Evening star., 1937-05-21
MUNICIPAL CENTER
AND AUDITORIUM
MODELS EXHIBITED
Proposed Plans Are Viewed
by Park and Planning
Commission.
DETAILS OF LAYOUT
NOT MADE PUBLIC
Planners Anxious to Have New
Buildings Correlated With Street
Widening Project.

widening froJecI.
Models showing the proposed Mu-
nicipal Center development, with an
auditorium located at Third street and
Constitution avenue, were exhibited
today before the National Capital
Park and Planning Commission by
Nathan C. Wyeth, municipal archi-
tect.
The planner approved the projected
location of the buildings-eXclusive
of the auditorium-but details of the
layout were not made public
The commission is anxious to have
the Municipal Center buildings, when
constructed, correlated with the street
widening plan in the area from Third
to Sixth street and Pennsylvania to
Indiana avenues, as we'll as to secure
a harmonious development with the
Apex Building and with the Mellon
Art Gallery. soon to be built at
Seventh street and Constitution ave-
hue.
Believed Favorable Site.
For long time, the commission has
felt that the southeast corner of the
proposed Municipal Center develop
ment offers an opportunity for an
auditorium site. Thomas S. Settle
the commissions secretary made it
clear that his colleagues are not at
tempting to influence the National
Capital Auditorium Commission, set
up by Congress and headed by Secre-
tary Ickes. The planners are repre-
sented on this body by their chair
: man, Frederic A. Delano, while on the
Advisory Committee, John Nolen, jr.
director of planning of the Planning
Commission, is serving.
Settle explained that the Municipal
Center sites availability as an audi
torium depends on the size of the
building, which the National Capital
Auditorium Commission desires. The
Third street and Constitution avenue
location would accommodate an audi
torium holding about 10000 persons.
Final approval was given to the set
back line and approaches for the
Mellon National Gallery of Art by
the Planning Commission John Rus
sell Pope, architect of the gallery, is
anxious to proceed with construction
of the building, now that Congress
has given authority for its acceptance
The commission required that this
structure conform to the building
lines established by the National
Museum and ether buildings of the
Smithsonian Institution located on
the Mall.
Committee Authorized,
The commission authorized Delanc
TO appoint committee to work with
the Thomas Jefferson Memorial Com
mission in an effort to work out diff
ferences that have arisen because of
the Jefferson Commissions determi-
nation to locate the memorial at the
Tidal Basin site in West Potomac
Park. The Planning Commission has
felt that general study of the whole
area affected should be undertaken
20 traffic, landscaping and other
problems might be settled without
delay.
Nolen laid before the commission 6
l0-year public building site program
These locations were not made public
The planners are working with Presi.
dent Roosevelt's special committee or
this problem.
Meanwhile, Engineer Commissioner
Dan I. Suntan, member of the Park
D1orv5por
to study detailed plans for improve.
ment of the Washington Channel
water front after his planning COL
leagues had approved them.
The District and Federal govern.
ments will coordinate the program sc
the improved Water street and the
construction of the new building.
planned along the water front, pat.
termed after the Municipal Fish Mar
ket, will dovetail into the new plans.
District to Contribute S35O,OOO.
Under the program the District Gov.
ernment is to contribute S35O,OO0 fol
this work and plans are being per.
fected by Maj. Walter D. Luplow, Wal
Department district engineer for tn,
Washington area. Maj. Luplow ane
his senior engineer, f.. A. Schmitt
appeared before the planners yesterda,
and explained the plans in detail
The Water street improvement is t.
harmonic with East Potomac Parl
and will be made into a boulevard
drive. The planners indorsed tn,
working plans submitted, subject to
final check by Col Sultan.
AS soon as funds become available
the district engineer will proceed will
construction, as Congress has alread,
authorized the program as an ap
proved project.
Late yesterday, after the planner
had appeared before the Senate sub
committee considering the slaughte
house measure, Col Sultan took hi
colleagues on personally y-conducte,
tour at the height of the traffic an,
showed them conditions on M and !
streets, as well as in the Rock Creel
and Potomac Parkway. He has recon
nended that consideration be given
traffic overpass at K street to facii
tate the movement of traffic, whicl
includes many heavy trucks operatin,
in and out of the industrial establish
nentS along the GEORGETOWN water