Evening star., 1946-11-13

FOR A JOB WELL DONE-Und
Sullivan (left) presents a speci,
Cardinal Strich, Archbishop OF
National Catholic Community
the organization during the wal
representing the Army, looks or
joint Library-Cenier
Plan for Chevy Chase
Cheaper, Schwab Says
James e. Schwab, vice-chairman
Of the District Recreation Board, has
compiled figures aimed to prove that
final cost to the District Of erecting
a separate branch library and COM
munity center In the Chevy Chase
Cd. CD area would exceed the cost
of remodeling the e. v. Brown
School for a joint library -commun-
Iity center building.
MIR. Schwab laid the figures be-
fore the board at its meeting yes
terday with the idea they might be
used to further the joint project II
the Board Of Library Trustees de-
cides tomorrow 1t wants the Com
missioners to hold q public hearing
on the proposal.
Chevy Chase residents have been
pushing the project hard and have
the support Of both the library and
recreation boards.
Mr.. Schwab told the board the
Commissioners have estimated the
value Of the school property at
$685., 500 and that he considered this
top value"
Cites Last Two Branches.
The last two Glass A branch
libraries built in the District, he
said, cost $150,000 and $3.50, 900 re-
spectiyely. The last land bought
by the District for a Glass A library
cost $4,000. of which the District
paid $4,000.
This was the Cleveland Park
branch, he said, and the community
put up $4,000 to make the pur-
chase.
A conservative estimate. for g.
Glass A Chevy Chase branch library,
including land, would be about
$3.50 600, he said. stressing that he
doubted II 1t could be built and the
land bought for that figure.
By adding to the $3S1.5Oo TOP
fneure for the school property the
$57. 900 which the Library Board has
estimated it would take to put the
school into shape for a Joint build
ing, he said, total value Of $4l0, 500
for the school property would be
reached.
II $250, 1000, or the conservative
cost Of library on different site
In the neighborhood. is subtracted,
he explained. there would be $780,
500 left as the value of the Dis
trict's investment in the recreation
part Of the project.
you couldn't buy site and build
q building for that" he said.
One Other Building.
The only other building which
might be used for a community CEN
ter in the neighborhood is the La
fayette School, Harry s. wender,
Recreation Board chairman, con-
tended. This school now Is so
crowded there is no room for cafe
terra. and children eat at their
desks, he said.
Mr.. Schwab then explained that
the Recreation DEPARTMENTS own
estimate of the amount 1t would take
to remodel the recreation part OF
the building is considerably lower
than the estimate made by the L.
brary board.
The latter group estimates COM
bined remodeling would come tol
$57, 900 $40 900 for the branch liz
brary and $4,000 for the commu-
nifty center.
The recreation star believes es-
sential remodeling would require
only about SIS, 900 Including fur
nishings. This would lower the ton
value Of the property, after remod-
cling, to $3S7 500.
Mr.. Schwab indicated that COM
munity drive similar to that which
raised more than $4,000 for the
Cleveland Park Branch Library
might raise this amount.
The $4,000 figure, he said. did
not include amounts which would
have to be spent for personnel and
maintenance.
Mr.. Schwab also introduced fie-
ures which indicate the valuation
placed on the school property BY
the Commissioners Is high. The en-
tire business tract across Connecti-
cut avenue from the school, he said,
Is assessed at 1885,, ,546, including i'm
|provements. The land itself, he
added, Is assessed at $222 2,046 and
the buildings at $164, 500. Tax re-
ceipts on the property are about $6,-
TOO annually.
In addition to discussing the e.
v. Brown project, the board also:
Announced r.. III. r. Siddons has
agreed to continue as treasurer OF
Washington's independence Day
celebration fund. (. n
Scheduled an inspection trip Of
playground improvements for. $50
am. November n.
Said 1t hoped to extend q pro-
posed children's theater project on
which 1t Is working to include both
white and colored groups.
Announced it is listing more than
80 play areas for improvement under
Engineer Commissioner Gordon r..
Young's $228, ,000, 900 six-year capital
improvement plan Tor the District.
Said 1t would meet with oficials
|of the Police Boys Club Ia an 4ffort
to avoid duplication OF recreation
facilities by the two organizations.
Went on record favoring daylight
saving time for Washington next
summer.
Church Dinner Tomorrow
The annual Thanksgiving dinner
Of the Warner Presbyterian Church.
Kensington, win be served ct the
church from $50 pm. to T::30 pm.