Evening star., 1939-03-17
THE EVENING STAR WASHINGTON D. c. FRIDAY, MARCH IT, 1
East Capitol Auditorium Site
Held Aid to City's Balance
Proper Development Of Washington Calls
For Location, Armstrong Says

This Is the 34th of series OF
articles dealing 1Dith the audi
t0rtu1,1 stadium problem pend
ing in Congress. Further dis
cusston tDil tollo,D, and the opin-
ions OF readers are invited.
Three primary factors-accessibil-
ity, parking facilities and properly
balanced development of the city
should govern the location of the
projected public auditorium, In the
opinion Of Kenneth P. Armstrong,
chairman of the City Planning Com
mittee Of the Federation of Citizens
Associations.
As between the two sites now off,
cially under consideration, in the
Municipal Center on Constitution
avenue at John Marshall place and
at the end of East Capitol street
adjoining Anacostia Park, Mr.. Arm
strong finds the East Capitol street
location "by far the preferable one
when the above factors are con-
sidered"
The factor of accessibility, Mr..
Armstrong explained, may be di-
vided into two parts, accessibility to
transients and accessibility to resi-
dents.
Because such an auditorium will
be used largely for functions of
national interest its accessibility to
transients is most important" he
explained. From this standpoint
the Constitution avenue site at first
thought appears the more suitable.
This, however, presupposes that
such transients will be housed with
in walking distance or will use pub
lie transportation facilities exclu-
sively. A little reflection will show
that this is not proper presump-
ton.
Use Own Automobiles.
'The modern tendency, which is
becoming increasingly prevalent, is
for transients to reach this city in
their own automobiles and to lodge
in tourists houses located very
largely in the outlying sections.
Moreover, some of the larger and
more modern hotels, such as the
Shoreham and the Wardman Park,
which are frequently used as con-
vention headquarters, are remote
from the central business district
Transients stopping at such places
are practically in the same classifi-
cation as residents.
There can be no question as to
the superiority of the East Capitol
street location when accessibility to
residents is concerned. 1t can be
reached by private automobile or
taxicab from practically any section
of the District of Columbia and
| outlying suburbs without passing
through the central business dis
trict or congested parts of the city
| Those persons whose vision does not
extend east of North Capitol street
should study map of the District
of Columbia and verify this state
ment."
The matter of parking facilities,
Mr.. Armstrong said, is of "funda-
mental importance"
The days when large bodies of
people arrived In this City by pub
lie transportation. stopped at down.
town hotels and reached their desti-
nations on foot or by street car are
passing. if they have not already
passed." he said. The modern visi-
tor arrives in his own car and uses
it to get around the city. Even If
he comes by old-fashioned methods,
he is more likely to use taxicabs
than to walk or use street cars.
And at large gatherings such as
would be held in this auditorium
even taxicabs will want parking
space. Where in the vicinity of the