Evening star., 1948-06-03
New Project
AT District Line
Battles Planners
Housing Development
Affects Silver Spring,
Eost-West Highwoy

A proposed Maryland real estate
development bordering on both sides
Of the so-called north point Of the
District, poses "one of the toughest
planning problems in recent years, "
the National Capital Park and
Planning Commission conceded to-
day.
Asked to coordinate the layout
of the large area with park extern
sions and highways in the District,
the commission made 1t the order
of business tomorrow, before the
close Of its monthly planning session.
The planners apparently were
caught of guard by private de-
velopers. Their attention first was
called to the elaborate scheme Of
housing developments and network
of roads by District resident whose
property would be affected by the
project. Later, the Maryland-Na-
tional Capital Park and Planning
Commission invited the Federal
agency to come to its assistance in
studying the general layout.
Extends Into Silver Spring.
A section of Silver Spring is in
volved In the plans, and they also
call for a relocation of a portion
Of the East-West Highway, accord
ing to John Nolen, jr, director of
planning.
The area extends roughly a half
mile north of the East-West high
way. From Sixteenth street west
ward 1t extends about a mile I'd
Rock Greek Park. East of Sixteenth
street the development would cross
the B. g. o. Railroad tracks and
extend into Silver Spring,
This is really one of the most
difficult problems of planning that
ever has come before our commits
sion," Mr.. Nolen pointed out.
In addition to affecting the East
West highway, one of the principal
crossroads in Montgomery County,
the plan includes: A bridge across
Rock Creek, several immediate and
future grade separations, one or
more B. & o. underpasses and va
rious rezoning measures to permit
housing and shopping areas.
Some of the land and rights-o Of
ways for roads already have been
acquired for the project, and Mary
land planning officials have made
some commitments. These add to
the difficulties of the planning prob
lem.
At today's opening session the
Federal planners also were to study
a plan to convert Bald Eagle Hill
into a Southeast recreation area.
The agency recently acquired the
property which was used by the
Navy during the war.
To Act on School Sale.
The commission also will pass on
a proppsaL ot the sN1f&E Commis-
siGaehAo sell the. old and abandoned
Lincoln Public School at Second and
G streets Sc Under the law, the
agency must determine whether
school property is required by any
ofncien agency before approving its
sale.
The old dispute involving the
electric powerhouse smokestack
along the waterfront of the Mount
Vernon highway again will be dis
cussed. The Civil Aeronautics Ad-
ministration objects to the heights
Of the stack as a hazard to flying.
The agency also will discuss the
question of developing the long
proposed Anacostia freeway. Since
1916, the commission has urged each
year that the freeway be placed on
the Districts highway plan. but no
step has been taken to do this. The
freeway would extend from the B.
& o. tracks to connect Boiling Field
and Anacostia.
officials say the project is threat
ened" by current real estate plans,
and unless a start is made, it may
become impossible to obtain all the
required right-of-way.