Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-02-20
Planners Approve
Bill for Construction
Of Big Auditorium
Also Indorse Three
Temporary Projects TO
House 296 Families

The National Capital Park and
Planning Commission today. was on
record approving in principle a
House bill that would pave the way
for erection of war memorial audi
forum in Washington after the war.
The commission closed its month
ly session yesterday by also approx
ing plans for new Navy Office build
ing in Arlington, Va, and three
Housing Dwelling Authority projects
in different sections of the city to
provide temporary housing for 296
families.
A bill now pending before the
House Public Buildings and Grounds
Committee provides for commits
sion to select a suitable site for a
war memorial auditorium costing
not more than $10,0O0,000. The
Planning Commission Endorsed the
proposal.
Site Previously Selected.
Secretary Thomas S. Settle point
ed out yesterday that the House
Committee would be informed that
the group has favored the erection
Of Federal auditorium since the
initial congressional bill Of 1898
which appointed commission to
make an extensive study of the pian.
That commission, he said, had Sc
lected the site at Constitution ave-
nue. and John Marshall place, now
owned by the District and used as
an automobile parking lot.
1t was proposed to build an audi
forum from Federal funds of suffi-
cient size to accommodate at least
10000 persons, Mr. Settle explained.
Its use was intended for conventions
and presidential inaugurations When
weather conditions made it impos-
Sible to conduct the inaugural cere-
mony on the east steps Of the Capt.
toll
The Planning Commission made
no suggestion to locate the pro-
posed War Memorial Auditorium at
Constitution Avenue and John
Marshall Place, but implied that
the site is available and conven-
iently located downtown.
The Navy Department, it was
said, intends to erect a small Office
building in Arlington to supple
ment Federal Temporary Building
No. 2 in that area. Approval Of the
Planning Commission was given
No mention was made of the ca
pacity of the building, which the
Navy is prepared to erect soon.
40 Family Units.
One of the proposed Alley Dwell
ing Authority projects approved in.
wolves the erection of 40 family
units on a parking lot it owns al
Twenty-first and E streets NV
The two story homes would be OF
type that meets the standards
fixed by the War Production Boaro
for the duration.
Another ADA project In the
Glover Park area of West Wash.
ington would comprise 90 family
units. Ofhcials said the plans cal
for these units to be staggered
or set back on the grounds ir
irregular fashion.
Inc thlrd project Is intended FOL
$50 family units in the vicinity o.
the Barry Farms development o.
the ADA. 1t is located in Ana.
costa below the Eleventh Stree
Bridge.
A housing study being made by
the Planning Commission, it was re-
ported yesterday, shows definite
trend Of housing development east
OF the Anacostia River in the Dis
trict. Since the 1910 census, the
total number of private and public
dwelling units erected in this area
has more than doubled.
The commission is making a con-
tinuous study Of housing develop
ments in the Washington area, fur.