Evening star., 1949-12-07
|Anacostia Span
Location 10 Be
Reviewed Today
Gen Young to Back
Plan to Put Bridge at
East Capitol Street
By Nelson M. Shepard

By Nelson N. Shepord
Another round in the fight over
the location of a proposed new
bridge across the Anacostia River
is scheduled during a three-day
Federal planning session, which
opened today.
Brig. Gen. Gordon r. Young.
Engineer Commissioner. will take
up the cudgels again for the
Highway Departments plan to
span the river at the end OF East
Capitol street. This plan the Ma
tional Capital Park and Planning
Commission is opposing strenu-
ously.
For the staff of NCPPC. John
Nolen, jr.. planning director, who
favors a bridge at Massachusetts,
avenue, will report on study Of
traffic figures compiled for the
two routes and alternative routes.
This study has been made since
the October 80 meeting. The at
titude of the National Park Serv-
ice, it was announced, also will
be made known at this time. ,
No Action Anticipated.
The planning commission has
taken no action itself on it's staff
report, nor was any definite action
anticipated at the monthly meet
ing. Facts divulged on both sides,
however, are counted upon to have
an important bearing on future
decisions.
The meeting also will review the
position of the Health Depart
ment. which is opposed to the sug-
ment. which is opposed to the
suggested Massachusetts avenue
bridge because its approaches
would be too close to Gallinger
Hospital. Mr.. Nolen pointed out
the 1917 Appropriation Act affect
ing Gallinger Hospital stipulated
that additions to the hospital plant
must not be permitted to interfere
with the future extension Of Mass
acnuSeLCS avenue.
The action of the co-ordinating
committee three years ago. which
now is guiding the staff Of NCPP0
in the matter. directed that tbs
proposed extension of Massachu-
sets avenue through the Gallin-
ger grounds be retained on the
comprehensive plan and that all
future developments at Gallinger
be approved with that ultimate
street plan in mind.
Contracts Approved.
The commission approved con-
tracts involving approximately
$75, 900 for purchasing several
small properties for park and
recreational purposes negotiated
by Col. v. E. Stack. land -purchas-
ing officer.
The principal items were two
small parcels Of lands of Watts
Branch in the Northeast section
and Alger Park In the Southeast
section. These were acquired by
condemnation proceedings.
| The commission also ratified Z
condemnation award which near
ly completes the acquisition of land
necessary for the Seaton Play
ground area in the vicinity of
Second and H streets NV. Only
two parcels remain to be acquired
in this project. The commission
also acquired one commercial and
one residential property in round
ing out the Fort Reno Park in the
Northwest section.
The planning officials today also
were to discuss joint problems
with the Maryland-National Capt.
tai Park and Planning Commits
sion and tomorrow they will take
up planning problems with .Vir-
ginia officials.
Plans to Be Studied.
More detailed site plans for
the Sesquicentennial Commissions
Freedom Fair at the end of East
Capitol street will be reviewed
before the meeting closes. There
also will be certain housing re-
development procedures to be con-
sidered.
This afternoon. proposals af-
fecting the Soldiers Home grounds
and the National Arboretum will
be taken up. The Veterans Ad-
ministration has suggested that
a new Veterans Hospital be built
on the Soldier Home grounds.
The planning commission has no
jurisdiction in the matter but
would be called upon for con-
sultation in event any such use
of the land Is authorized.
At the final session on Friday,
the commission will devote the en-
tire day to considering procedures
with respect to publication Of ths
long delayed comprehensive plan
for the Metropolitan Area.