Evening star., 1938-06-19

The Capitol Is masked by o
street as it no1D eIiStS, as Sho1D1
| quickly for such events as the inter-
national Boy Scout Jamboree conven-
tions of such large national organiza-
tions as the Mystic Shrine, All Club
encampments, athletic meets and out
of-door musical and pageant presenta-
tions.
Place for Stadium.
Just to the north of this natural
amphitheater is a logical location for
great national stadium capable of
accommodating such important events
as the Olympics and the Army-Navy
football games
East Capitol street, now laid out
with a width of 160 feet between
building lines. is not wide enough to
be- the really noble avenue it should
be, especially considering the nature
of the Mall development west of the
Capitol" Chairman Delano said.
I'VE believe it should be at least 200
feet in width, with central drive
way and service roads on each side"
The National Capital Park and
Planning Commission has made studies
of East Capitol street based upon
rights of way 160, 200, 24O and 28O
feet, with various combinations of
center and service roadways. No de-
cision has been made as yet on the
proper width or treatment These
plans depend upon the proposal for
acquisition and use of the property
between A street south and A street
north
Within such an area a truly noble
development would be possible over
period of years, probably covering
several decades. No private property
within the area would be affected un-
til the whole plan has been fully de-
veloped and authorized by Congress.
The new United States Supreme
Court Building was set back from
East Capitol street in anticipation of
eventually carrying out the widening
and improvement of this future boule-
ward. The Supreme Court Building
has been so placed that East Capitol
feet from its present width of so feet
Such a widening of East Capitol
street, even if only in the section be-
tween First and Second streets NE,
adjoining the Supreme Court Build
ing, would serve to direct attention
to the fact that here was the begin
ming OF great avenue rather than
just another typical street." Mr.. No.
len commented. East Capitol street
should be the Champs Elysees Of
Washington"
Widening Considered.
The Park and Planning Commission
now is considering widths Of 70 and
30 feet for the roadway of East Capt.
tol street. The Champs Elysees has
roadway 81 feet wide. On either
side trees are planted in gravel strip
% feet wide. Beyond on either side
are walks 13 feet wide, another gravel
strip % feet in width and walks 10
feet wide, adjacent to the buildings.
Buildings are limited to a cornice-line
height of 66 feet, but if set back, may
extend higher
A 280-foot right of way for East
Capitol street would permit preserva-
tlon OF the present 50-foot roadway
and the present giant elm trees in a
10-foot strip on either side of the
roadway, beyond which would be, on
either side, 24-foot service road
and 81 feet of space for sidewalks and
parking extending to the fronts of
the future buildings, which would flank
this street.
Such development of East Capitol
street would provide sites for build
ings housing departments of the Gov
ernment closely associated with Con-
gress, the Supreme Court OF the Lii
brary Of Congress. Such structures
as the proposed national academy of
music or possibly Of great national Or
ganizations might also find their places
here. State buildings, hotels and high
class shops would be given q place
in the plans, although no CONNER
cial development is proposed on East
Capitol street itself.
This treatment should be of first
interest to members of Congress, the
commission believes. It would provide
splendid, fashionable living quarters
for them in the finest of surroundings,
with convenient, attractive shopping
areas close at hand. All Of these would
be close to their Offices and the Capitol
and would become even more valuable
to members Of Congress as a result
of development of proposed State
buildings in which citizens of the
respective States could meet aid ex-
hibit products and features for which
their States are renowned.
Lincoln Square Plan.
Lincoln Square, in the opinion of the
commission, should be enlarged, since,
except for the Capitol, it is the most
important intersection Of avenues in
the City of Washington. At this
point Maj. L'Enfant originally planned
monumental Itinerary marker
from which highway distances through
the Nation were to be measured. The
Zero Milestone has usurped the func-
tions of such marker.
There are, however, alternate plans
under consideration for magnificent
treatment of Lincoln Square which
would raise it to the dignity of a
focal point in the area between the
Capitol and the Anacostia. It is pro-
posed to redesignate the area as
Independence Square," since there
now is confusion between Lincoln
Square and the Lincoln Memorial In