Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1949-01-28
FutureD.C.P Plan
Emissions End
To Streetcars
z Million Population
For 1880 Forecast at
Federal City Dinner
By Nelson M. Shepard

By Nelson M. shepord
Mai. Gen. U. S. Grant, III, last
night lifted the curtain on the
official comprehensive plan for
the development of Washington
to give the public a first sum-
mary of detectives, aimed at
meeting the requirements of an
estimated population of 1000, 900
In the Metropolitan area in 1880.
The occasion of this preview by
the chairman of the National Capital
Park and Planning Commission was
the annual Federal city dinner in
the Hotel Statler. 1t was sponsored
jointly by the Joint Committee on
the National Capital, representing
nine civic and professional societies;
the American Planning and Civic
Association, and the Committee of
100 on the Federal City.
Complete elimination of WASH
tngton's street railway system by
gradual substitution of more prac-
teal express and local bus services
was new and outstanding propo-
sal contained in the comprehensive
plan.
Joint Agency Urged.
Gen. Grant disclosed also that
acquisition of land for Fort drive,
being developed as circumferen-
tial express road, is "a per cent
completed. Along this driveway, he
urged, should be, developed new
Federal centers Of employment as
part Of a general decentralization
plan to relieve the overcrowded CEN
trail city.
Additional high lights of the re-
port, construed by many at the
dinner as the most constructive
given in years on development of
the Capital, embodied the following
suggestions and opinions:
The need of a tri-State admins
trative and construction agency,
such as the New York-New Jersey
Port Authority: Such q District
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS agency, it was
suggested. should be created to-
finance, for example. tine proposed
Alexandria Bridge, which touches
two Jurisdictions. but is an essential
to washington regional planning.
Population: Under existing con-
ditions, there is room in the District
itself for about 100000 inhabitants.
The population now is estimated at
about 100000. BY 1880, it probably
will reach the saturation point of
100000, and the entire Metropol-
itan Aired will have about 100000
people, compared with the present
100000.
Zoning Revision Urged.
zoning: It is recommended that
the coming regulations be revised In
detail, as soon as the personnel and
funds can be made available. Also
that a definite term be set for the
termination of "non-coufmmi1e
uses" of which there IS little hope
of their dying off naturally. The
greatest need seems to be to educate
the community as a whole to the
value of coming, the report says. to
safeguard against selfish benefits |
at the expense of the public"
Federal employment and decen-
tralization: stop the continued
piling up of Federal employment in
the central city west OF the Capt.
toll it was warned. The super
charge" of Federal employment in
this area has created a congestion
that is rapidly diminishing returns
and threatening the stability of the
central business area itself"
Eastern Development.
The report points to the need of
providing permanent Federal build
ings east OF the Capitol for those
now working in temporary buildings
and for the inevitable future
growth of agencies. Such policy,
it is believed, would help maintain
present central business area value,
reduce congestion and stimulate
new construction in the residential
areas north and south of East Capt.
toll street.
Housing: 1.-THE outstanding social
problem in the District" Gen. Grant
said, sis the lack of housing, espe-
ciauy for low-income families" An
estimated $4,000 veterans are unable
to find fit houses that they could
afford, and $4,000 miscellaneous ap-
plicants are on the waiting list of
the National Capital Housing Au-
thority.
Gen. Grant urged immediate ap-
preparations to carry out the $20,-
100000 Redevelopment program to
help relieve this human suffering
and social damage" The Redevelop-
ment law is adequate. he said, ex-
cept for some Gripping amend
ments inserted by interests hostile
to public housing to impede it's exc
cution and which certainly need to
be rescinded"
A major part of Gen. Grants
analysis Of the comprehensive plan
was devoted to streets, traffic and
transportation problems.
Opposes Subways.
Opposing frequently advocated
subway systems, Gen. Grant said:
"Streetcars are essentially local
transportation, and any extensive
placing of them underground would
not merely be money wasted, but
would largely bypass the passen-
gers that now support them"
Arguing in favor of bus services,
IA