Evening star., 1941-03-21
Officials Hear
Effect Of City's
Defense Boom
Park Board Ready
To Give Views on
Suitlond Project

c. F. Palmer, defense housing CO.
ordinator, and officials of the Public
Building Administration appeared
before the National Park and Plan
ming Commission today to discuss
effects upon the city of defense ex-
pansion. The commission prepared
to take a stand with regard to
$3,200000 Office building project
near Suitland, Md.
Thomas Settle, commission secre-
tary, quoted Mr.. Palmer as saying
Washington faces a serious condi-
ton because of the influx of defense
workers. Mr.. Settle said the COM
mission was approaching the whole
problem of defense in relation to
city planning in an effort to prevent
mistakes made in a similar situation
during the World War.
Also present at the commission
meeting were Louis Simon, supervis-
ing architect, and Clay j. Guth-
ridge, chairman of planning and
space control, Public Buildings Ad-
ministration.
Nolen Cites Statistics.
Earlier, John Nolen, jr., director
of planning for the commission,
read statistics be compiled which in
dicated average population increases
due to family members and de-
pendents of Federal workers.
The Federal Government is Sc
curing options on 43O-acre tract
at Suitland. Available for the pur-
chase of land and erection of the
first of eight projected Office build
ings. is S3,2OO,O0O.
Mr. Nolen said he had been in
formed that each of the Suitland
units was planned to provide space
for 5000 Federal employees, adding
that eight units would mean 10000
employees to be given space in the
project.
Mr.. Settle said that an inspection
of the Suitland site yesterday by
members of the commission had
revealed Startling" lack of
plumbing and other facilities. He
said the investigation indicated a
serious water power shortage might
develop if the entire project were
carried out
Outside Controlled Area.
Mr.. Settle said the Suitland tract
Is outside the Maryland Washing
ton Metropolitan district, as well as
the Washington Suburban Sanitary
District, and was therefore without
proper control as to general plan
ming, subdivision and zoning.
Factors considered by the planners
in their inspection of the Suit
land site yesterday included the
effect on traffic and availability of
utility services and private residen-
tial housing for the employees.
Among those making the trip were
Frederic A. Delano, commission
chairman; Irving C. Root, superin-
tendent of the National Capital
Parks; Henry v. Hubbard, j. c.
Nichols and William A. Delano,
commission members; Col. E. E.
Gesler, representing the chief of
Army Engineers, and John Nolen,
jr.: T. S. Settle, T. c. Jeffers and
Norman c. Brown, members of the
commission staff.
Playground Plan Approved
The commission, acting on pro-
posal of Milo Christensen, director
of the District of Columbia Com
munity Center and Playground De-
partment, approved a plan to de-
velop and improve IS playground
units and 20 park areas for recrea-
tional purposes.
The action was taken after Mr..
Christensen told the commission
the District faces an emergency in
recreational facilities.
Mr.. Christensen said the defense
program has aggravated an already
rapid population increase in WASH
1ngton. Even before defense prep
arations, he added, there was
population increase of 36 per cent
during the period from 1880 to 1910,
during which time less than 81 ,O0O,-
600 has been expended on recrea-
tlonal development and improve
ment.
He declared "only very meager
attempts" had been made during
the past 10 years to obtain sufficient
funds for recreational purposes,
adding that the real seriousness of
the problem could be visualized in
the prospect of a District population
OF 100000 people by 1945. The
problem is attributable in part of
the lack of strong and unified
recreation agency" Mr.. Christensen
said.
To Seek $4,000, 900 Fund.
He told the planning group an
effort will be made to obtain for
recreation purposes $6,00O,O00 of the
Sl5O,OOO,OOO provided under terms
of the Lanham bill, now before the
House Committee on Public Build
ings and Grounds, which would
authorize an appropriation for addi-
tlonal community facilities made
necessary by national defense.
The proposed program will benefit
the youth, adults and service men
In Washington besides being of
sociological value, Mr.. Christensen
predicted. The planning commits
sion urged that immediate action
be taken to prepare further data
for submission to the proper author
tiles.