Evening star., 1942-12-18
Additional Curb
On Parking at
Night Urged

Murphy Reports on
Moves to Acquire
Off-Street Areas
Federal planners were told today
by the head of the new Motor We
hicle Parking Agency he believed
the time has come for the District
Commissioners to take steps look
ing to progressive" curbing Of
al-night parking In the city.
CAT present the only night-park-
Ing ban in effect is that from am.
until 8 am. every night from De-
cember Is until March IS as a means
of facilitating snow removaD
Chairman Richard Murphy was
called before the National Capital
Planning Commission to outline the
plans Of his agency for the acquisi-
tion Of off-street parking areas as
authorized by law and to discuss
traffic conditions in the city gen.
orally.
tiiS SCfClC SOllSCSGlOll Vi u dluC
here even before the war emergency
fully justified passage of the law
creating the new parking agency,
he claimed, and conditions are now
probably worse despite gas ration
ing. The Federal Planning Com
mission is authorized under the law
to cooperate in traffic problems
with Mr.. Murphy and a considerable
period Of time today was spent in
speculation on postwar conditions
when automobiles and tires are
made available to everybody.
Law Allows Cooperation.
Mr.. Murphy explained that his
agency's seven members have organ
lied to study traffic conditions in the
city, and are now drawing up tenta-
tive plans for the acquisition of off,
street parking lots in outlying areas.
The law requires that the Federal
Planning Commission supply the
parking agency with all the data it
has available as result of traffic
studies made in the past. The law
also authorizes the Federal planners
w AtliillluC bllC VI dlllC SulNC III IOs
operation with the Parking Agency.
Mr.. Murphy told the commission
he felt the time has come when all
night parking should be curbed, but
he did not mention any specific area
at this time. Instead of applying
restrictions drastically all over the
downtown sections and congested
suburban areas, he said he felt the
District Commissioners should go
about 1t progressively area by area.
Delays Action on Sites.
The commission postponed until
later today any action 1t may
until later today any action it may
take in connection with the dispute
that has arisen over proposed sites
for war housing projects along the
Fort drive route.
The commission has co-operated
with the Alley Dwelling Authority in
selecting tentative sites along the
drive but many citizens of the area
have voiced protests. Executive
Officer John Ihlder of the ADA
met with the commission yesterday
and later in the afternoon an in
spection trip was made to several Of
the sites selected.
Assurances were given by Mr..
Ihlder than the housing units
would be of the demolishable type
and would be removed as soon
after the war as possible. While
housing Of this type is necessarily
loW-cost to achieve its purpose, the
projects would be neat and attrac-
tive in appearance, it was said. It
was felt that the temporary nature
of the projects would not serve to
depress real estate values in the
area.
Built on Idle Land.
Mr.. 1hlder pointed out that the
proposed housing sites are all on
Government-owned lands not used
at this time for any other purpose.
The Government intends the Park
drive as scenic route encircling
the city and connecting the remain-
ing old Civil War forts. The housing
projects will be SO planned as to
interfere very little with the scenic
values Of the parkway, it was ex.
planned.
The Planning Commission yester-
day also voted to recommend to the
Maryland Park and Planning Com
mission that 1t attempt to secure
legislation to extend its territorial
authority to take in the Suitland
area and other rapidly growing SUBJ
urbs IN Prince Georges County,
Suitland was identified yesterday as
the particular area which Federal
planners feel is in danger of getting
out OF control. The Federal Gov
ernment has erected Office buildings
In the area. stated by about 5000
workers, and also has chosen it as
the site for a temporary war housing
project.
On its inspection tour of housing
projects, commission members visited
the one at Thirty-fifth street and
Reservoir road NV. and also went
through the Mclean Gardens prof.
ect Of the Defense Homes Corp, on
wisconsin avenue. They found the
layout Of the latter project entirely
satisfactory and were pleased with
the homelike appearance of the
apartments.
The inspection trip, important in
connection with the planning of the
numerous housing projects under
way here to accommodate more than
$500 workers, left little time for the
transaction Of other business. The
commission, however, approved the
proposed renewal of the Smoot Sand
ana Gravel Co.'S contract for dredg-
ing the Potomac River below Alex
andria. Va. The company is supply.
ing gravel for much Of the Govern
ment construction work in the
vicinity Of Washington.