Evening star., 1943-06-17
Streets Ordered
Closed 10 Extend
Navy Yard
Planners Approve
Condemnation of
; Park Projects


Commission today took steps to con-
solidate four newly acquired squares
for enlargement of the southern
portion of the Navy Yard grounds
by authorizing the closing of all
streets within the area.
The property lies between New
Jersey avenue and Canal street on
the west and First street east and
between M street and N place.
The Navy bought this property
some months ago for enlargement
of the expanding Navy Yard and
gun factory and now has cleared
all houses and buildings in the area.
Norman c. Brown, land purchas-
ing officer. also announced that as
result of action taken today the
commission approved three con-
demnation awards on as many diff
ferent long time park projects.
Anacostia improvements.
The first award completed the
acquisition of a small but important
area at the eastern end of the Sousa
Bridge over the Anacostia River.
This property, which forms con-
spicuouS part of the bridge head is
zoned commercially, Mr.. Brown said,
and was to have been converted by
its owner into used car lot, with
resultant bad effect both on traffic
and the appearance of the bridge
head. The area will be converted
into the Anacostia Park.
The second award was to complete
acquisition of two small lots fronting
on Davidson street Sc. as part of
Anacostia Park, just north of Penn
Sylvania avenue near the bridge. All
other lots in this square have been
previously purchased
An area of about half an acre
fronting on Good Hope road Sc.
across from the German Orphan
Asylum also has been acquired. This
will be developed as part of the Fort
drive planned at this point. All of
the foregoing positions, Mr.. Brown
pointed out, complete purchases pre-
viously made in these projects.
The commission also approved
several minor street cloSings to con-
solidate park areas in Fort Reno,
the Piney Branch parkway and Fort
Stanton Park.
Maj. Gen. U. S. Grant III, chair
man, and other members of the
commission were to visit Great Falls
this afternoon with view to work.
ing out program of recreation
along the restored Chesapeake and
Ohio Canal. They have in mind the
area between the Falls and Brook
mont.
Last fall the canal was severely
damaged by floods and the planning
officials wish to see conditions for
themselves to determine the op-
portunitieS for recreational develop
ment Before the floods, park Off
Ger counted $500 mixers one day
between Brookmont and the falls.
Now it is nearly deserted.
A progress" report on an analysis
of the six-year public works pro-
gram for the entire Washington
area will be made tomorrow. Pur-
pose of the present study is to CO.
ordinate the activities of Federal
and District agencies involved in
plans for postwar public works.
The Fine Arts Commission also
will report tomorrow on a plan-to
revise zoning regulations limiting
the height of buildings to 10 feet
With respect to large number of
recreation projects coming up at
the meeting, the group emphasized
that these were planned before
Pearl Harbor and no new funds are
involved.
Funds for Two Projects.
Details of changes in the general
plan of the District Recreation
Board will come up for approval
Plans also will be approved for rec
reation areas west of Connecticut
avenue on Courtland street and in
the vicinity of Kalorama and Co.
lumbia roads. Funds will be avail
able July for these two projects.
Announcement was made that ac-
tion will be taken toward COM
pleting the final link of the Ana
costa parkway between Bladens-
burg, Md, and Greenbelt
Development of this traffic park
way is planned as part of the route
of the proposed Baltimore Washing
ton parkway. U. S. Route No. /,
which the Planning Commission
calls death highway" is the only
main traffic route tapping this area.
The commission also is cooper
ating with the War Department in
meeting two problems at Boiling
Field. A number of trees in the
Shepherd parkway constitute a fly
ing hazard, it was said 1t is also
proposed to select a new location
for permanent public school to
replace the temporary structure at
Nichols avenue and Chesapeake
street. The present school site is
too close to the Army flying field.
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