commission Also to Consider
Zoning on Lower End of
Lee Boulevard.

A recommendation that Seventh
street, across the Mall, be widened from
55 feet to rs feet, from Constitution
to Independence avenues, to aid in
traffic movement, now that Congress
has closed Sixth street to permit con-
struction of the Mellon Art Gallery,
will be considered by the National
Capital Park and Planning Commis-
sion, which today opened a two-day
session.
The commissions own co-ordinating
committee, on which representatives
OF the District and Federal Govern
ments are serving, has passed favor.
ably on the plan, after it had been dis
cussed thoroughly by the interested
official groups
Inc forthcoming construction of the
National Gallery of Art, at Seventh
street and Constitution avenue, brings
up the future problem of enlarging the
New National Museum of the Smith
sonlan Institution. just to the west
ward, and the preservation of the
building line already set on the Mall.
The commission will inspect plans of
the New York architect, John Russell
Pope, for the Mellon Art Gallery, with
a final decision in prospect.
Placing Of Wall a Factor.
John Noien, jr., director of planning
of the commission. said the commits
sion wants to make sure the proposed
parapet wall height around the build
ing will be in keeping with the build
ing line set some years ago Repre-
sentatives of Pope will discuss the
plans, as the elimination Of a num-
Der OF preliminary conferences on de-
tails OF the terraces and approaches to
the building, Nolen declared.
Representatives of the National
Museum will be on hand to confer with
the committee regarding the projected
extension, which is still in the plan.
ming stage. Nolen said the Smithson-
ian has no funds with which to do this
work Immediately. Pope is desirous
OF having the eastern facade of the
! National Museum extension set back
as far from Ninth street, westward, as
the west facade of the art gallery is
set back from Seventh street. Nolen
pointed out. This is calculated to give
q balanced effect.
Under the Mall plan. as set forth
under the act of March 4, 1929, the
| director of planning recalled. the
| panel between Seventh and Ninth
streets will be left open. This was
approved by the Commission on En-
larging the Capitol Grounds, of which
Vice President Garner is chairman.
| This area is the cross axis of the
Mall, at the Archives Building. Now
that Temporary Building F soon is
to be torn down, the vista will be
opened up
Lee Boulevard Zoning Up.
zoning along the lower end of the
Lee Boulevard from Fort Myer to
the Potomac River, will receive special
attention of the commission. which is
acting purely in an advisory status
to the Arlington, Va. County Board
and cooperating with the Virginia
State Highway Department in working
out mutual problems. The plans are
to make the whole area residential
and to eliminate the possibility of any
commercial development along the
scenic highway.
Work is actively under way on the
Lee Boulevard and the Planning Com
mission has set this afternoon aside
to make a special inspection trip to
the area
At this mornings session, the COM
mission reported that land purchases
have been completed to round out the
Georgetown Playground and the
Takoma Recreation Center. which Is
located at Fourth and Van Buren
streets.
Norman C, Brown, land purchasing
officer of the commission. has pur-
chased a half dozen houses in the
vicinity Of Thirty-fourth and @ streets
and these will be torn down shortly
to supply added playground facilities
in that congested area.
Takoma Land Acquired.
Outstanding land required to COM
plete the Takoma recreation develop
ment is now in Government ownership
and structures standing in the way
will be torn down. A large swimming
pool has been constructed at the
Takoma Center and park authorities
are planning to give added recrea-
tional facilities to that region.
Satisfactory progress in establishing
planning relationships with Fairfax
and Arlington Counties in nearby Vir-
ginia, as we'll as with Alexandria, was
reported by the commissions secretary,
Thomas S. Settle.
In arranging its Summer schedule.
the commission voted to meet July 20
and 80 and September Is, II and 18.
There will be no August meeting.
Later in the session Nolen, as repre-
sentative of the Auditorium Advisory
Committee. was to discuss the status of
the report to be made soon. The
commission Is on record for the past
year and half as favoring the Mu-
nicipal Center site at Third street and
Constitution avenue for the auditorium.
If structure accommodating some
$4,000 people is to be built patterned
after the Kansas City (Mo) audi
torium, built with Public Works Ad.
ministration funds.
$4,000 Capacity Possible.
Nolen said If huge auditorium and
sports center is to be constructed, then
the commission inclines to the East
Capitol street development on the
banks Of the Anacostia' River. There
an auditorium of 4, 900 capacity could
be built, similar to that at Atlantic
City, N. j., with an exhibition hall.
ice skating and other facilities incor-
porated. If they be authorized.
Settle was to review the legislation
in which the commission is particu-
larly interested, especially that relst.
ing to the auditorium, the Lee Boule.
l ward and Sonlng.