Evening star., 1942-07-17
Future Plans
For Lafayette
Studied
Two Groups Discuss
Models and Designs
With Architects

designs spread out before them, two
groups of Federal planners made a
general study today of problems
involved in the future development
of the area bordering Lafayette
Square.
It was a Joint session OF the
Commission of Fine Arts and the
National Capital Park and Plan
ming Commission called to review
plans for two recently authorized
Federal office buildings in that area.
the proposed extension of the Treas
ury annex and the State Depart
ment annex.
Officials admitted there is no pros
pect of erecting either of the two
buildings now because of the freeze
on priorities. They doubted even If
construction would start before the
end of the war, but explained they
desired to make a comprehensive
study now of the whole layout in
volving Lafayette Square.
The main purpose of such study,
It was said, is to preserve the dignity
Of the historic square which fronts
the White House. There is no in
tention of changing anything in
the park itself.
Architects at Meeting.
Meeting with the two groups were
William r. Partridge, architectural
consultant of the Planning Commis-
sion: George Howe, new architect of
the Public Buildings Administration,
and Stanley Brown. architect for the
State Department annex.
All buildings adjacent to Lafay-
cite Square, whether public or pri-
vate. will be restricted in accordance
with the regulations of the Ship
stead Act which authorizes the inc
Arts Commission to limit the height
on architectural designs. In this
way, Federal planners will be able
to have an authoritative voice in
any future development.
Mr.. Partridge displayed models
and alternate plans for the two
buildings. The Treasury annex ex-
tension eventually will be built on
the sites of the Belasco Theater
and the Cosmos Club fronting Madi-
son street on the East side of the
square. Both of these sites have
been purchased by the Government.
The Belasco Theater is now being
used as a storehouse and the Co.'S
mos, Club continues to occupy it's
building, formerly known as .he
Dolly Madison House, until It OBJ
taine a new home.
The State Department Annex is
to be located at Seventeenth street
and Pennsylvania avenue. While it
will not front on The square. the
two commissions IRE interested in
the design for the building because
of the relation it will bear to devel-
opment of the general area.
Changes to Be Made.
Mr.. Browns model for that annex,
the planners agreed, does not pro-
vide for q sufficient setback of the
building from the sidewalk line.
The design was only tentative. how
ever, and marked changes will be
made.
The planners indicated that in view
OF the war, Federal agencies are
seeking to squeeze as much Office
space as possible in all new build
ingS. Hence; architectural design
Is sometimes sacrificed and build
ings are planned to occupy all
available footage of the site.
Fourteen additional Federal park
areas were. turned over to the Com
missieners yesterday by the plan
ners to provide a welcome wartime
extension of Washington's play
ground and recreation system.
The planners also approved plans
for development of the Sherwood
Playground just northeast of Union
Station. The IA new areas were
ACQUIRED under authorization Of
the Capper- Cramton Act, but the
planning commission had withheld
assigning them until after the estab-
lishment of the District Recreation
Board which will have jurisdiction
over them.
The commission received an en-
tightening report on residential
building in the washington Metro
politan Area which led it to speed
up plans for additional emergency
building by approving the designs
and layouts for four demountable
housing projects of the Alley Dwell
ing Authority. The four projects
viii provide eventually for a total
of 442 family units.
To Be Abolished After War.
Planned solely as emergency hous-
Ing for war workers, and to be built
of fabricated materials, the ADA
projects are to be abolished after
the war is over. The sites and the
number of family units to be built
on leased properties were announced
as follows:
Thirty-flfth street and Reservoir
road NV, IA units, on property
leased from the Georgetown Visi'
tation Convent.
Seventh street and Monroe stree
NE, 80 units, near Catholic Uni
versity.
Forty-sixth street and Hanna
place Sc, 1873 units.
FOOJ6 SuICCb IICdl A1SiiAiAiS 1'"N
NE, 140 units, on land leased from
the Potomac Electric Power Co. II
the vicinity of the Benning Power
Plant.
Playground Sites Widespread.
One of the new recreation areas /
section of Fort Reno Park a
Forty-second and Albemarle street
NV, recently acquired as futui
playground. The areas are locate
in all sections of Washington eXcep
the Southwest.
In addition to the Fort Reno site
the others we're announced a
follows:
Friendship Playground. on War
ren street NV, southeast OF tn
2nd High Reservoir.
Forest Hills Playground on Chesa
peake street NV, in the Fores
Hills section.
Fort Stevens Playground, on Vai
Buren, street in Brightwood.
Keene Playground, at Riggs stree
and Blair road NE.
Dakota Playground, at South Da
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