Evening star., 1938-05-27
EAST CAPITOL ST.
WIDENING URGED
BY COMMISSION
Plans for Development to
Anacostia River Are
Detailed by Expert.
RESERVATION OF SITES
FOR BUILDINGS FAVORED
City Planners Approve General
Idea of Super.Highway to
New York City.

Widening of East Capitol street
from 80 to 160 feet as the axis for a
monumental development of East
Washington to balance the "un-
planned growth to the west and re-
store the original plan for the develop
ment of Washington was taken I'M
der consideration today by the Ma
tional Capital Park and Planning
Commission.
William T. Partridge, architectural
consultant to the commission, outlined
plans for a comprehensive develop
ment OF East Capitol street from the
Capitol grounds to the Anacostia
Rivers The plans calls for service
drives and parking strips along the
present street, balancing to some ex-
tent the Mall development to the west.
1t was suggested that sites be re-
served along both sides of East Capitol
street for monumental public and
semi-public buildings similar in type
to the Folger Shakespearean Library.
Plans also were considered for a
monumental national stadium near the
east end of the street.
Academy of Music Site.
Thomas S. Settle, commission sec
retary, pointed out the oft-proposed
National Academy Of Music would be
one Of the type of buildings suitable
for location along East Capitol street,
and that buildings for Independent
commissions or semi governmental
activities also might be located there.
The commission considered plans
for semi-circular approach from the
Capitol grounds to the widened East
Capitol street.
The LEnfant plan for the develop
ment of washington contemplated the
main development toward the east"
Mr. Settle explained. Through un-
foreseen circumstances the trend Of
development, however, was toward the
northwest, where conditions have be-
come so congested that there is now
an actual and growing need for a
more uniform and balanced develop
ment which will include the area east
of the Capitol"
Imposing Monument.
The commission took under consid-
Grafton a suggestion that some tall.
imposing monument" be located in
Lincoln Square, as was contemplated
in the original plans for Washington.
The commission approved the gen.
eral idea of a super highway between
Washington and New York. as pro-
posed in bill introduced in the House
by Representative Drew Of Pennsyl-
vania in behalf of group Of Pennsyl-
vania New Jersey and Maryland men,
bers of Congress. The commission will
consider plans for tying such high
way development in with the local
plan and with its previously approved
plan for a super highway to Baltimore.
District Engineer Commissioner Sul-
tan was to appear before the commits
sion this afternoon to present detailed
plans for construction of Fourteenth
street underpaSS at Thomas Circle.
and for the K street grade separation
project at Rock Creek. Funds for both
projects are included in the new Dis
trict appropriation bill. and prelim-
mary plans have been tentatively ap-
proved by the commission.
Favor Airport Measure.
Members of the commission eX-
pressed the hope that Congress will
enact airport legislation for Washing
ton during the present session. The
commission for years has been on
record in favor Of the Gravelly Point
site, but last year four members of
the commission, as members of the
District Airport Commission. gave the
Camp Springs (Md) site first pri-
ority, putting Gravelly Point in Sec
ond place.
The commission also expressed hope
that Congress will enact pending
amendments to the District zoning
law, and expressed qualification over
legislation amending the Alley DWELL
ing Authority act to authorize in
creased expenditures for housing i'm
provements in Washington.
Memorial Parkway Farley.
The commission yesterday afternoon
authorized Chairman Frederic A.
Delano and Arno B. Cammerer, ex-
ecutive officer, to confer at once with
officials of Arlington County, Va, on
plans for acquisition and development
of Unit 2 of the George Washington
Memorial parkway, from Key Bridge.
Rosslyn, along the Virginia shore of
the Potomac River to Spout Run.
This is regarded as vital part Of
the parkway because it will afford
important park and highway connec-
tions into the thickly populated por-
tions of Western Arlington County.
The county has been asked to raise a
fund of $4,000, to be matched by the
State. The Federal Government in
turn would contribute 100000 to
match the State and county funds.
providing a total of 100000 for land
purchase and development work.
County officials. however. have not
raised their quota of the fund and so
far have given no assurance Of their
ability tn do 80