Evening star., 1946-09-20
Planners Vote
Fu||Studyon
6-Year Program
Commission Weighs
Oh-Street Parking
And New BUILDINGS

The National Capital Park and
Planning Commission has agreed
to make detailed study, requested
by the District Commissioners, of
the projected six-year $226, ,00O, 900
improvement program for the city
The planning commission today was
also prepared to consider ff-street
parking facilities, the traffic prob
lem generally, a new general ac-
counting office building, pro-
posed new Veterans Administration
hospital and veterans housing.
The planners also voted to meet
on October II and 18, and, for
part OF that session, hold a joint
meeting with the District Commits
sioners to discuss mutual problems
Today they are concluding a two
day session.
John Nolen, jr., director of plan
ming of the commission and
Thomas S. Settle, its secretary, ex-
planned that the planners voted
yesterday to make detailed report
on the items contained in the six
year plan. Prepared by Brig. Gen.
Gordon r. Young, Engineer Com
missioner, the plan contemplates
sewer, street, building and other
improvements for the National
Capital.
United Front Sought.
The planners had already sub
mitted general comments on the
plan, but the District Commission
ers recently wrote the commission
asking It to concur in the items
involved or suggest alternatives.
Ihe Commissioners desire to have
the planners and other agencies
directly concerned, thresh out the
whole problem and present united
front to Congress.
Gen. Young, as a member of the
Planning Commission, discussed his
plan generally and said that he
welcomed comment on any phase
of 1t and promised to present any
additional data needed by the de-
tailed study.
The planners, Mr.. Nolen ex-
planned, will study the program in
the light of population trends
school needs. public buildings of
the future and other factors. He
was unable to say how long the
study will take. He cited as an
illustration that the commission
has a plan for extending Massa-
chusetts avenue across the Anacos-
tia River, with a new bridge, using
part of the Gallinger Hospital
grounds.
To Eliminate BottIenecks.
The commission yesterday:
l. Voted to transfer to the Dis
trict as much of L'Enfant Square,
Pennsylvania and Minnesota ave-
nues Sc, from the National Park
Service, as is needed to eliminate
the traffic bottleneck there by street
widening.
2. Approved taking as much Of the
park triangle at Twentieth and
Pennsylvania avenue NV. as re-
quired for the widening of Twen-
tieth street, which is now under
way.
8. Approved plans, submitted by
its landscape architect, Thomas c.
Jeffers, for drainage, grading and
dredging to develop Anacosita Park
from the District line to Bladens-
burg, Md, carrying forward the rec
lamation program already achieved
in the District. Strengthening of
the Anacosita River, dredging an
S-foot channel and using the
dredged material to build up the
new banks and elevate the swampy
area are contemplated. The dis
trict engineer for the War Depart
ment for the Washington area is
now making a study of flood con-
troll, navigation and other features
there and final adoption of the de-
tails depend upon his report. Mary
land planners are also studying this
program.
Report on Valley Park.
4. Instructed its staff to work
with the staff of the Maryland Ma
tional Capital Park and Planning
Commission on the area to be ac-
quired, land appraisals and details
OF expanding the park system along
the valleys in nearby Maryland. The
planners listened to report on this
project, involving Paint Branch
Oxon Run and Little Falls Branch
presented by F. W. Tuemmler, direc-
tor of planning for the Maryland
Commission.
5. Referred to the Maryland Com
mission procedure proposal relat-
ing to the newly formed District of
Columbia Maryland Zoning Advisory
Committee. In cases of disagree
ment by the District representatives
on a zoning problem, they would
have opportunity to appear before
the Maryland authorities, under the
proposal.
Proposed commercial develop
ments along New Hampshire ave-
nue. and Sheriff road-of mutual
interest to District and MARYLAND
ofhcials concerned-are among the
first problems to be tackled unde,
this program. Irwin I. Kaplan. CHIEF
engineer of the Maryland Commits.
sion, appeared yesterday with Mr.
Tuemmler before the planners here