Evening star., 1941-08-01
Planners Urge
Ldndscaping Of
Arlington Area
Means of Solving
Union Station Traffic
Problem Studied

SCdplng ana screening OF oU-dCIt
tract of land recently acquired by
the War Department adjacent to the
old Experimental Farms property in
Arlington County, Va, proposed site
for the Army's new S35 900 900 Office
building, was adopted today by the
National Capital Park and Plan
ming Commission.
! Thomas Settle, commission Sec
retary, said the Army proposed to
erect two or three large depot build
ings on the tract, which lies along
Columbia pike near Highway No. l,
and that the commission felt the
area should be handicapped SO as not
to prove an eyesore at one of the
entrances to the Capital.
Beginning the second day of its
two-day session, the planning board
met jointly with the National Com
mission of Fine Arts. Mr.. Settle
said the two bodies had given con-
sideration to a proposal advanced
by District highway authorities to
solve traffic difficulties at the Union
Station Plaza, by constructing an
underpaSs or tunnel from Delaware
avenue to the station basement.
Details of the project were not re-
vealed, beyond the fact that the
tunnel would be used by baggage
trucks and other heavy vehicles.
Extension of Boundaries.
The planning commission voted to
extend boundaries of Fort Reno
Recreation Center near Woodrow
Wilson High School in the North
west section of the city to take in
approximately 10 acres of additional
land No proceedings having been
mapped for the acquisition of this
territory, the commission did not
state just what land was involved.
Mr.. Settle said the commission
had Endorsed a bill introduced in the
House by Representative Smith,
Democrat, of Virginia calling for
creation of a committee to work out
problems in connection with bridges
and Virginia.
He said the measure is now in the
hands of the House Committee on
Public Buildings and Grounds, and
that its membership would include
representatives of the Planning
Commission, District Commission
ers, the Governor of Virginia, Pub
lie Roads Administration. the Ar
lington County manager and the
Alexandria city manager
Mr.. Settle also said the commits
sion viewed favorably proposal of
the Church of the Reformation to
double the size of tsApresent place
of worship. -
Approval was given by the COM
mission yesterday of draft of a
bill designed to vest control OF the
new National Guard Armory in the
Commissioners at such times as it
shall not be essential to the work
of the Guard. A provision of the
measure would require the Guard
to submit to the Commissioners an
advance schedule of its activities at
the armory so that the latter will be
able to plan various civic under
takings there on free days.
The bill also would transfer a
tract of land adjacent to the armory
from control of the Interior De-
partment to the District heads, so
that parking facilities could be
made available.
1t was explained that the pur-
pose of the bill was to insure the
armory place in the scheme being
worked out for the 150-acre recrea-
ton center at the end of East Cap
itol street.
The commission expressed inter-
est in plan worked out and pre-
sented by Arthur Goodwillie, direc-
tor of neighborhood planning for
the H. o. L. c., to conserve exist
ing assets while providing defense
homes.
The plan, being considered in
connection with a large number of
"subpar' homes in the Southwest
sector between the Capitol and the
river, would permit the Govern
ment to condemn such houses and
refurbish them for defense per-
sonnel.
Mr.. Goodwillie said the Govern
ment could provide homes by this
means at half the cost entailed un-
der the present system and declared
his idea had the additional advan-
tages of rapidity and drying up"
deprecated districts.
Abbott School Site Chosen.
A location for the proposed new
$562, 500 Abbott Vocational School
was selected by the planning board
in the southern extremity of Brent
wood Park, adjoining the Columbia
Institution for the Deaf.
: Two land transfers to permit road
improvements were indorsed One
would allow northbound traffic on
New Hampshire avenue NV. to
enter Sixteenth street by way of
new road to be cut through south
of the existing intersection. The
other involving Shepherd Park
way, would permit the extension of
South Capitol street and Overlook
avenue to Chesapeake street in An
acostia.
The planners also forwarded to
the Commissioners the undisclosed
selection of sites for both the Brad
bury Heights Elementary School
and the AnacoStia branch library.
Approval was given three defense
housing projects, one undertaken
by the Alley Dwelling Authority at
Atlantic street and Condor avenue
Sc. and two others being con-
structed by the United States Hous-
ing Authority. one at Alabama ave-
nue. and Hartford street Sc. and