Evening star., 1944-04-20
Planning Commission
Approves Locations
For Three Libraries
Sites Not Purchased;
Several Street CIosines
Also Given O. K.

Federal planners today approved
locations foe three additional branch
public libraries at the opening OF
their monthly planning session.
The library branches win be To-
Gated, 1t was announced, IN Tenley-
town, the Macomb street neighbor-
hood Of Cleveland Park and in
Brookland. Since the sites have not
yet been purchased, the exact loca-
tions were not announced.
The National Capital Park and
Planning Commission also approved
number OF street closings and land
transfers as we'll as plans for a
temporary building, for the Defense
Plants Corp, to be erected at Second
street and New Jersey avenue NV.
This property is now owned by the
RFC, and is located west of the
Home Owners Loan Corp. Building
80 Lots Purchased.
Norman c. Brown, land purchas-
ing officer, announced the commits
sion had approved contracts for the
purchase of 80 scattered lots in
Watts Branch NE. in continuation
OF this flood-control project. The
lots total about ~ acres, lying be-
tween Fifty-eighth street and
Southern avenue, which forms the
District line.
Street closings were approved in
the park property of the Kelly
Miller recreational area in the
Northeast section and an alley was
ordered closed bordering on the
Mount Alto Hospital grounds near
Wisconsin avenue. Hunt street NE,
between Fifty-second street and Di-
vision avenue, was ordered taken off
the highway plan.
Two land transfers also were ap-
proved. A short strip in Alger Park
Sc. recreational area was trans
ferred from the District to the
National Capital Parks Office. An
other strip in Fort Stanton Park,
known on the maps as Eighteenth
street Sc, was transferred from the
parks office to the District office.
Housing Report Scheduled.
Maj. Gen. U. S. Grant, Sd, chair
man OF the group, was to submit
the final draft of the commissions
report on the National Capital
Housing Authority's program and
on the housing situation in Wash
lngton. The report was drawn up
at the request of Senator Burton,
Republican, of Ohio, for submission
to the subcommittee which is inves-
tlgatlng loW-cost housing in the Dis
trict. The report will not be made
public at this time.
The long discussed urban rede-
velopment bill for the District, for
warded last month to the Budget
Bureau, again will come up tenor
row in connection with some minor
which have been pro-
posed. No controversial issues are
involved.
John Nolen, director of planning,
will submit several proposed amend
ments to the zoning regulations
which will be heard by the Zoning
Commission in a short time. These
merely seek to clarity
some of the existing regulations and
simplify administration.
Indoor Recreation Facilities.
The Board of Education, through
resolutions, has brought up the
question of indoor recreation facil-
tiles, matter in which the COM
has long been interested.
School officials are desirious that
such facilities be included in the
designs of all future school buildings
to be located adjacent to public
recreational areas.
Capt. H. C. Whitehurst, director,
has been invited to present his plans
for the District Highway Depart
ment's program of postwar projects.
They will include such items as the
Dupont Circle underpass,
bridges over the Potomac River and
major street improvements.