Evening star., 1940-03-06
Citizens Objections

Citizens Objections
(Taken from the transcript OF
the public hearing February 8
on which the cont1stssto1 made
It's decision, from, peess accounts
OF the Ddirous meetings in pro-
test and the hearing, and from
conversation Nth an opposition
leader) d.
The principal objection to the
building Of this large retail store on
this tract Is the traffic hazard it
would make for the children of the
area. This opposition is not di-
rected at Sears, Roebuck as such,
but would be applicable to any one
who proposed similar use for the
tract of land under discussion
shaded portion on the map.
Opposition was somewhat late in
developing only because 1t was not
until late that the citizens under
stood the full scope of what was
contemplated for the site-a large
retail store, so per cent larger than
that at Bledensburg road NE, but
with substantially less parking space
to be provided.
There would probably have been
no objection to q branch Sears,
Roebuck office to serve the Tenley-
town and American University Park
community in the way similar
branches now serve Georgetown
and Bethesda, Md. That would have
been a community development for
use by citizens Of this community
and patronized by them.
The erection Of the proposed large
retail store, however, and the pro-
posed abandonment of the Bethesda
store, would result in large num-
bers of persons from other COM
munities patronizing the store, both
from the District and nearby Mary
land and Virginia. This would in
crease to great degree the vehicu-
lar traffic in the area and over
tax further an already overtaxed
police precinct-No. 8.
Heading the list in Importance in
being exposed to this increased traf-
f1c are the school children.
Right across the street from the
proposed structure on Albemarle
street is the Janney Public School,
with an enrolment of more than
500 children, drawn from the sur
rounding area, including American
University Park. A little further
away, on Wisconsin avenue, is st.
AIMS Parochial School, with be-
tween 400 and 500 children. Other
schools in the vicinity include
Woodrow Wilson Senior High, Alice
Deal Junior High and Immaculate
Seminary.
There are, therefore, about 1000
children within a block of the pro-
posed structure who at some time
might have to cross the intersection
at Wisconsin avenue and Albemarle
street and hundreds from the other
schools who assemble in the area
after pm. to get transportation
to their homes.
Many Of these children go home
for lunch at noon. Those at the
Janney, according to a parent
teacher association omcial, have
been encouraged to do this. Thus
the hazard Is increased, even II the
store were not open at the time the
children came to school In the morn
ing.
At present the Janney School
suffers probably fewer accidents
than other schools, due to the fact
that it is in q more or less isolated
area at present. But do there have
to be traf1ic deaths and must they
be waited for to show the need to
put stop to this proposition?
Trafilc conditions at the intersec-
ton are bad on normal days and
terrible in bad weather now. Off,
street parking is to be provided on
the roof for 270 cars. Conditions
are bad at the Bladensburg store,
who're parking is available for some
500 cars and where the store itself
Is so per cent smaller than the pro-
Continued 9 rage 7-l0J