Evening star., 1939-02-18
Approve Program
Of Developing D. c.
Recreation Areas

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property necessary for one of the
major units, recreational area for
colored residents of the vicinity of
Forty-ninth and Washington streets
NE. was approved yesterday. Maps
OF the revised recreational system
now are being completed for the
entire District.
Approve Street Closing.
The commission approved the
closing of Twenty-fourth street NV,
between N street and the Rock
Creek and Potomac Parkway to en-
large the Francis Junior High School
recreational center.
Development of final plans for the
Washington National Airport at
Gravelly Point was made possible
by the approval in principal of re-
location of more than a mile of the
Mount Vernon highway between
Reaches Run and Four Mile Run.
The exact location Of the new por-
ton of the highway remains to be
determined; 1t may be routed either
between the new Bureau of Public
Roads highway research laboratory
buildings and the railroad yards un-
der one set of plans under considera-
tion.
The action of the commission is
the last step necessary to permit
commencement of work on relocat-
ing the highway and constructing
the airport buildings on the site of
the present road, relief funds for the
work being available Much of the
high land on which the Mount Ver-
non highway now is located on the
airport site will be graded down to
provide sites for buildings and mate
rial for the airport fill.
Col. r. S. Thomas. Army engineer
for the local district, reported that
sand and gravel is being pumped
into the airport fill now at the rate
Of 100000 cubic yards a month.
This rate will be approximately dou-
bled next month with the arrival of
a giant contract dredge from New
Orleans.
Approve Third Street Widening.
Widening of Third street, NV.
and S.W., from the northern edge of
the Municipal Center to Independ-
ence avenue was approved as
means of providing an important
new thoroughfare across the Mall.
Public Works Administration funds
are available for an immediate start
on this job.
The commission approved location
Of a new tuberculosis annex to
Freedmen's Hospital between w
street and the present hospital on
undeveloped property now owned by
the institution. P. w. A. has allotted
funds for this work
Elaborate plans for the develop
ment of Commodore Barney Circle
at the west end of the new Penn
sylvania Avenue Bridge were ap-
proved, clearing the way for imme-
diate construction by the Capital
Transit Co. of new waiting room,
street car and bus loading platforms
and landScaping of the area.
The commission announced, fol-
lowing a long series of conferences
with the Washington Suburban
Sanitary Commission, that land has
been acquired for new site for the
proposed Bladensburg sewage dis
posal plant which will not interfere
with development of the Anacostia
parkway and park motor way to
Baltimore. The original plan called
for locating the plant almost on the
road right of way in the parkway.
The new site is to the southeast of
this location. A P. w. A. allotment
for this project has been made and
the approval of the new site makes
possible an early start of construc-
ton.
"Airline" Highway Plans Dropped.
John Nolen, jr., director of plan
ming Of the commission, reported
that the proposed development of
an airline" boulevard on the right
of way of the abandoned Washing
ton, Baltimore & Annapolis Rail-
way has been dropped because the
right of way Is too narrow for a
superhighway. Instead, efforts will
be concentrated on development of
the proposed Baltimore Washington
parkway, entering Washington
through the Anacostia Valley.
Parts of the w., B. & A. right of
way will be used for local roads, he
reported.
Zoning and rezoning of parts Of
Washington street, Alexandria, Va,
forming the right of way of the
Mount Vernon highway, to permit
construction of apartment and row
house units was approved by the
commission in principle on condi-
ton that construction would be
along architecturally suitable lines
and that guarantees would be given
that the builders will be able to go
through with the projects on q scale
which will not be detrimental to
the beauty of the highway.
The commission also Is working
with Fairfax County authorities on
drafting of zoning ordinances for
the county under authorization Of
the zoning act of last year.
Approve Parkway Bill.
The commission strongly approved
a bill introduced by the Montgomery
County delegation to the Maryland
Legislature authorizing a bond issue
to finance purchase of land for the
George Washington Memorial park
way along the Maryland shore Of
the Potomac River from the Dis
trict line to Great Falls. Under the
Capper- Champion Act, the Park and
Planning Commission will match the
Maryland funds dollar for dollar.
Methods proposed by the Alley
Dwelling Authority Of acquiring land
by purchase and condemnation for
local low-cost housing and slun1-
clearance projects were approved by
the commission, in accordance with
law.
Mr.. Nolen reported that progress
| iS hein0 roade ~, a dotuptou,ye ,,ark.