Evening star., 1946-06-27
Playground Site
Prices Too High,
P|annersSay
Lond Costs Cited
In Report on
Midcity Project
By Rudolph Kouffmonn II

~
Prices demanded by owners of
property in the midcity section
sought by the National Capital
Parks and Planning Commission for
urgently needed Fairgrounds are
running 200 to 300 per cent above
normal and have stymied further
progress toward relieving juvenile
problems in that area.
This was reported to the planning
group-holding its June meeting to-
day and tomorrow-by Norman C.
Brown, the commissions land-pur-
chasing officer. He said his nego-
tiations with the owners of property
necessary for the Cardozo play
ground at Ninth street and Rhode
Island avenue NV. and the Jamaica
playground on Church street be-
tween Sixteenth and Seventeenth
streets NV. have proved futile.
He said the situa ton is the tough
est he has faced II his II years as
land-purchasing flcer.
Negotiations fer the Cardozo
playground s'' scheduled to in
acres of built-up property
have gone on for l8 months, he said
Compromise Cited.
High prices are asked, he told the
1O-man planning group. despite the
fact that the commission and the
District government are prepared to
withhold demolition of built-up
property until the housing shortage
is eased, and rent back the prop
erty to occupants at s per cent of
the sale price.
The Cardozo playground, a prof.
ect for colored children, has been
the subject of repeated outcries
from civic groups In the midcity
area, who seek it as means of COM
batting delinquency and low health
standards.
A score of representatives of COL
ored organizations called for early
development of the area at public
hearing held by the District Recrea-
ton Board two weeks ago to discuss
play needs which should be met in
the 1948 budget.
The Jamaica Playground, a white
project. has been the subject of SIM
liar pleas from white groups.
Change of Plans Urged.
Condemnation requests on both
projects have been forwarded to the
Justice Department.. Mr.. Brown said.
After Mr.. Browns report the COM
announced it has asked the
War Department to amend plans
for the proposed Army Medical Lii
brary-to be built on East Capitol
street between Third and Fourth
streets-so that trees would be
planted between the sidewalk and
the building rather than along the
curb as is now customary.
Thomas S. Settle. commission
secretary, described this as a new
in street planting
methods. 1t is proposed. he said, to
Keep tree roots from being cut by
utility lines. The questions will
receive further consideration by the
Co-ordinating Com
mittee to see If the new method will
conflict with utility line require
ments.
Plans Outlined.
The medical library plan is the
work of Eggers & Higgins, New
York architects, successors to John
Pope, designer of the Ma
tional Gallery of Art and the Jeffer-
son Memorial. The building is
planned to front on East Capitol
street for distance of 270 feet
and for 225 feet on Third and
Fourth streets. 1t is planned to
be about rs feet high.
The commission already has ap-
proved general plans for the project,
which represents significant step
In public housing development, since
it is an initial project in the long
sought development of East Capitol
street.
Today's meeting Of the planning
group also is scheduled to hear
flrst-hand report by District
Commissioner Gordon R.
Young on the Districts projected
$225, 10000 postwar Capital i'm
provement program. Gen. Young. a
ex-ofncio of the commits
sion, made public the program a
week ago.
Other Matters Considered.
Other matters which the commits
sion was scheduled to consider to-
day are:
Zoning proposals heard by the
District Commissioners yesterday
which would affect public projects.
Progress in setting up a joint
Maryland-District body to consider
zoning changes near the District
line which affect property owners
on both sides.
Tomorrow the commission is
scheduled to take up the follow
ing:
/. Proposals of the District Com
to close certain streets.
District hearings on the proposals
already have been held.
2. Progress to date IN planning for
an Alexandria Shepherds Landing
bridge. The bridge would link the
Virginia city with South Capitol
street, but is in preliminary plan
ming stage only.
3. A letter which the National
Park Service plans to write to the
City of Alexandria containing
future policy toward Washington
street. The street carries the Mount
Vernon Memorial Parkway through
town, and a running controversy
has taken place between COM.