Evening star., 1944-03-16
Planning Commission
To Get NCHA Report
On 200 D. T.. Alleys
Proposals to Bon All-Doy
Porkine in Parks Here
Also Will Be Heard

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Factual information dealing with
Washington's 200 inhabited alleys,
now the subject of controversy in
.he Senate District Committee, will
be presented today to the National
Capital Park and Planning COM
at its monthly meeting.
Also on schedule for tomorrow.
the commission will hear proposals
TO end all-day parking of automo-
oiles on park drives near Govern
ment buildings.
John Nolen, jr., director Of PLAN
ming, will present the alley survey
made by the National Capital Hous-
ing Authority. It is expected that
the information contained therein
will be submitted later for consid-
Grafton of congressional and Dis
trict officials.
Full Report Expected.
While details Of the report were
withheld prior to the meeting, 1t
is expected it will embody the num-
Der of alley dwellings. number OF
residents and information bearing
on the deterioration of the dwellings.
Chairman Bilbo Of the District Com
mittee has called for evacuation of
the alleys by July /, the deadline
set in the law creating the Alley
Dwelling Authority. District ofii-
cials, as we'll as other members Of
the Senate committee, contend that
should be delayed In view
of the inpossibility of rehousing so
many residents.
Senator McCarran, Democrat, Of
Nevada, former chairman Of the
District Committee, has estimated
the number OF alley residents at
1000, while Senator Bilbo puts tho
number at 10000. The report from
the NCHA, which has made q thor
ough study Of the alleys during the
past 10 years, Is expected to contain
information that should be of the
utmost value in determining the
question Of evacuation.
Another report will be presented
to the commission by Secretary
Thomas S. Settle on the revision Of
the urban redevelopment bill for
Washington. II the proposed legis-
lation is approved, 1t will be sub
mitted to the Budget Bureau. Sew
eraI State Legislatures already have
enacted similar bills providing for
postwar rehabilitation of blighted
areas.
Four Year Building Report.
1t was announced that in line
with these discussions, Max Wehrly,
city planner, tomorrow will give
comprehensive report of the number.
OF building permits issued by the
District In the last four years.
Of1cials said the report will show
the need for schools, Fairgrounds,
parks, libraries and vacant areas
available for residential Develop
ment. These matters will be stud
led in connection with several esti-
mates which Mr.. Nolen will pre-
sent on the future population of the
Washington region in the next 10
years.
Automobile parking has always
been matter of chief interest, to
the Planning Commission and it
plans to follow up the District Com
missioners' action last Monday in
abolishing certain special parking
privileges. A. E. Demaray, associate
director of the National Park Serv-
ice, who is member of the COM
mission, will tell of a proposed CO.
operative study to be made of park
ing regulations and practices in
downtown parks.
Cooperating in this study. it was
announced, will be the District Com
missioners and the Planning Com
mission, the idea being to establish
definite policy of short time park
ing on park roads near Federal
buildings. On recommendation of
the American Automobile Associa-
ton, a joint committee has been
formed. It's membership is COM
posed OF representatives of various
Government agencies concerned
with parking problems.
Free Parking Lots
Planning officials deplored the
present tendency to make the parks
free public parking lots" During
the stringent days of gasoline ra-
tioning, parking problems down.
town were less acute. In recent
months, however, it Is almost as
dimcult to obtain parking space as
in prewar days.
At this mornings session, Norman
E. Brown, land purchasing agent,
will report on new acquisitions.
Thomas H. Macdonald, commits
sion OF public roads, also will at.
tend the morning session when
matters connected with surveys of
the Baltimore Washington park
way, between the District Line and
the Agricultural Research Center
at Beltsville, Md, will be presented.
During the afternoon. members of
the Maryland Park and Planning
commission will be present to dis
cuss the proposed parkway develop
ment. Also under consideration
will be a proposal to sell surplus
land acquired by the District for
purposes no longer necessary These
include, 1t was said, a former police
station site at Forty-second and
Benning road NE. and a school site
at Suitland, Md.
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