Evening star., 1938-07-28
PLANNING GROUP
APPR0VESAVENUE
independence Is Viewed as
Great Monumental
Thoroughfare.

Development Of Independence Ave-
nue. s.W. as great monumental thor
oughfare, balancing Constitution ave-
nue. from the north side of the Mall,
was approved today by the National
Capital Park and Planning Commis-
sion ut the opening session OF three
day joint meeting with the Fine Arts
Commission.
Paving Of the avenue from South
Capitol to Twelfth street S.W. In pre-
paration for construction Of the twin
Social Security and Railroad Retire.
ment Board buildings was voted by
the commission.
A road width Of 60 feet was estab-
lished, with a total width Of 100 feet
between building lines The construc-
ton will include cutting through resi-
dental areas In the vicinity Of Mary
land avenue previously acquired by
the Government.
The commission fixed building
lines for the new $l4,250, 900 Social
Securities Building in the square
bosmdad.nby Independence avenue,
Third, -Four and G streets SW. In
dependence avenue at this point will
be widened to 10 feet to provide un-
loading and parking area in front
Of the new building. The commission
approved ground plans for the Rail-
road Retirement Board Building in
the block bounded by c, D. Fourth
and Fifth streets S.W. The Treas
ury Department now is purchasing
land for both buildings, clearing Of
which will begin as soon as the ground
is cleared.
Settle Reviews Legislation.
Thomas s. Settle, commission Sec
retary, reviewed legislation and ap-
propriations for local construction and
land purchase during the last ses-
sion Of Congress, which he character
lied as zone Of the most constructive
and important ever held from the
standpoint Of development Of the Dis
trict."
Plans were made for continuation OF
a playground and recreation program
under q new appropriation Of $625. 600.
This program is intended to provide
recreational areas Of to 80 acres in
size within not more than mile OF
every residence in the city and to pro-
vide playground space within one
fourth of a mile Of every residence.
The commission took under consid-
Grafton plans for a $4,000 monument
to Albert Gallatin, early Secretary Of
the Treasury, to be erected in the
Treasury grounds, probably on the west
side, facing the White House.
Site for Art Gallery.
Selection Of site for the new Smith
sonian Gallery Of Art also is being
considered. Congress has appropri-
ated $4,000 for development of COM
petitive plans for the new gallery.
Mr.. Settle announced that q con-
tract for land purchase for the new
Jefferson Junior High School and for
adjoining playground space now is
being completed. Congress appropri-
ated 100000 for the school site, and
bkqthe commission Is purchasing play
ground area from its own funds, in
the square bounded by Seventh and
Eighth, H and I streets SW. Funds
are available to begin construction Of
the long-needed building.
The commission also is considering
. site for the new Army Medical Mu-
scum, for which Congress has au-
thorised an appropriation of $780,
600.
Other building projects slated for
consideration at today's meeting were
the $10,s15,000 War Department
Building, the new Naval Medical Gen.
ter and the $1s. 100000 District public
works program and $l0,000,000 slum
a