Evening star., 1939-03-19
Federation Leaders Oppose
Downtown Auditorium Site
Hovenner and StuII See Traffic Congestion
Too Great in Central Location

Too Great in Centre
This Is the 36th OF a series of
srttcles dealing ,Dith the audi
tortun stadium problem now
pending In Congress. Further
discussion 1uAl tollow, and the
opinions of readers are inpited.
Two leaders Of the Federation of
Citizens Associations yesterday
Joined the chorus of protest against
location of an auditorium in down.
town Washington and approved sites
on East Capitol street, one at the
east end adjoining Anacostia Park,
the other on a newly proposed site
between Third and Fourth streets
south of East Capitol street.
The problem of traffic congestion
In downtown Washington has be-
come too serious to consider location
Of the proposed auditorium in the
Municipal Center area on Constitu-
ton avenue at John Marshall place,
in the opinions Of both these civic
leaders-George G. Havenner, past
president of the Federation, and
Harry N. Stull, now first vice presi-
dent.
Explaining his choice of the site
at the east end of East Capitol
street adjoining the park, Mr.. Stull
said:
I'm the first place, all things be-
ing equal, 1t would undoubtedly be
better to have the auditorium To-
Gated near the center of the city,
but in this instance all things are
not equal, since other matters be-
sides accessibility must necessarily
anter into the picture.
Automobile Problem.
TT cannot be overlooked that in
considering an auditorium seating
from 10000 to 10000 persons the
automobile problem is very i'm
portant one. Those of us who have
struggled with the existing street
car, bus and automobile congestion
in and around the Federal Triangle
cannot contemplate with pleasure
the addition of another problem
with other buildings in contempla-
ton there, which can only further
muddle situation that is pretty
near intolerable as it now stands.
Many criticisms have been leveled
at the planners who placed these
Federal buildings in one jumbled
mass in the center of the city, and
1t Is now generally conceded that a
mistake was made in not spreading
them throughout the city.
"The criticism of the East Capitol
street site has in some instances
assumed an amazing turn. For in
stance, it was recently stated by one
Of your correspondents that to
reach the site one had to travel
through the least desirable portion
of the city, and he then followed that
up by declaring that despite the
efforts of the planners, the city was
not being built up toward the east.
This is so far from the real truth,
and so evidently made by one who
does not know this community, that
it is hardly worth while pointing
out the error in the statement.
"The argument that there is
lack of car and bus traffic to and
from the East Capitol street site
overlooks the obvious fact that such
transportation would certainly be
promptly furnished by the Capital
Transit Co. whenever the situation
demanded.
Not for Light Thinking.
1T certainly will not be denied
that at the present time the parking
problem on Constitution avenue near
Fourth street Is one to vex the mind
Of the most astute traffic engineer.
A crowd of 10000 persons contem-
plates the use of many automobiles.
Where, may ask, is 1t intended
that these thousands shall park their
cars near the Constitution avenue
site?
Such problems cannot be lightly
tossed aside by the mere statement
that an auditorium should be CEN
trally located. If that were the only
consideration. then the officials of
the New York Worlds Fair have
made terrible blunder in not To-
eating their fair in the vicinity of
Forty-second street and Broadway.
Prom any angle, it seems to me
that the East Capitol street site is
by far the more desirable"
In opposing the Municipal Center
site Mr.. Havenner pointed out that
this section already is congested
and that traffic is becoming a more
serious problem every day.
when the new Municipal Gen.
ter buildings and the Public Lii
brary are built and the Mellon Gal
lery opened congestion in that area
will be SO great. in my opinion, as to
make the location of the proposed
auditorium entirely out of the ques-
tion from a traffic standpoint" Mr..
Havenner explained.
Opposes Combined Project.
II am opposed to combined audi
torium, stadium and armory at the
end Of East Capitol street because
do not believe the proposed audi
torium should be combined with a
stadium for sports events or with a