Evening star., 1942-05-15
Approved
For Projects 10
House 1860
Planning Board
Accepts Designs for
Six Dormitories

Park and Planning Commission was
given today to sites and architec-
tural plans for housing approx
mately 13,6oo war workers in tenn
porary Government dorm ories at
six locations in Washington and its
environs.
Largest of these is the project
planned for Arlington, to accom-
modate 1000 man and woman en-
ployes of the mammoth War De-
partment building when it is ready
for total occupancy. A Government
motion picture theater, large CEN
trail recreational area, and indiv-
idual recreation courts for the l3
separate units are provided in plans
for this huge project to be located
on the Arlington Experimental
Farm.
An additional project to accom-
modate 700 employees of Navy Build
ing No. will be erected on the
hill next to Arlington National
Cemetery.
j. G. Nichols, the member of the
commission who was appointed to
draw up dormitory plans, has pro-
vided each unit with a cement
splinter proof stairway for protec-
ton against possible air raids.
Safety Precautions Planned
Each Of the two-story dormitories
separate units being allotted for
men and women. will provide as
many safety precautions as possible
in buildings of this character.
The commission also took cog
nizance of the action of the Senate
Appropriations Committee in cut
ting out the 100000 fund for Dis
trict parks and Fairgrounds which
had been included by the House in
the independent offices supply bill
1t adopted a resolution urging the
conferees to restore this item to the
bill, pointing out that all funds ap-
propriated for recreational areas are
eventually returned by District tax
payers.
The commission expressed itself
as very much concerned over the
wholesale depletion of recreational
areas in Washington which have
been taken over for war time activi-
ties. Land sought through the
100000 appropriation which the
Senate eliminated must be pur-
chased eventually, the commission
said, and it will cost considerable
more in the years to come.
Sites Inspected Yesterday.
{ The commission wasted no time in
approving plans for the various dor
mitory projects, having inspected all
sites on a personal tour late yester-
day.
Each site, it was explained, has
been chosen because of its nearness
to existing or planned Federal
buildings.
One project involved a temporary
reception hon. adjacent to the
Municipal Center. where employees
coming into Washington may stay
for about week while trying to To-
cate quarters.
1t is planned to accommodate ap-
proximately 900 persons in this man.
ner. The site is the parking lot on
Pennsylvania avenue and John Mar
shall place. One of the difficulties
confronting this project, however, is
the $4,000 annual rental which the
District government derives from the
parking lot.
In line with the development of
the 150-acre tract extending from
the end of East Capitol st. 1t to
the Anacostia river, the commission
approved a site for dormitories to
accommodate 1000 men and women.
A Government Office building for
approximately the same number of
workers is being erected in the
vicinity. 1t has not yet been def
initely allotted to any agency.
West Potomac Project.
The dormitory project for 1000
workers in West Potomac Park, re-
Gently the center of controversy, will
conform in general plan to the
Arlington project. Each employe
housed in Government dormitory
will be allotted an eight -by-ten
room.
A demountable housing project for
1000 workers will be located in Ken
sington. Md, on ground adjacent to
Rock Creek Unit No. 3. The Gov
ernment is leasing land convenient
to the park so that the workers will
have available recreational facilities.
John Ihlder, executive officer OF
the Alley Dwelling Authority, who
met with the commission today. pre-
sented a plan for rehousing 130 COL
ored families who must vacate their
homes due to proposed expansion OF
the navy yard in the Southwest area.
These families will be given trailer
homes and demountable houses in
several areas near the navy yard
along the old abandoned canal bed.
The commission reported it has
been unable to decide on suitable
site for dormitories in connection
with the new Office building for 5000
Army Air Corps personnel on the
grounds of the Washington National
Airport.
1t has not been decided how many
workers would be located in this
dormitory project when available
space is found.
Reporting on legislation, Secre-
tary Thomas S. Settle said the COM
mission was satisfied that its IL
years work in seeking a recreational
board for the District had ended
successfully. They were awaiting
word from the District Commis-
sioners as to the four citizen men,
bers of the seven-man board to be
Would Extend New York Avenue.
The commission late yesterday ap-
proved transfer of land to the Dis
trict Commissioners for the ex-
tension of New York avenue, where
it comes to- dead stop at South
Dakota avenue. This extension will
go through a portion of the Ma
tional Arboretum grounds and fa-
cilitate the movement Of traffic.
Another land transfer involved a
section of Alabama avenue Sc,
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