Evening star., 1940-11-17
Plan to Close
Virginia Ave-.
Opposed
Citizen Leaders
Prefer Street to
Building Site

Civic leaders OF the Northwest
section are unanimously opposed 70
the proposed closing of Virginia
avenue between Constitution avenue
and Nineteenth street, it was
learned this week.
General plans which have been ap-
proved by the National Capital Park
and Planning Commission and sent
to DR.. L. S. Rowe, director general of
the American Union. call for
square formed from the land
bounded by Constitution avenue,
Virginia avenue, Eighteenth and
Nineteenth streets. To make
square of this site, at least part OF
Virginia avenue would have to be
used and the avenue permanently
closed. On the square thus formed
would be built two annexes to the
Pan-American Building, one facing
on Eighteenth and the other on
Nineteenth street, and leaving a
space between the two so as not
to obstruct the view Of the Interior
Department from Constitution ave-
nue..
President of the association in
whose area the change would be
made, Walter F. Wasson is strongly
opposed to the whole plan
1T seems to me that the most
absurd thing the Government could
do would be to deprive us of the bus
lest traffic artery in the District.
This is of vital interest to us and
we are doing all we can to prevent
It."
DR.. George C. Havenner, mem
ber of the Northwest Council,
trustee of the District Public Lii
brary and four times president of the
Federation of Citizens Associations,
said yesterday, Il hate to see any
more streets closed I lay this
down as a general principle. Virginia
avenue is too busy a street to con-
slider closing it."
Speaking as one with a personal
knowledge of Virginia avenue traffic,
Godfrey L. Munter, president of the
Chevy Chase Citizens Association,
said:
Our citizens association is direct
ly and adversely affected by the pro-
posed unnecessary and unjustlfled
choking of of one of the main gate
ways to the place of employment of
many Of our 1900 members. From
personal investigations I know that
Virginia avenue is used by literally
thousands of Chevy Chase motor
lists, who twice day drive over
Rock Greek Parkway to the Federal
triangle and back home. Closing
Virginia avenue between Constitu-
ton avenue and Nineteenth street
would create traflc hazard and
bottleneck without an adequate
outlet"
Mrs. Harry LIE Roy Jones, pres
ident of the Georgetown Progressive
Citizens Association, declared
she felt that more investigation
should be made before any action is
taken, and that the public should
be permitted to express its opinions.
Direct Route Cited.
Mrs. Leslie B. Wright, who is
president of the Forest Hills C1tl-
zens' Association, said, II think the
residents of Washington have
right to a direct route to Govern
ment buildings, where so many OF
them work, without being forced to
make wide detours. Such a change
should not be made without con-
sulting the residents of the District.
The National Capital Park and
Planning Commission is partially
supported by the District taxpayers
and shold therefore consider their
wishes when making such an i'm
portant decision"
The opinion that the closing Of
the avenue would affect the entire
Northwest section was voiced by
! J. B. Dicknan. 3r- who said, II am