Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1938-08-21
MAJOR BUILDING
PR0JECTSPUSHED
Municipal and Medical
Centers and Security
Structures Progress.

Plans sfor three major local con-
structioh projects in connection with
the record-breaking Federal and Dis
trict building program are rapidly
nearing the actual construction stage,
It was indicated yesterday as the Fine
Arts Commission submitted progress
reports" on the District Municipal
Center, the Naval Medical Center and
the Social Security Board and Rail-
road Retirement Buildings.
The reports. constituting approval
of plans for the three great projects
as so far developed, have been sent
to the District Commissioners. Rear
Admiral p, S. Rossiter, chief of the
Naval Bureau of Medicine and Sur
gerry. and Louis Simon of the Treasury
Department.. which is supervising con-
struction of the Social Security and
Railroad Retirement Buildings
Although final details of all three
construction projects have not been
completed, it was learned substantial
progress is being made with a view
to starting construction as soon as
possible. All three projects are ex-
pected to be far advanced, from the
standpoint Of architectural planning,
by the time of the next meeting of
the National Capital Park and Plan
ming Commission, during the last week
in September.
To anchor" New Areas.
From the standpoint of the future
development of the National Capital.
the Municipal Center and Social
Security Railway Retirement projects
are regarded as of outstanding i'm
portance. They will serve to anchor
two vital new construction areas to
the north and south of the Mall and
to inaugurate long-term future con-
-struction programs.
The plans for the Social Security
Board building also involve permanent
establishment of Independence avenue
as great thoroughfare, balancing
Constitution avenue. The building will
be located in accordance with plans
just approved by the Fine Arts and
Park and Planning Commissions.
which calls for right-of- of 100
feet between building lines for Inde-
penoence avenue. The avenue is to
be 90 feet wide from curb to curb,
with an additional offset of 10 feet in
front of the social security building.
Navy Negotiates for Site.
Inc ONCE of the Navy adjutanI
general now is in the midst of nepo-
tiatlons for purchase of 1874 acres
east OF the Rockville road Just beyond
Bethesda. Md, for the new Naval
Medical Center. In accordance with
wishes OF the Fine Arts Commission
plans for the first building to be
erected in the center, a 6O0-bed hos
pital structure, now are being re-
drawn to eliminate tower to which
both commissions objected. The plans
are being developed rapidly with q
view to calling for bids for construc-
ton as soon as possible.
A threatened controversy over re-
location Of section Of Jones Bridge
through the southern portion of the
site originally proposed for the medical
center has been settled by the action
of the Navy Department eliminating
from the taking lines" tract of A
acres mbracing the disputed area
This will not affect construction plan.
in any way. it was explained.
The progress report deals with plan.
for the District Municipal Center a,
whole. The District of Columbia
Appreciation Act for the current fis
cal year provides 100000 for begin
ming construction of the first unit of
the municipal center. Efforts are
being made to obtain public works
funds for further construction. Plans
and specifications are being drawn for
q new central public library, to be
constructed as = portion OF the mu-
nicipal center project.