Evening star., 1942-02-20
Planners Score
Placing Tempos
Central Area
Wont U. S. Offices
At Outlying Points
In Future Program


In Future Program
The policy of cluttering up down.
town Washington with temporary
Government Office buildings was
vigorously opposed today by the Ma
tional Capital Park and Planning
Commission which went on record
in favor of future distribution OF
additional buildings in outlying
areas.
Chiefly because of the mounting
traffic problem, the commission held
that these wartime structures should
be so distributed that concentration
of personnel shall normally not
exceed $500 employees in any one
location, with a possible maximum
of 5000 employees"
The commission also proposed the
location of a "Sizeable proportion"
of defense housing units on the Vir-
ginia side of the river to provide
housing for employees of the new
War Department buildings in Ar
lington. When these units of the
worlds largest Office building" are
completed, many employees will be
forced by circumstances to seek res
idence in nearby Virginia areas,
which are already shot of housing
facilities.
Merrill Makes Report.
These questions came up before
the commission during the final day
of it's February session and were tied
in with a report on transportation
made by E. D. Merrill, president OF
the Capital Transit Co.
The position of the Park and
Planning Commission in opposing
future erection Of temporary build
ings in the central area was voiced
In resolution adopted unanimously.
This resolution proposed that loca-
tions of Office buildings be selected,
SO far as possible, with "due regard
to the zoning plan for those areas
and with careful consideration and
study as to the adequacy of sewers,
water supply and transportation
facilities to serve those areas" 1t
also declared that regard should be
given to the proximity of suitable
housing for employees and that fu-
ture programs should be co-ordi-
mated with pending plans for the
construction of defense housing
under public, semi-public and pri-
vate auspices.
Outlying Sites Suggested.
Mr.. Merrill took the same posi-
ton with regard to the location of
temporary Office buildings. He sug-
gested it would be much better if
the Government should avail itself
of sites in such tracts at the United
States Soldiers Home, the Friend
ship area and property of the Co.
lumbia Institute for the Deaf
The traction official said every
effort was being made to meet the
increased problems of transporta-
tion caused by congestion in down.
town areas and the constant influx
of new defense employees. He sug-
gested two ways in which to meet
this problem.
Crosstown bus routes are one
way, he said. He also proposed
rush-hour buses to congested areas
downtown under a schedule which
would permit the buses to load
up with passengers on return trips.
The members of the commission
expressed themselves as greatly
pleased with the House passage of
the Lanham Act, which authorizes
$4,000, 900 for defense housing and
$l0,0O0,000 for necessary utilities.
Southwest Project Brought Up.
Arthur Goodwillie, director of con-
servation service, Home Owners
Loan Corp, reported on develop
ments connected with his plan for
rehabilitating and reconstructing a
great area in Southwest Washing
ton. The commission cid not go
much into detail of this project.
The original plan proposed the
rehabilitation of IS city blocks at
an estimated cost of 100000. 1t
was understood that preliminary
plans provide for converting some
half dozen squares into a modern
area.
Mr.. Goodwillie, who had appeared
earlier at Capitol hearing. stressed
that one advantage of the plan is
the provision for use OF existing
streets, sewers, water mains and
other utilities.
Inspect Sites.
Members of the commission
toured the sites of defense housing
projects yesterday and also viewed
locations selected for new tempor-
ary Office buildings. They also Wis
tied the huge site of the new War
Department Building in Arlington
and were impressed with the rapid
ity of construction. The first unit
will be ready for occupancy IN May.
They reported that progress is be-
ing made in developing access roads
to the building on the Virginia side.
While on their tour the members
also followed the proposed route OF
a traffic parkway now being planned
from the end of South Capitol street
to Suitland, Md They were very
pleased with the plan for this new
parkway, which would connect with
the new bridge that is to be built
over the Anacostia River. Probably
as many af 10000 Federal employees
are to be accommodated in Suitland,
and the need for traffic highway
leading directly into the city i'm
pressed the commission. Tentative
approval has been given this plan.
While the exact route of the new
road has not been determined. it
is understood that the Public Roads
Administration is working on plans
for the new route and that it will
be built almost entirely on property
now owned by the Government.
At yesterdays session the COM
mission also approved three con-
tracts involving $25,000 for the ac-
QUESTION of small additions to the
unit of the George Washington Me-
mortal Parkway above Key Bridge.
Tho parkwav iS being extended TO