Evening star., 1948-06-03
Planners Act
On Rock Creek
Park Crossinq
Steps Approved
To Acquire Lond
For New Artery
By Nelson M. Shepard

Preliminary condemnation steps
were approved today by Federal
planners with a view to acquiring a
right of way for a new traffic artery
crossing Rock Greek Park from Park
road in the vicinity of Pierce Mill
to Colorado avenue and Sixteenth
street.
Norman c. Brown. land-purchas-
ing officer of the National Capital
Park and Planning Commission,
said the first strip of about 4 acres
would be taken from large, private
estates bordering the park. The
new traffic route would enable cars
to overpass Blagden avenue en-
route to Sixteenth street.
The commission also approved the
condemnation of quarter-acre
compromise settlement in the Watts
Branch Parkway in the vicinity
of East Capitol and Sixty-first
streets NE.
Third Action Taken.
A third condemnation proposal
authorized the taking of a small
strip needed to widen Canal road
as dual highway in the 3700 block
NV. This dual road will lead into
Arizona avenue. Mr.. Brown said
that with the area added today, all
land in this square, from the present
Canal road back to the Capital
Transit right-of f-way, will be Gov
ernment owned.
The commission approved the pro-
posed sale of the old and abandoned
Lincoln public school building at
Second and C streets Sc. In spite
of the existing shortage of office
space, it was said no Federal agency
is seeking use of the building.
The commission approved convert
ing the former tuberculosis camp
for children in Anacostia to use as a
playground. The location, also
known as Bald Eagle Hill, is at the
end of Nicholas avenue and the Dis
trict line.
New Project Studied.
Meanwhile, the commission had
before it the problem OF a pro-
posed Maryland real estate de-
velopment bordering on both sides
of the so-called north-point Of the
District
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 off 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 it extends about a mile to
Rock Creek Park East of Sixteenth
street the development would cross
the B. & o. Railroad tracks and
extend into Silver Spring.
In addition to affecting the East
West highway, one of the principal
crossroads in Montgomery County.
the plan includes: A bridge across
Rock Greek, 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-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