Evening star., 1943-11-19
Highway Bridge
Relocation Site
Decision Waited
Planners Are Joined
By Civic Officials
In Inspection Tour


cision today on choice of site for
relocation of Highway Bridge over
the Potomac River, now approached
via Fourteenth street.
Before taking up the problem to-
day, the commission approved site
plans for another war housing prof.
ect Of 300 units for colored families
in the extreme Northeastern Sec
ton.
John Ihlder, executive officer Of
the National Capital Housing Au-
thority, presented the plans for the
project, which is to occupy an area
south of Watts Branch in the vicin-
ity of Fiftieth street and Virginia
avenue. This project has been con-
sidered previously.
With several alternate sites in
mind for the new span that has been
authorized for construction after the
war, officials made field trip lats
yesterday to inspect the general lay
out on both sides of the river. Of
f1cials of the National Capital Park
and Planning Commission said the
survey helped them considerably and
expressed belief that the go sig
nal" would be given on the final
draft of work plans.
Others on Field Trip.
Members Of the commission were
accompanied by Capt. H. C. White
hurst, District highway director;
Thomas Macdonald, commissioner
of public reads, and Maj. Gilmore
D. Clark. chairman Of the Fine Arts
Commission. All have a hand in the
final decision.
They also had the benefit of the
judgment of Frederick Law Ohm
stead, consultant of the National
Parks Service. Mr. Olmstead is a
former member of the Planning
Commission and of the Mcmillan
Commission of 1901, which planned
development of the Mall in con-
formity with the original treatment
proposed by Maj L'Enfant in his
plans for the new Capital City.
Mr.. Olmstead's assistance was par
ticularly helpful, it was said, as the
bridge approaches are being studied
IN relation to the Jefferson Memorial
and the axis of Sixteenth street in
the latte-''s relation to The Lincoln
Memorial and the Washington Me-
mortal. The difficulty all along has
been to fit whatever approach is
chosen for the new Highway Bridge
into this general layout.
pr,bl;, D,,;il:. c...I:
Progress was reported yesterday In
studies connected with new public
building in Washington after the
war. w. E. Reynolds. Public Build
ing Commission, outlined his views
before the group and general ac-
cord was reached on three main
points:
l. Avoidance of congestion, such
as in the Pennsylvania avenue tri-
angle with liberal provision for open
spaces around each public building.
2. The addition of East Capitol
street to the public building de-
velopment area laid out under au-
thority of Congress in 1926.
). Demolition of all temporary Of
flee buildings on and adjacent to
the Mall as soon after the war as
possible.
The Pennsylvania avenue triangle
was suggested as an example of
future planning that should be
strictly avoided. Two other areas
authorized for public buildings are
the Southwest triangle embracing
the area south Of Independence
avenue and between Fourteenth
street, Virginia and Delaware ave-
nues and the Northwest triangle
between F and G streets from
Eighteenth street to the river.
A number of public buildings AL
ready occupy sites in these two areas.
IN the future, however, it was agreed
that congestion should be avoided
and ample provisions made for auto
mobile parking and open spaces for
each new building.
East Capitol Street Plans.
The addition of East Capitol
street is forward step in long
sought plans to develop it's entire
length from the Capitol Grounds to
the Anacostia River Areas between
3 streets north and south of East
Capltol street would be included in
development plans.
The commission voted to take under
CONSIDERATION a request of the
ollent"Qoo Citizens Association to
acquire the Emory estate on Georgia
avenue between Madison street and
concord avenue NV for recreation
center. Officials emphasized, how
ever, that since no funds are avail
able 1t is essential first to consider
the recreational need of the neigh.
oorhood, the cost of the land and it's
suitability.
Approval was given to proposed
changes in the highway plan east of
Alabama avenue Sc. to co-ordinate
the future street development in the
area with the Suitland Parkway
project.