Evening star., 1938-05-29
Nv FRANCIS P. SULLIVAN,

"tft uppcu tt Htdt Su'tuU6 o beeF'
BY FRANCIS P. SULLIVAN,
Chairman the American Institute OF
Architects Committee in the National
Capital.
For the last 30 years the great object
of all those interested in the develop
ment of the National Capital has been
to insure the carrying out OF the es-
sentials of the Mcmillan plan.
This object has now been accom-
plished. The treatment of the Mall
has been carried to such point that
its eventual completion is assured and
it has now become time to consider
what must be done with other areas OF
equal Importance, the development OF
which has been postponed in order
to achieve this primary objective.
The original plan of the Mcmillan
Commission was not plan for Wash
ington as city. 1t took into account
merely the area west Of the Capitol
This district is now in danger OF
becoming overdeveloped and over
crowded. creating traffic problem
of serious moment, and the buildings
are becoming so closely packed to-
gether that the effect of their archi-
lecture is injured.
New Sites Must Be Found.
The increase in the number and size
OF Government agencies and the con-
tinuing tendency of national organiza-
tions representing every type Of busi-
ness. professional and social activity
to build headquarters buildings here
makes it imperative that new sites be
found and new areas devoted to these
purposes.
The concentration of Government
buildings in the area west of the Capt.
tol has thrown the city plan distinctly
out of balance. The approaches to the
Capitol from the north. east and south
present problems of equal importance
to that presented by the approach
from the west.
The English architect, Nash, in pre-
senting his plan for the improvement
of Regent street in London, argued
that the provision of handsome ap-
proach to the houses of Parliament
would have such a refining and en-
nobling influence on the members that
it would produce happy improve
ment in their legislation.
If this argument is to be accepted,
it could certainly do no harm to our
own Representatives and Senators to
make the thoroughfares leading to
their legislative chambers nobler and
finer than they are today.
Contrast Shames Other Areas.
East Capitol street, North Capitol
street and South Capitol street, three
of the four great axial streets provided
in the original city plan, have so far
been built up at haphazard, without
any form of guidance or control. The
result contrasts forcibly and unpleas-
antly with the magnifcence that has
arisen along the Mall under the in
fluence of the Mcmillan Commission's S
plans. Mean streets bordered by in
significant buildings, vast stretches OF
weed-grown waste, rambling railroad
tracks, garbage dumps, sand piles and
jungles line avenues which might
well be made comparable with the fin
est streets in any capital Of the world.
The most important OF these areas.
and the one that demands immediate
consideration, is that along East Capt.
tol street, bordered by Independence
avenue and Constitution avenue. the
Capitol and the Anacostia River Park
way.
In the L'Efant plan it was intend
ed that the buildings along East Cap
itol street should form succession OF
arcades something like the Rue de
Rivoli in Paris.
The Park and Planning Commission
has proposed to make East Capitol
street an Avenue of the States" lined
with buildings erected by and dedi-
Gated to the interests of the several
States of the Union. Carrying out this
striking suggestion and at the same
time retaining, the feature originally
suggested by L'Enfant might be ac-
complished by treating the various
buildings erected by the States as
pavilions, similar in mass and archi-
tectural treatment, connected by ar
cades or colonnades in such manner
as to give unity and continuity to the
whole vista.
The very interesting arrangement
which is to be seen in the buildings
facing upon the lawns" and ranges
of the University Of Virginia shows
the dignified effect which may be OBJ
tanned by such a treatment.
Striking Terminus Afforded.
The terminus already planned Tor
East Capitol street, in the form OF a
plaza flanked by the proposed stadium
and sports center designed for ma
tional athletic events, the National
Guard armory and a hall for large
assemblies and exhibitions, will form
q striking terminus for this avenue.
OF scarcely less importance is the
development OF the approach to the
Capitol Building from the south.
The casual observer passing through
this neighborhood and seeing its pres
ent undisnified and disorderly state
NAV be pardoned II hA n unable 70