Evening star., 1949-10-27
Planners Slated
ToApproveSite
Of Sesqui Today
Commission to Act
Also on Rock Creek
Park Ampitheoter

OSod OAAANAaAo WIZ
confident that before the day is
ended, Federal planners will give
their approval to already long
delayed plans to locate the Free
dom Fair at the foot of East
Capitol street.
The National Capital Park and
Commission was ex-
pected to take this affirmative
vote, despite the Districts pro-
posal to build a bridge across
the Anacostia River at East
Capitol street. instead of at Mas
sachusetts avenue Sc.
The bridge problems in its re-
lation to the proposed location Of
the Freedom Fair, already ap-
proved by the District Commis-
sioners, was to be given priority
today on the agenda of the PLAN
ming group. At the same time.
the commission is expected to
it's approval of the plan
to provide an amphitheater for
the Sesquicentennial celebration
in Rock Creek Park at Sixteenth
street and Colorado avenue.
Praises Fair Plans.
"A corking good job" was the
enthusiastic manner in which
Chairman William w. Wurster
of the planning commission re-
ferred to the plans for the Free
dom Fair Edward Boykin, exc
cutive director of the commission
planning the celebration, and
Carter T. Barron, executive vice
chairman, presented the plans to
the meeting yesterday.
Mr.. Wurster apparently was in
sympathy with a statement made
earlier in the day by sesquicenten-
NAL officials that they very much
question whether it would be pos
sible to find another site for the
exposition at this time"
The Federal planners had placed
before them. for the first time,
according to John Nolen, director
OF planning, "a full and complete
exposition of the whole fair plan"
This was provided, not only by
means of large scale drawings, but
by detailed explanation of the
plans.
Additional Attractions.
What seemed to please the
planning chairman most was the
plan to use the traditional at
fractions of Washington, such as
the Corcoran Art Gallery and
Rock Creek Park, in connection
with the Freedom Fair.
He tipped off today's possible
action by admitting that no alter
native site for the Freedom Fair
had been actually considered at
the meeting.
The sesquicentennial plans have
been buffeted about so long and
the officials seem to have set their
hearts on the East Capitol street
site" he explained.
Enroute to Rock Creek Park ia
inspect the site selected for the
amphitheater. the planning Of
ficials rode out of their way tn
travel the Whitehurst freeway to
Key Bridge.
Before making the trip, how
ever, they disposed of a number
OF minor matters and heard a
summary of the 1949 land &C.
QUESTION program which must be
submitted annually to Congress.
Ihe commission has spent
about three-fourths of the SIG.
100000 fund for land purchases
provided under the Capper-
Cramton Act, and it directed it's
staff to review the balance of the
program. project by project.
These consist mainly of recreation
areas. parks, Fairgrounds and
school properties.
Land Transfers Approved.
Two land transfers were ap-
proved for widening Foxhall road
IN the vicinity of the White Haven
parkway. The District will do
nate the strips of land. An.
other transfer authorized was
necessary for the widening of
Mississippi avenue in the Oxon
Run area. The transfer will be
made to the District.
The planning commission was
determined to back the position
taken by Mr.. Nolen in opposition
to the proposal to permit the
Board of Zoning Adjustment wide
discretional powers to waive or
off-street parking regula-
tlons under certain conditions.
The matter was the subject of a
coming hearing last, week.
Attention again was drawn by
the planners to objections raised
at a previous meeting to the pro-
posed Arlington Towers project Of
1000 apartment units that would
overcast the Washington sky
line"
The Federal Housing Admins
tration. which will help finance
the project, informed the planners
it will take up the latter's protests
with the builders.
Mr.. Wurster explained the
apartment buildings would be
from to IL stories high on
ground overlooking the city on
the edge of the Nevius tract.
I'VE don't want them to rival
the Washington Monument" he
said.
Virginia Women Voters