Evening star., 1947-10-30
FineArtsGroup
ApprovesP|aza
On 14th Street
Delay Likely, However;
Courthouse Design
tentatively Backed
By Nelson M. Shepord


The Fine Arts Commission toda,
approved appropriate development
of the Great Plaza on Fourteenth
street between Pennsylvania avenu,
and Constitution avenue "withou
delay"
Secretary H. P. Caemmerer alst
reported the commission had tenta
lively approved the design for {
monumental" Federal courthouse
authorized by Congress for construc'
ton at Constitution avenue ane
Third street.
The commission consideration 81
the proposed Great Plaza develop
ment was moved by the recent com.
pletion and dedication of the Oscar
S. Straus Memorial Fountain as tht
centerpiece of the plaza. 1t is 10.
Gated in the rear of the old District
Building, in the center of huge
parking lot.
No Immediate Development.
Public Building Administration
officials, however, have indicated no
intention to proceed at an early
date with development of this great
plaza, which would deprive the city
at this time of one of its most used
off street parking spaces. Plans
already have been drawn up for
elimination of the parking lot and
landscaping of the area when Fed
eral officials give the go signal.
The plaza idea was authorized
at the time the Commerce and La
Dor Department Buildings were
planned, but completion of the prof.
ect was held up during the depres-
sion years and later during the war
years.
Louis Justement, architect for the
new courthouse building, submitted
a design on behalf of architects OF
the Capitol and the Public Build
ings administration. The design
called for a monumental building
of the same height as the new Pub
lie Library Building, located nearby
That means the courthouse would
be a fve-story building and it was
said it would conform generally
with the architecture of the public
buildings surrounding it.
Sesouicentennial Is Subject.
At todays meeting Mr.. Caem-
merer was to report on ways in which
the commission and the National
Capital Park and Planning Com
mission can cooperate in connection
with the 1850 Sesquicentennlal OF
Washington.
Reversing its usual policy of TAX
ing city property out of taxation fol
park purposes, the planning COM
mission was preparing to sell a strip
of land to put it back into taxa
ton" The strip is an amount OF
excess land acquired years ago IN
developing Fort Chaplin Park in the
Northeast section.
The land is about 20 feet wide
but faces nearly block on Texas
avenue at C street NE. 1t is no
longer needed for park purposes
and is too narrow to build on. It's
only value, the commission said, is
to give lots on G street frontage
= on Texas avenue.
Brig. Gen. Gordon r. Young, Dis
trict Engineer Commissioner, was
expected to report on plans for the
Barney Circle underpass at Sousa
Bridge. subject of recent public
hearing.
Joint Session Held.
Meanwhile, the Park and Planning
Board held joint session with rep
resentatives of nearby Virginia plan
ming agencies to discuss problems
of mutual interest.
Mai. Gen. U. S. Grant III, chair.
man of the Federal group, is anxious
to get the cooperation of the
planning agencies in Arlington ane
Fairfax Counties and the City o.
Alexandria in preparing the COM
prehensive plan for Washington ane
the Metropolitan Area. The count!
board chairman and the Mayor O
Alexandria, who are members of thu
groups, are expected to attend.
Mutual planning problems ane
progress made since the last join
session three years ago will be re-
viewed. They will include co-ordl
nation of city and county roads
mutual zoning interests and tn
acquisition of lands for the develop
ment of parks and Fairgrounds.
One vital matter concerns effort
to obtain cooperation in Fairfa!
County for extension of the Georg'
Washington Memorial Parkway
There also is desire on the par
of the Federal agency to protect tn
Mount Vernon Memorial Parkwa
from Threatened spoilation." OF
f1cials explained firm control mus
be maintained to keep new subdi
visions from using the parkway a