Evening star., 1942-08-15
Planners 0. K.
Truck Roads
In Alexandra
Act to Guard Scenic
Memorial Boulevard
Within City Limits

on both sides of the Mount Vernon
Memorial boulevard, within the city
limits of Alexandria from Second
street to Slaters lane, was ap-
proved late yesterday by the Ma
tional Capital Park and Planning
Commission before adjourning its
August meeting.
Washington street, into which the
boulevard merges to run through
the city. begins at Second street
and a new commercial and resi-
dental area is being developed along
the stretch. To protect the scenic
value of the Mount Vernon boule-
ward and keep commercial vehicles
from using it. 20-foot service road
would be built on each side.
The Planning Commission hopes
this will be done through the CO.
operation of the city of Alexandria
and owners of abutting property
The commission proposes that the
Federal Government donate 10 feet
of its right of way for constructing.
each service road, with property
owners and the city of Alexandria
donating the remaining 100 feet.
Approve Apartment Plans.
In this connection, the commits
sion also approved plans for erec-
ton of a large apartment house
project north of Second street and
west of the boulevard.
New changes worked out for the
road system in Mclean Gardens to
provide winding roads instead of a
gridiron pattern received the ap-
proval of the planning group. It
was agreed that the new system OF
roads would be more appropriate
for the housing project which oc-
cupies the site of the old Friendship
estate on Wisconsin avenue.
The commission previously had
approved a pending Senate bill
which would transfer nine acres of
park and school land on Massachu-
setts avenue to the Defense Homes
Corp. In turn, 9 acres of the Friend
ship estate would be diverted to
school and playground usage for the
benefit of the defense workers who
are to make their homes there.
While the erection of the proposed
new General Accounting Office
building is for the distant future,
perhaps, the commission proposed to
close streets and alleys within the
approved site. This includes the
square bounded by G and H streets,
Fourth and Fifth streets NV. In
the middle of the block is &c place"
and some alleys.
Priorities Cause Delay.
The General Accounting Office
now occupies the Pension Once
Building, which eventually is to be
torn down to make way for new
court building. Like many other
buildings, however, the priorities
shutdown makes it uncertain when
the Accounting Office will be moved.
Closing of streets and alleys for
the four blocks acquired for the
Kelly-Miller Junior High School
also was approved. The location Of
the school is to be at Forty ninth
street and Washington place NE.
The commission voted to allow its
planning director, John Nolen, to
join the newly created Vital Area
Board, an advisory group sponsored
by the Public Buildings Adninistra-
ton. The group is to advise on all
matters pertaining to facilities in
the Metropolitan area, such as
water. light, sewage, roads and
buildings.
The commission, largely under Mr..
Nolen's direction, already has made
an extensive study of the need of
such facilities in Washington as .
wartime precaution.
Hear of Building Shortage.
Commissioner w. E. Reynolds Of
the PBA discussed some of Wash
ington's population problems with
the commission yesterday and said
the building shortage for the Gov
ernment was still acute" Even
with the completion of the huge
Pentagon Building in Arlington, he
said, the shortage will still be pro-
nounced.
The Planning Commission. which
is primarily an advisory group, voted
itself as sympathetic and friendly"
to the proposed modification of the
traffic plan for Virginia buses serv-
ing Washington. 1t took no action
on other features of the original
suggestions of Traffic Director Will
| liam A. Van Duzer.
The commission felt there was
considerable merit in the plan to
have the Arnold buses come into
the District, as now, during the
peak hours and return via the Pen
tagon Building in Arlington SO as
to improve the general bus service
to that congested area. 1t also IA
vored having the buses stop at Key
Bridge during the off hour periods
leaving passengers to transfer tf
the vehicles of the Capital Transit
| Co.
The next monthly meeting of the
planning group will be held Sep
| tember 17-18