Evening star., 1943-04-15
Planners Ready
To Complete
Parkway Deal
Funds Available to
Buy Last Link for
D. C.9BoItimore Rood

Years Of planning for the pro-
posed Baltimore-W Washington park.
way are about to culminate in tho
purchase Of the final link Of privately
owned land to complete the right
of-way on the chosen route between
the District line and Fort George G.
Meade, it was reported today.
Federal funds are now available
to close the deal, officials of the
National Capital Park and Plan
ming Commission explained as they
assembled for their April meeting.
A report was to be made at the
morning session, when action also
is expected on a number of other
land transfers and acquisitions for
park projects.
John Nolen, jr., director of PLAN
ming, who said the parkway has been
under consideration for 10 years,
would not disclose the location of
this last link in the right-of-way.
He explained, however, that the
Federal Government would make the
funds available to Maryland on the
basis of a grant of one-third of the
amount and a loan of two-thirds.
Other Projects Up.
Other matters coming up today in
volve the George Washington Me-
mortal parkway and negotiations
with the Army concerning the post
war use Of Fort Washington, Md.
A. E. Demaray, acting executive
officer for the commission, will re-
port on conferences held since the
March session with Brig. Gen. Her
bert G. Holdridge, commanding Of
f1cer Of the historic fort.
Proposed enlargement of the Adju-
tant Generals School at Fort WASH
ington an dis continuance after the
war led to the conferences in view
of the fact that the National Park
Service is the owner of the military
reservation.
Reports are to be made on two
recommendations of the Federal
commission with respect to planning
and zoning in Prince Georges County
which have been adopted by the
Maryland Legislature.
The first is proposed extension Of
the regional district boundary to the
Camp Springs Meadow air base.
Second, it was proposed to include
the areas now being subdivided as
a result of construction of the new
Federal Office building in Suitland
and development of the air. base,
which Is one of the largest in the
country.
Would Extend Zoning Powers.
Mr.. Nolen explained that the bills
would extend the zoning powers Of
the Maryland planning group over
these areas.
"Our own interest in the matter" !"
he explained, "is to see that local
control Is exercised to avoid disor-
derly developments for lack Of
proper planning, some shining ex-
amples of which are to be found in
the Washington area" There Is no
control now over building develop
ments throughout these areas, he
said, with result that there is i'm
minent danger of insanitary hous-
ing conditions developing.
The Maryland Legislature also has
authorized the exchange of certain
small lands between the State and
the Federal Government necessary
for postwar projects now under con-
sideration.
To Inspect Pentagon Roads.
An inspection tour of the roadway
network at the Pentagon Building
will be taken by the commission this
afternoon. Its members, who got
lost in the huge War Department
building several months ago, have
not gone over the road network in
its entirety.
They also will inspect the two
largest housing projects in the
Washington area while on the trip
and visit lands contemplated for
purchase in connection with the
proposed enlargement of Arlington
National Cemetery. Both housing
projects are in Arlington County.
One was built by the Defense Homes
Corp. and the other is a Metropoli-
tan Life Insurance Co. project.
This phase of the inspection trip
Is being made in preparation for a
full days session tomorrow on hous-
ing problems. Included in reports
to be made is one from Alfred Bet
man. consultant and chairman of
the Cincinnati (Ohio) Planning
Commission, dealing with urban re-
development after the war