Evening star., 1939-11-30
Land Purchases
For 0ff-Street
Parking Urged
Cleveland Speaks
Before Women's
Sofety Group

Sofety Group
The purchase of parking areas to
provide municipal off-street park
irg was offered as a solution to
> Jashingtons parking problems by
Washington I. Cleveland, manager
of the District of Columbia division
of the American Automobile Asso-
citation at the opening meeting this
season of the Womens Safety Com
mittee yesterday at the Sulgrave
Club.
With 33 cities in II States now
successfully handling parking prob
lens in congested areas by pro-
viding off-street parking, Mr. Cleve-
land declared Washington could
and should do the same thing,
thereby providing accommodations
for harasssed business people as
well as removing parked cars from
street curbs.
Mr.. Cleveland said cities which
have been successful with municipal
parking places include Baltimore,
Pittsburgh, Schenectady, Hacken-
sack, and several Western cities. He
said areas obtained through con-
demnation and demolition of old
markets, have proven a boon to
Baltimore; Pittsburgh has found
space for 1900 cars on its old
Wharves; Schenectady has utilized
land purchased for street WIDEN
ing where all was not needed in
the widening program, and is now
planning to provide five additional
lots to care for 1000 cars each.
HackenSack, he concluded, provides
space for TOO cars on areas originally
used for park purposes.
Available Sites Listed.
Washington already has several
areas where parking lots might be
purchased, Mr. Cleveland pointed
out, including one between M and
N streets and Fourth and Fifth
streets NV; one on TWenty-second
street NV, between H and I, which
could accommodate $50 cars, and
the Medical Center parking place,
where $50 cars could be parked.
Mr.. Cleveland suggested that pro-
ceeds from parking meters should
be used to defray the expenses of
these off-street parking facilities.
Washington now has 310 meters
established, he said, each realizing
approximately 500 a year.
A bill to be offered in the next
Congress will provide for an in
crease in parking meters which,
When operating, should bring ap-
proximately 100000 annually into
municipal Golfers, Mr.. Cleveland
continued. This amount should be
applied to highway fund for off,
street parking facilities, he added,
In support of proposal made at
the meeting by Traffic Director
William A. Van Duzer, that Wash.
ington adopt a S5OO0,OOO off-street
parking program.
Mr.. Cleveland heartily indorsed
the bill, sponsored by Representative
Dlrksen of Illinois, which, if passed.
would authorize the District to es.
taolish off-street parking by the
purchase or lease of parking lots
OF other type parking. This bill
provides that the cost of mainte-
nance and operation of these places
be paid for by the user and that
the cost of lands acquired should
De paid for over a period of 20
years.
Another plan suggested by Mr..
Cleveland is that the Capital Tran
SIT Co. go into the parking busi-
ness, providing parking lots on the
fringe OF the downtown district.
oHeflng reasonable bus or car
lare TO those going and coming from,
business.
Building Code Change Urged.
Work for adoption of the Dirk
sen BILL Mr.. Cleveland urged the
committee. He concluded with the
proposal that the building code be
so amended that in the future no
buildings can be constructed unless
on-street parking is provided for
cars Used by those occupying the
buildings.
AT the luncheon which followed
the meeting, Mrs. Wilbur Carr, wife
OF the American Minister to Czecho-
SloVakla at the time of the German
occupation, told of a 5.OOO-mile
motor trip made by herself and Mr.
Carr through Germany, Italy and
france last spring after their de-
parture from Prague. The peauti-
1ul highways, with underpasses and
bridges dispensing with crossroads,
and the fine landscaping with abb
sence OF road signs make motoring
IN these countries something to be
envled by American motorists. Mrs.
Carr said. She also spoke of the ban
on horn footing in Rome, where
| drivers are forbidden to blow horns
within the city limits.
Throughout every European coun-
try sne visited, absence of roadside
parking was apparent Mrs. Carr
said, and In every country, munich
pal parking places are provided
where motorists pay small fee for
all-day parking
Mrs. George G. Thorpe. chairman
OF the Women's Safety Committee.
presided at the meeting and intro
duced the speaker.