Evening star., 1937-01-30
MUNICIPAL CENTER
S|TEPR0POSEDF0R
C|Ty'S AUDITORIUM
Pennsylvania Avenue Area
Discussed at Session
of Planners.
ANACOSTIA RIVER BANK
LOCATION ALSO TALKED
Mellon Art Gallery Plans Looked
at in Joint Meeting With
Fine Arts Group.

AZ IN J0lnC MeeCluS Will
Fine Arts Group.
The land owned by the district
Government on Pennsylvania avenue
between Fourth and Sixth streets was
suggested at yesterdays meeting OF
the National Capital Park and Plan
ming Commission as possibility for
an auditorium for Washington, imme-
diately available. This was planned
originally as part OF the municipal
center development, but this program
has not developed.
r. c. Jeffers, landscape architect OF
the commission, who has made a
study of the potential sites, pointed
out that this would provide a smaller
auditorium for public gatherings. If
q larger auditorium. patterned after
that at Atlantic City. N. j.. where
foot ball games and other events
might also be held. be desired. the
only site now in public ownership Is
at the end of East Capitol street. on
the banks of the Anacostia River.
The commission was informed by
It's secretary, Thomas S. Settle, Of the
status OF the Robinson, King and
other measures for an auditorium. It
instructed its Legislative Committee,
comprising Chairman Frederic A.
Delano and its executive 6ficer, Arno
3. Cammerer, and the staff to Coop
crate with any auditorium commission
that Congress might set up, furnish
ing with data and maps, as well as
with information from other cities.
The commission deferred definite ac-
ton on an auditorium site until 1t
can determine just what Congress has
In mind.
Art Gallery Plans Scanned.
Meeting jointly yesterday afternoon
with the Fine Arts Commission, the
planners looked at plans for the Mel
Ion Art Gallery, presented by Otto
r. Eggers, partner of John Russell
Pope. famous New York architect
and while the general impression was
favorable, no detailed information
was given out officials explained that
their joint report will be made to
President Roosevelt.
The sense of the commissions was
that the closing of Sixth street. across
the Mall, Is one Of the requirements
Of the gift of the art gallery by An
drew w. Mellon, former Secretary of
the Treasury, to the Government, and
he so stated in his letter to President
Roosevelt. The possibility of widening
Fourth and Seventh streets, across the
Mall. and maybe Third street. was
discussed. but no decision was an
nounced.
Extension Of the Shipstead- Luce
oct area, giving the Federal Govern.
snent supervision over types Of archi-
lecture Of buildings to be erected
adjacent to public buildings and parks
vas another topic Of discussion at the
joint session. The Planning Com
mission staff was instructed to draw up
maps showing the proposed extension
OF the statute to embrace public build
ing areas In the Northwest and near
legations and embassies. This will be
presented to the February meeting. DR.
Charles Moore, chairman Of the Fine
Arts Commission, declared that the
6hipstead-Luce act had afforded fine
cooperation between private business
and the Government.
The two commissions SHE'D away
from action on the Thomas Jefferson
Memorial, declaring that inasmuch as
nothing was officially before them and
the congressional commission, headed
by Representatives Boylan, Democrat,
Of New York has not yet finally re-
ported, nothing should be done at this
time. 1t is considered significant by
observers, however, that Pope is also
the architect for designs for the
Thomas Jefferson Memorial at the site
OF the Tidal Basin, and the two bodies
may have secretly discussed these
plans when Eggers appeared.
Bridge Plans Submitted.
Col. Daniel I. Sultan, Engineer Com
missioner Of the District, and an ex-
oficio member Of the planning body.
submitted plans for the Pennsylvania
Avenue Bridge across the Anacostia
River to the two commissions. H. G.
Whitehurst, District director Of high
ways, also explained points Of interest
and the commissions said they were
satisfied. Steel and stone bridge plans
were Endorsed, although the latter is
too costly for the money in hand.
The two commissions went over the
ground plan, submitted by the Pro-
curement Division of the Treasury De-
partment, for the projected $26, ,000, 900
War Department building, to be 10
Twenty-third streets. This was deemed
satisfactory and detailed studies now
will be made.
Flood control for Washington came
before the Planning Commission, when
First Lieut.. William j. Matteson, dis
trict engineer for the War Depart
ment for the Washington area; E. A.
6chmitt, senior engineer. and Charles
A. CLANCY, senior structural engineer
proposed that the levee in the rear
Of the Navy and Munitions Buildings
be raised 3 feet and that east Of
Seventeenth street, on the Washington
Monument Grounds, the elevation be
raised about feet. This the commits.
sion favored and the engineer,
promised to work the plan so that
It would merge into the landscape
and not present an unsightly view
As soon as money becomes available
either from Congress, the Works Prog
ress Administration, or elsewhere
the work will 60 forward, in conjunc.
, ton with the National Capital Parks
Lieut.. Matteson will make q study
and report back to the planners on q
projected levee along the bank Of ths
Potomac River, from the Lincoln Me.
mortal to the Highway Bridge. The
existing levee, at the rear Of the Navy
and Munitions Buildings, cost $27, ,00C
and was completed in permanent form
after q temporary dixie had beer
tl,nun I'm when Washin1tOn VA