Evening star., 1941-03-22
Planners Limit
Suit|and 0. K.
To One Bui|dinq
Commission Reserves
Decision on Others
Until Further Study


The National Capital Park and
Planning Commission yesterday cast
a shadow on the Federal Govern
ments plan to construct a huge de-
fense Office building project at Suit
land, Md, by approving construction
of but one of eight proposed struc-
lures on the 430-acre Prince Georges
County tract.
Although poWerless to prevent
completion of the project, since its
control over such matters ends at
the District line, the Planning Com
missions attitude toward the project
may make itself felt at
a later date. Congress appropriated
So 200 900 to enable the Public Build
ings Administration to begin work
at Suitland but this amount is
enough only to cover the cost of the
land and erection of the first build
ing.
Before additional money is made
available toward completion of the
office building project there will be
congressional hearings. A commits
sion spokesman said yesterday he
was certain the attitude of the
planning group would make itself
felt at these discussions.
Place Personnel Limit.
The commissions stand was
framed in a resolution which also
specified that the single structure
Endorsed must provide Office space
for not more than 1000 employees to
meet with its approval. P. B. A.
officials have announced they con-
template placing soon workers in
each of the proposed eight buildings.
In a formal statement, the Plan
ming Commission declared its un-
willingness Ito approve any addi-
tional Office buildings on this site
unless further study should cause
it 10 feel that 1t would be a wise
policy TO concentrate further Office
buildings in this one area"
Attached to the statement was the
recommendation that every effort
be maze to establish adequate public
contro, by local authorities of hous-
ing developments III the area sur
rounding the Suitland project
through proper zoning, subdivision
and building regulations.
Thomas Settle, commission secre-
tary, said the group had made some
Startling" discoveries as a result
of its tour of the Suitland site
Thursday Among other things, he
said the commission members had
learned the area in question is
without the jurisdiction of both the
Maryland-National Capital Park and
Planning Commission ad the WASH
ington Suburban Sanitary Commits
sion.
Mr. Settle said he understood a
bill pending before the Maryland
Legislature contained provisions for
extending the Maryland planning
commissions supervision to include
Suitland.
Water Facilities Poor.
The commission also learned
there were poor plumbing and water
facilities for an enterprise of such
scope as the Government had
planned at Suitland, Mr.. Settle said.
OF considerable importance in de-
termining the commissions S stand on
the Office building project was re-
port of the impact upon Washing
ton of the present influx of Federal
employees read by John Nolen, ir,
director of planning, it was learned.
MIR. Nolen, drawing upon census
returns, informed the commission
the District of Columbia had experi-
enced A per cent population in
crease since 1920 and that this had
been slightly exceeded by a 48 per
cent increase in the number OF
dwelling units. Largely because Of
defense demands, he said, 27,000 new
Government employees have poured
into the city since April l.
This influx, Mr.. Nolen said, Is
building up demand for commu-
nifty growth ''on temporary basis,'
which may have serious repercus-
SlonS when the national emergency
no longer exists. He also said he
had estimated that for every Gov
ernment worker coming here there
eventually would be an overall in
crease of eight individuals in the
census figures. This conclusion, he
said, was based on the knowledge
that the average Federal employe
has family or dependents, plus the
fact that additional merchants and
tradesmen normally are attracted to
an expanding community.
ForeseeS Town of 10000.
Mr.. Nolen described the Suitland
project as a satellite" community,
predicting that to provide office
space there for $4,000 Federal work.
ers-aSSuming 1000 are housed in
each of eight building units-would
result in the upgrowth of a town"
of 10000 people.
To illustrate the immensity Of the
Suitland project, Mr.. Nolen pointed
out that in the central area of
Washington only $1,000 employees
find Office space in all the Govern
ment buildings
Mr.. Nolen pointed out that in view
of the defense situation the Plan
ming Commission did not wish to
"tie up" the Suitland project, but
rather to insure orderly planning
and control there.
Before bringing to close it's two
day March session, the commission
also approved the approaches to
the overpass to be built across the
main line railroad tracks out of
Union Station in Brentwood Park.
The approaches will connect with
Ninth street and West Virginia ave-
nue. on the west side and with
Mount Olivet road and Sixth street
on the east side.
Purchase Parkway Plots.
Mr.. Settle called attention to the
fact that the overpass will provide
easy access to the site of the project
ed Abbott Vocational School.
The commission also announced
purchase at approximately $4,000 of
several small sections of land be-
tween Great Falls and the District
line as part of the George Wash