Evening star., 1947-12-12
5O0-BedHospitaI
Is sPIanned for
Health Institute
Bethesda Unit to Get
Research Center Also
In Early Enlargement
By Nelson M. Shepard

By Nelson N. Shepard
A combined 500-bed hospital and
medical research center Is being
planned for early enlargement Of
the National Institute of Health at
Methesda, Federal planning
agency was informed today.
Research in cancer, heart disease
and other battling maladies will be
provided for IN new laboratories that
will form part of the center, Com.
w. E. Reynolds Of the
Public Buildings Administration, re-
vealed.
Mr.. Reynolds told the National
Capital Park and Planning Com
mission at its closing monthly ses-
sion, that Congress allocated funds
to draw plans for the new hospital
and research center. The amount
was not divulged.
The development will be con-
structed on the Luke Wilson estate
property across the Rockville pike
from the new Naval Hospital. Addi-
tlonal acreage is to be acquired.
Great Plaza Plans Outlined.
Plans for Identification and linz
tied automobile parking on the So
called Great Plaza on Fourteenth
street south Of Pennsylvania avenue
were outlined to the commission by
Mr.. Reynolds In presenting a study
Of that area.
The plan agreed upon in 1945
would convert this space from q
public parking lot to an attractive
layout designed solely for the use
by occupants of the District Build
ing and surrounding Federal build
ings. With the Oscar Straus Me.
mortal Fountain as the central fea.
ture, the plan provides for parking
automobiles under neatly laid out
rows Of trees on three sides.
Architect Louis Justement pre-
sented revised plans for the new
Federal Court House, Constitution
avenue and Third street NV. In
accordance with earlier instructions
he provided a main entrance to the
building on the south with the main
parking entrance for 180 cars on
Third street.
Need for Study Stressed.
Commissioner Reynolds stressed
the need Of making an intensive
study Of the parking situation in this
whole area. This study will be made,
it was understood, by the District
Motor Vehicle Parking Agency and
the Highway Department. 1t will
include the entire Judiciary Square
area as well as the new Municipal
Center.
The need for ample parking
facilities is obvious in view Of the
fact that construction of the new
courthouse will eliminate one of the
largest downtown parking lots in the
city.
The Planning Commission was
shown the layout for future de-
velopment of the United States
Soldiers Home, a huge project being
undertaken by the United States
Engineers Office.
Hall Heads Committee.
So far as the Federal planners
were concerned their interest CEN
tered only in seeing that roads are
extended through the new depart
ment north to south and east to
west.
1t. Col. w. c. Hall headed CON-
mittee in presenting these studies.
The planners feel it wise at this
time, 1t was announced, to postpone
action disposing of temporary war
housing after June 80. 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 a 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 1946
Redevelopment Act. Such housing
would be used exclusively for famil-
les within the lowest 20 per cent
income group.
Agree to Speed Parkways.
Out of lengthy joint session
with Maryland planning and county
officials yesterday came a 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-C -Cramton Act to carry
out these plans. 49,.
Last year the Federal planners
sought $3,000,000 to carry out an
extension of the park program under
the act. This year, 1t is believed, tho
request will be somewhat smaller.
The Maryland group Is 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.