Evening star., 1947-12-12
Health Institute
Expansion Plans
To Be Outlined
Planning Body Also to
Hear of Revisions for
New Courthouse
By Nelson M. Shepard

~ iNSISOH w. SuSpOIu
Plans for expanding the National
Institute of Health in Bethesda,
eventually to become one of the
largest Federal projects in Mont
gomery County, were scheduled for
hearing today before the National
Capital Park and Planning Com
mission.
Commissioner w. E. Reynolds of
the Public Buildings Administration
invited to appear, was expected to
take the planning group into his
confidence concerning future land
acquisitions and new buildings for
the great Federal health center.
The PBA head also will explain
latest revisions in planning the new
Federal Courthouse at Constitution
avenue and Third street NV.
Preliminary plans, drawn by
Architect Louis Justement already
have been approved. Confidence
was expressed by the planners that
the new courthouse will benefit from
all the advances made in courthouse
construction and especially the
handling of witnesses and prisoners
in waiting rooms and cells.
Housing Action Postponed.
The Institute of Health plans in
the Bethesda area fit in with future
expansion of both Federal construc-
ton and parkway systems now under
consideration in the county. In
Prince Georges County, the future
center of Federal building activity,
will be in the Suitland area, now
housing Census Bureau employees.
The planners feel it wise at this
time, it announced, to postpone ac-
ton disposing of temporary war
housing after June 30. The District
Commissioners will be asked to study
the whole problem carefully, with
view toward using some of these
family units to rehouse low-income
families dispossessed from homes in
blighted areas.
Under the law start in disposing
of these temporary housing units
must be made by June 80. Some
OF the units, it is believed, would
fit in well with plans for reconvert-
ing blighted areas under the 1916
Redevelopment Act. Such housing
would be used exclusively for fasnil-
les within the lowest 20 per cent
income group.
Agree to Speed Parkways.
Out of a lengthy joint session
with Maryland planning and county
officials yesterday came common
agreement that it is the desire of all
to go ahead as rapidly as possible
with the extension of parkways
along various streams in both nearby
counties.
J. Bond Smith, general counsel
OF the Maryland National Capital
Park and Planning Commission, said
the commission recently has been
granted authority by the General!
Assembly to borrow money under
the Capper-Cramton Act to carry
out these plans.
Last year the Federal planners
sought 100000 to carry out an
extension of the park program under
the act this year, it is believed, the
request will be somewhat smaller.
The Maryland group are going
to concentrate in the Bethesda, Col
lege Park and Suitland areas.
The streams under scrutiny are
Little Falls and Willetts Run in
Bethesda and Oxon Run near Suit
land.
NOlen Pleased.
Enthusiastic over what was re-
ferred to as presumed" agree
ment, Director of Planning John
Nolen, jr., said the session was a
fine example of officials under diff
ferent Jurisdictions getting together
and working out plans in demo-
cratic harmony"
Montgomery County, especially,
came in for praise when it was dis
closed that, in addition to land OBJ
tanned through the Capper- Cram
ton Act, the Maryland planning
body had bought large tracts of
land with its own State funds.
The planners also stressed the
urgency of pushing land acquisitions
for the George Washington Me-
mortal Parkway. About IS per cent
of the land needed in Montgomery
County has been acquired, it was
pointed out, but none has been
purchased in Prince Georges County.
The only land obtained is the Fort
Hunt site, recently transferred frc,a
the Army Department.
The Planning Commission ap-
proved all highway changes sub
initted from the District, the most |
being plans for the dual
road connecting Macarthur boule-
ward with the K street viaduct now
under construction.