Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-11-15
New Northwest
Junior High
Site Is Chosen
Public Hearings
Planned on Fort
Drive Project

Drive Project
The National Capital Park and
Planning Commission and District
officials have chosen = site for q
new junior high school in the vi
cinity of Massachusetts, avenue and
Macomb street NV.
= The planning group, meeting for
the second day Of its November
meeting, approved the choice after
q special committee made up OF
Capt. John L. Person, Assistant
Engineer Commissioner; Henry "
Hubbard, landscape architecture
member of the commission, and
members of the commission staff
made their recommendation.
The commission also decided 70
buy land adjacent to the school
for a recreation center. AS Is usual
practice, the commission did not
reveal the exact location OF the
school or playground sites.
The planners announced that a
Joint meeting between themselves
and the Maryland National Capital
Park and Planning Commission
which had been scheduled for this
afternoon had been postponed until
the December meeting Of the COM
mission.
Public Fort Drive Hearings.
Meanwhile, the District Commits
sioners announced that proposals
for appropriations to being develop
ment of the long planned Fort Drive
will be submitted for public reaction
ut a public hearing before the Com
missioners commit themselves re-
garding it.
After yesterdays joint session of
the park and planning commission
and the Commissioners, planning
commission spokesman said that
body wanted early appropriations
and development.
The Commissioners have requested
the planning body to submit an out
line of the Fort Drive development
and its anticipated cost. after which
they would call the public hearing.
It was said the Commissioners re-
gard the development program as of
such magnitude that the city gov
eminent should not commit itself
until the public has been apprised
Of its scope and cost and has had
an opportunity to present its views
Gas Tax Boost Might Come.
Some cost estimates run. as high
as SIS 900 ,000. Commissioner Hazen
speaking individually, has said he
believes it would be necessary to in
crease the District gas tax to meet
the financial obligation while the
District also is caring for other
bridge and highway demands.
Ninety per cent Of the land needed
Tor the right of way for the drive
has been purchased, the Planning
Commission announced.
The commission yesterday passed
4 resolution which makes two large
sections of the drive mo. l" on its
priority list.
It is a far cry from the origina
drive plan formulated more than II
years ago to the plan of today
Originally the drive was designed
primarily to be a park-like strip
connecting up the Civil War forti'
ncations OF the city. In other words
the esthetic and recreational bene.
dts of the project were stressed. The
roadway which was to run through
the strip was incidental.
Now the emphasis is being laic
on the roadway.
Downer Presents Years Work.
This trend was climaxed yester-
day when Jay Downer, chief engi-
neer for the Westchester County
IN. " park system, which now
contains some 5000 900 worth OF
parkways, told the commission and
the Commissioners his recommends
tons for the drive, the result OF
more than a years work as con-
: sultant for the planning commits
sion.
Instead of just q road, the Fort
drive now is planned to resemble
the Hutchinson River, Saw Mil
River or Cross County Pathways In
Westchester. Mr.. Downer has rec
commended, and the planners have
accepted the recommendation, that
the drive be double strip roadway
without grade crossings.
John Nolen, jr., the commission!
director of planning, said that two
sections of the parkway were being
considered for immediate construc'
ton If Congress is willing-tha1
portion between Eastern avenue
and Bladensburg road NE. anc
Fifth street and Concord avenue
NV. and that portion between
Coed Hope road Sc. and Bennine
road NE.
Great Time Saving Seen.
Using. the former as an example
Mr., Nolen said the average motor
list would be able to get from ont
point to the other In six to eigh
minutes where now it. takes hin
F. from one-haf to three-fourths o.
m hour.
/ The planning commission also an
/: nounced yesterday that Rosslyr
|, Plaza and its environs, which have
I become 4 mo mans land" due tt
| hsclouded police Jurisdiction, vii
|. soon be Transferred to the Once o
/ National Capital Parks, thus putting
It under the jurisdiction OF thu
United States Park Police.