Evening star., 1943-05-23
Projects
Continued From First Page J

tional Resources Planning Board
for a postwar construction program
amounting to s400000,0O0. In this
connection there had been a refer
ence to plans for "beautif1cation" of
the National Capital, although since
then the joint meeting of the Ma
tional Capital Park and Planning
Commission and the Fine Arts body
has placed emphasis on utilitarian
works.
Included in the Fine Arts Com
mission listing, but not in that of
the city heads, were a national
stadium, national auditorium,
waterfront developments and a new
major highway between Washing
ton and Baltimore, which would in
volve approaches in the District.
In his statement Col. Arthur said
plans being drawn up by city agen-
cies could be put under construc-
ton, once priorities and construction
funds permitted, within 80 days.
Projects in Talking Stage"
He said:
About week ago the National
Resources Planning Board an
nounced program of postwar con-
struction in Washington totaling
about $400, 100000. Included in the
program are many projects which
are in hardly more than a talking
stage, and on which actual con-
struction could not commence for
many months after the end of the
emergency period. 1t will be re-
membered that the same situation
existed when the PWA program was
lnaugurated. Funds were allotted
by it for large-scale construction
work all over the country, but ex-
cept for a comparatively small
group of engineers and craftsmen
engaged in preparing plans and
specifications, there was no large
scale employment of construction
workers for many months.
"A few days ago the Board of
Trade announced the appointment
of committee to consider post war
planning in Washington. This COM
mittee will be Of invaluable assist
ance in formulating a comprehen-
sive program, including both public
and private construction. However,
the Commissioners desire to bring to
the attention of the public that in
1912, they prepared and submitted
to the National Resources Planning
Board a six-year program of con-
struction, including therein all &C
tivities of the District. The list of
projects is voluminous and complete,
but as in the case of the PWA and
the list announced by the National
Resources Planning Board, many of
them could not be constructed for
many months after funds are made
available
Could Start in 80 Days.
AT present. however, the Com
missioners have requested and re-
ceived funds for the preparation of
detailed plans and specifications for
many projects, and this work Is be-
ing performed as rapidly as the lin
tied manpower situation will permit
The status of these plans, as dis
tinguished from planning, is indi-
Gated below It is believed that in
each instance it will be possible to
commence construction work within
80 days after funds are made avail
able"
To this was added: "The Com
missioners wish to emphasize that
their list includes only those projects
for which funds are available to
prepare definite plans and specif1ca-
tions. There are large number of
other worthwhile projects which
might we'll be undertaken imme-
diately after the emergency, such as
the Potomac River crossing to Alex
andria.
1t was learned that some protests
already have been received by Dis
trict officials from taxpayers against
any postwar program of the size of
100000. City officials did not
anticipate the same complaints
would be voiced against their own,
limited "utilitarian" $30,000,000 pro-
gram
Building Funds Available.
Col. Arthur listed the following as
projects being planned, all expected
to be ready for use by early next
year, for which funds for construc-
ton as well as planning now are
available:
Joel Elias Spingarn High School,
Twenty-fourth street and Benning
road NE. s1,15S,750
Abbott Vocational School, Brent
wood Park NE. s562, 500.
Van Ness School addition. M street
between Third and Fourth streets
Sc, s275.625.
Benning School addition, Mime
sofa avenue, between Benning road
and Foote street NE, s/5,625.
Adelaide Davis School. north side
Of H street opposite Forty fourth
place Sc, $167,500.
Fire Engine House. vicinity of
North Capitol and Crittenden streets
NV, 100000.
1ncinerator No. 3 for Refuse
Dept, West Virginia avenue and
Mount Olivet road NE, 100000.
Northwest Health Center, Seventh
and o streets NV, 250,00O.
New Receiving Home for Children,
Girard street between Georgia and
Sherman avenues NV, 124,975.
District Training School (dormi-
tories) Laurel, Maryland, 100000.
The following were listed as pro-
jects being drawn up for which
planning money, but not construc-
ton funds, was now available.
Junior high school-Emma Mer-
ritt, Forty ninth and Hayes streets
NE, $875,0OO.
Elementary school to replace
Cranch, Tyler and Van Ness, Elev-
enth and G streets, Sc, $500 900.
Elementary school to replace
Dent, Lenox and French, Third and
D streets Sc. $500,000.
Central Public Library, Units 2, 3
and 4, 400 Pennsylvania avenue
NV, $4,000, 900.
Walter B. Patterson School,
Nichols avenue and Chesapeake
street S.W.. $198,150.