Evening star., 1947-02-16
27st Century federal City
Planned to Adjoin District

lOI TcOCl dl WOA hC4o w AAdhC VAiChA
more prosperous, healthier, more
Icontented and more efficient. ~
What to do?N The experts studied
the land surrounding the District.
They found that the Virginia Sec
ton of the Capital had 1900 per-
sons in 1910, the Bethesda Chevy
Chase area had $4,000, the Silver
Spring area 10000, the Hyattsville-
College Park area $4,000. But when
they came to the Suitland area, they
found it only had $1,000, of which
nearly two-thirds lived in an area
of one square mile near Capitol
Heights. Some parts of the area
had only 200 to 800 persons per
square mile, yet most of it. was
within 10 miles of the Capitol
building.
City's Growth Lopsided.
The city was Is lopsided, in other
words, and the place to expand
would be the side away from the
"lop."
The fact that the same line of
reasoning had led them to locate
Federal buildings which didn't have
to be downtown in the Suitland
area, and the fact that the National
Capital Park and Planning Com
mission is attempting to combat the
city's lopsidedness by pressing for
the development of East Capitol
street, made the area an even bet
ter bet for the treatment they were
to recommend.
Out of this line of reasoning,
their report shows, grew the idea
for the new city. They decided that
nothing less than the boldest sort
of project would start the National
Capital off on its cure.
First step in the program &C
cording to the plan, would be crea-
ton of the Federal City Land and
Planning Commission with power
to prepare, adopt and execute al
master plan for the new city. In
cooperation with other planning
agencies, it would coordinate the
plan for the city with plans for
adjoining areas.
1. 1t would have three members
appointed by the President.
2. It would be empowered to buy,
condemn, hold. improve, lease, rent,
plat, replat, set aside or dedicate for
public use and sell land bought for
the city and within two miles of
the boundary thereof. In other
words it would operate something
like the Districts new redevelop-
ment agency, only on a grand scale.
3. 1t would receive grants and
loans from the United States in
sufficient amounts to carry out its
purpose.
4. 1t would be empowered to issue
bonds on security held by it, bor-
row funds and accept gifts for use
in the performance of its duties.
5. It would have private enter
prise undertake development but
would have power to do otherwise
if private business failed to abide
by the city plan.
g. The city would be Incorporated
under special charter providing a
large measure of self-goyernment.
Whole Area to Be Affected.
When the new Federal City" was
going concern. this commission
would be expanded into a National
Capital Land and Planning Com
mission to extend the benefits of the
new community to the whole Wash
ington area.
This super commission would
cover the whole area lying within
20 miles of the White House.
1t would have five members, ac-
cording to the plan, three ap-
pointed by the President and one,
each by the Governors of Maryland
and Virginia.
This commission would prepare
and adopt a master plan similar to
the plan for the new city but, of
course, far more complicated. This
plan would supersede all conflicting
plans and would also be backed by
power to buy, condemn, plat, replat,
lease, sell, etc. It would be supported
by Federal grants and loans and
could make grants and loans In Its