Evening star., 1949-10-28
Plan 10 Develop
S|um|ess Capital
Is Disclosed
Aim Is 100000
Living in Beauty,
Light and Air


in beauty, light and air" an,
operating in smooth harmony witt
surrounding areas is envisione'
by the National Capital Park AM
Planning Commission.
Details of the comprehensive
long-range program of develop
ment for the District, long il
preparation by the Planning Com
mission, were revealed in a sur
prise move last night by Chair
man William w. Wurster. HI
spoke at a dinner in the Raleigh
Hotel, sponsored by the American
Planning and Civic Association TO
NCPPC and other top planners
Summation of Proposals.
The master or comprehensive
plan. which the National Capita
Park and Planning Commission
about ready to publish, is, il
essence, a review and summation
of all important proposals of tina
body since 1925, when the com
mission was established by Con
gress, officials explained. The Re
development Land Act required
that land use plan be presented
preparatory to slum clearance
That spurred on the commission
to get busy on bringing its recon-.
mendations up to date.
The plan covers not only the
District, but the adjacent com.
munities.
Density Standards Set.
Commission recommendations
as summarized by Mr.. Wurster
provide generally for elimination
of slum areas. preservation OF
historic buildings and areas, set
ting up of population density
standards, off-street parking and
more bridges and another airport
An important part of the pro-
gram, as outlined by Mr.. Wurster
is the stress on regional partici-
patton" Maj. Gen. U. S. Grant
III. former commission chairman
and now president Of the Ameri-
can Planning and Civic Associa-
ton, pointed out that this is
provided for under proposed legis-
lation to reorganize the commits
sion.
THE new BILL" Gen. Grant
declared" recognizes that now the
Capital has overlapped the District
line. Under it, the commission
would have the same Jurisdiction
outside the District as it now has
in the District"
In disclosing the broad plans,
Mr.. Wurster warned he was put
ting the ideas in his own words
and that "the final draft is not
written. and some charges are
sure to be made" The specific
recommendations in the forth
coming report, which will be pub
lished in pamphlet form. he said,
should be most controversial If
they are worth anything"
Are of Two Natures.
The recommendations are OF
two natures-for Immediate
improvements. and for more long
range developments. The latter
includes setting of a maximum
number of Federal employees in
the District, proper financial
support" by the Federal Govern
ment Gin lieu of taxes" limiting
the height of residential build
ings to six or eight stories, grad
ual replacement of streetcar serv-
ice by Buses" and permission for
the National Capital Housing Au-
thority to build on land outside
District boundaries.
A high light of the priority
list is prompt demolition
of temporary buildings erected
during World Wars I and H.
particularly those around the Mall
and adjacent park areas.
One recommendation with
which Mr.. Wurster took pains to
disagree called for mo provision
Of subways."
Perhaps subways would not
now be economically feasible" de-
clared Mr.. Wurster, who is also
dean of the Massachusetts, In
stitute of Technology Architec-
tural School. But coming from
Boston, I bless subways there
every day in my life" He said
he didn't think any planning body
should make such a strong mega
tive recommendation.
Main Recommendations.
Main recommendations of the
report are as follows:
!. Through Federal "participa-
tion," to set the employe limits
and provide funds in lieu of taxes,
"as Government is the chief in
dustry," and careful analysis
of all Government-owned land" to
assure its best" use.
2. Setting of population density
in residential property, biased OH
a Is per cent ratio of land cov-
erage with buildings limited to
six or eight stories in height. Be-
sides the 100000 population top
a ceiling of 100 families per gross
acre also would be set.
3. Simplification of zoning, off,
street parking provision, enforce
ment of health and safety stand
ards. In this last connection. MI
Wurster declared:
ITO make a start toward ac-
complishment of the objective OF
decent, safe and sanitary hous-
ing for all the population, it is
recommended that the problem
areas of Washington be set up as
areas for redevelopment under
terms of the Redevelopment Act
of 1ohso