Evening star., 1942-02-20
Mall Parking
Veto Expected
From Planners
Commission Visits
Sites for Housing
And Temporories

The National Capital Park and
Planning Commission was prepared
to conclude a two-day session to-
day by acting on a number of local
wartime problems affecting the
city's parks and central areas.
Among these was the controver-
sial proposal OF the District Com
and certain civic groups
to convert the Mall panel and drives
into emergency parking lots for au-
tomobiles. Secretary of the Interior
1ckes has directed Federal park Of
f1cials to oppose this move, and the
Park and Planning Commission was
fully expected to take his side.
Development of the Mall area has
been one OF the most important
problems before the commission
since its restoration was started in
1880. 1t took the commission years
to get Congress to order the re-
moval of temporary war buildings
that had cluttered the Mall since
1917, and in recent months it has
found itself faced again with pro-
posals to use the park areas in
discriminatory under the guise Of
wartime necessity.
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
trafflc 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 a 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 s25 900 for the ac-
QUESTION of small additions to the
unit OF the George Washington Me-
mortal Parkway above Key Bridge,
The parkway is being extended to
Spout Run on the Virginia side, a
picturesque valley that connects
with the Lee highway.
Commercial Pier No. 5 on the
washington Channel near the foot
OF Maine avenue has been completed
by the United States engineers
office. The commission authorized
its transfer to the District govern
ment for future operation.
Transactions Report Made.
Earlier in the day Norman C.
Brown, land purchasing officer, re-
ported on several transactions in
volving additions to park areas.
The commission has purchased q
triangle to round out the grounds
of the Georgetown Public Library
and Playground located at Wiscon-
sin avenue and Reservoir road. The
new triangle, sought to keep a shop
from being erected on it, faces
Reservoir road.
The commission also approved
several purchases Of land for the
development of the Watt Spring
Parkway in the Northeast section,
from Minnesota avenue to the Dis
trict line.
Mr.. Brown and John Nolen, jr.,
director of planning, also presented
factual data on public utilities that
could be made available for new
office building sites and defense
housing. The study was made in
mid-January and the data turned
over to the Public Building Admin
istration, Charles F. Palmer, CO.
ordinator of defense housing, and
other agencies.
With Washington expecting its
population to increase by another
$50 900 during the war, Government
planners are getting data on the
capacities of the light and gas utili-
ty companies as well as plans for
the extension of city water mains.