Evening star., 1941-02-17
Plan 10 Close
Van Ness Street
Area Fought
Only Three Witnesses
Back Standards
Bureau Proposal

More than a score Of residents
and property owners in the vicinity
of the Bureau of Standards lodged
vigorous protests against the pro-
posed closing of Van Ness street
between Connecticut avenue and
Reno road NV. at public hearing
before the Commissioners today.
Only three persons appeared to
testify in favor of the proposal
which was submitted to the city
heads by the Bureau of Standards
and the Department of Commerce.
At the outset of the hearing DR..
Lyman J. Briggs, director of the
Bureau of Standards, asserted it is
vitally necessary that Van Ness
street be closed to public traffic
through the bureaus property in
order to safeguard the important
national defense work now being
carried on there.
Property Would Be Fenced.
DR.. Briggs said the entire prop
erty would be fenced and gates
placed at the points where Van Ness
street enters Connecticut avenue
and Reno road. He said 1t had been
suggested that fencing could be
placed along both sides of Van Ness
street and the road be kept open
to the public, but he contended this
would require more guard personnel
than the bureau now has.
I'VE realize the closing will in
convenience some of our neighbors,' >
DR.. Briggs said, but it's the only
way we can adequately protect our
property from sabotage or outside
interference of any kind"
DR.. Briggs also pointed out that
traffic count recently made of the
crosstoWn traffic in the vicinity of
the bureau showed that four r-sev-
enths of the vehicles used Tilden
street, two-sevenths used Albemarle
street while only one-seventh went
by way of Van Ness street.
Leading the opposing forces was
John B. Dickman, jr., president of
the North Cleveland Park Citizens
Association, who presented a petit
ton which he said had been signed
by a cross-section of majority of
the people in the area.
Traffic Danger Seen.
The petition expressed opposition
to the proposal on the ground that
the closing would encroach on the
rights of property owners, cause
damage to the value of properties
and cause danger and inconvenience
to pedestrians and motorists who
now use Van Ness street.
The petition added that the COM
munity already has inadequate
street and highway facilities.
William j. Neale, who also repre-
sented the North Cleveland Park
group, told the hearing the Com
missioners actually do not have the
power to order the closing of Van
Ness street.
He pointed out that an enabling
act passed by Congress in 1880, au-
thorizing the Bureau of Standards
to purchase land in the amount of
S400,000, specifically prohibits the
closing of Van Ness and Tilden
streets and Reno road.
I'VE agree the bureau is entitled
to all reasonable protection" Mr.
Neale said, "but we cannot see why
a double fence along Van Ness street
wouldn't serve just as we'll"
Assessments Cited.
He also emphasized that many
present residents of the community
were assessed for the condemnation
and widening of Van Ness street
some years ago.
The only two witnesses who ap-
peared to uphold DR.. Briggs argu-
ments for the proposal were Wilbur
Barnes, mechanical engineer and
lawyer, who lives at 3733 Van Ness
street, and T. E. Allison of 1922 Van
Ness street.
Mr.. Barnes contended the closing
would enhance the value of property
in the vicinity of the bureau and
would also be advantageous as a
protection against sabotage. He
called attention to the fact that the
bureaus power plant fronts on Van
Ness street.
Another witness, P. Y. K. Howat,
the District Motor Club
of the American Automobile Associa-
ton, declared the closing would
cause great and unnecessary hard
ships on motorists and residents. He
suggested that overpaSseS or under
passes be constructed connecting the
bureau buildings on the north and
south side of the street.
Settle Joins in Protest.
Thomas S. Settle, secretary of the
National Capital Park and Planning
Commission, who lives at 3715 Van
Ness street, appeared as property
owner to join in the protest He
testified the closing of the street
would seriously depreciate the value
of property in the community. The
residents, he added, purchased the
land with the understanding that
Congress would not permit the clos
ing of Van Ness street.
Samuel j. Flickinger, president of
the Friendship Citizens Association,
said the Bureau of Standards had
advanced no sound reason for clos
ing the street. He declared it would
be a terrible mistake" to approve
this proposal.
Another petition, containing the
names of approximately 100 resi-
dents and property owners on AL
bemarle street who are opposed to
the proposal, was offered by c. w.
Pouch, lawyer, of 1910 Albemarle
street.