Evening star., 1939-01-27
Planners Weigh
New Building
Projects
Census Bureau
Structure Listed
For Action

f0r Action
The National Capital Park and
Planning Commission is expected
to clear the way for immediate
construction of the proposed So
10000 Census Bureau Building in
the Southwest Federal building area
at today's session of its two-day
January meeting.
The commission also will consider
advanced plans for the War De-
partment Building group in the
Northwest Rectangle, the courts
group in Judiciary Square, the new
Central Library in the Municipal
Center and the proposed Smith
sonian Gallery of Art, just across
the Mall from the Mellon gallery,
now under construction.
Thomas S. Settle, commission
secretary, was to present details of
the pending legislative program,
especially the bill for the proposed
local auditorium project, which is
being pushed by congressional lead
ers to provide accommodations for
inaugural ceremonies and other ma
tional events.
Highway Approaches Approved.
AT the request of Arlington Coun-
ty planning officials the commission
late yesterday approved project
for two major new highway ap-
proaches to Washington from the
south of Arlington National Ceme-
terry. The plans call for a monu-
mental circle at Columbia pike and
Arlington Ridge road or near the
southeast corner of the cemtery.
From this circle the two new roads
would branch off, one to Columbia
Island and the Arlington Memorial
Bridge and the other around WASH
ington Airport to Highway Bridge
The Arlington Bridge road would
cross the Arlington Experimental
Farm area, almost entirely on Fed
orally owned land, and would neces-
state construction of new bridge
across Boundary Channel near the
south end of Columbia Island. This
road would balance the new Lee
boulevard approach at the north
end of the island.
The Highway Bridge road would
provide the long-needed airport by
pass road to replace Military road.
closed last year Washington Air
port has paid s25 900 to Arlington
County as a contribution toward
construction of this road.
The commission approved pro-
posed legislation to be submitted
to the Maryland Legislature au-
thorizing enlargement by approxi-
mately 100 per cent in Montgomery
and Prince Georges Counties of
the jurisdiction of the Maryland
National Capital Park and Plan
ming Commission. The extension
of this area is necessary to keep
pace with growth Of Greater Wash
ington and to permit adequate PLAN
ming and zoning activities. The
present boundaries of the Mary
land commission were fixed in 1928.
it was paonted out. The enlarged
zone would extend nearly to Rock.
vile and would include such COM
munities as Garrett Park, Bladens-
burg and Silver Spring.
Parkway Extension Asked.
The commission received a re-
port that Montgomery County
groups have adopted a resolution
asking the State Legislature to ap-
propriate funds for acquisition of
land along the Potomac River for
extension of the George Washing
ton Memorial Parkway, especially
in the vicinity of Cabin John An
important start has been made in
the recent Federal acquisition of
the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal prop
erty, it was pointed out.
The commission approved several
minor boundary changes for &C
QUESTION of land in section No. 2 of
the George Washington Parkway
o nthe Virginia shore of the river
upstream from Key Bridge.
The commission received a re-
quest from the District Playground
Council that it approve a program
for construction of swimming pools
in various parts of the city. The
present number of public pools is
entirely inadequate for a city of
this size, the council reported. The
commission authorized members of
its staff to make a detailed study
of the request with a view to ask
ing Congress for necessary legisla-
ton and appropriations. Lewis r.
Barrett, co-ordinator of recreation
on the staff of the Office of Ma
tional Capital Parks, will assist in
these studies.
Tourist Camp Buildings Asked.
Plans submitted by c. Marshall
Finnan. superintendent of Ma
tional Capital Parks, for construc-
ton of permanent, modern buildings
at the Washington Tourist Camp
to replace existing inadequate wood
en- structures were taken under ad-
visement for more careful study.
Today the commission will receive
a report from John Nolen, jr., its
representative on the Board of Zon-
ing Adjustments, covering proposed
zoning amendments in the Massa-
chusetts avenue embassy row" area
The proposed amendments would
| permit increases in the present
maximum height limit of go feet
to 80 feet between Dupont and
Scott Circles. The commission has
only advisory powers in such zon-
ing matters and can do no more