Evening star., 1949-08-05
Accord Reached
On Observatory
Site for Hospital
PBA Chief Tells
Planners Sturt in
2 Years Is Possible
By Nelson M. Shepard

tory site, called the best avail
able" by Commissioner w. E.
Reynolds.
The eight-story center will be
"under one roof" instead of hav-
ing separate buildings. The only
exception will be a building for
resident nurses.
Mr.. Reynolds said the hospital.
for which he has made no present
estimate of cost. could be started
inside of two years." if Congress
puts up the money now to move
the observatory to the proposed
site near Charlottesville. Va. The
Navy is not likely to vacate the
grounds between Massachusetts,
and Wisconsin avenues NV. until
1t has set up the instruments at
Charlottesville.
The new hospital center will face
Massachusetts, avenue, with its
exact center on Thirty-fourth
street." Mr.. Reynolds disclosed. In
this way, the site will retain its
present main entrance.
Sees Bottom Prices Reached.
No attempt has been made to
revise the early estimate of costs
ranging as high as $40, 900, ,000-
because of changing contract
prices. The PBA official said hos
pital construction costs have
dropped 10 per cent in the last
eight months, and he believes
bottom prices" have been reached.
Gilbert Stanley Underwood. PBA
architectural consultant, explained
plans in detail to the National
Capital Park and Planning Com
mission, before which the two Of
ficials appeared. Emphasis will be
placed, he said, on the out
patient department and special
laboratories for new methods OF
treating diseases.
Congress already has made ST.
000,00e available for the center,
Mr.. Reynolds explained. and the
planning has reached the point
where every basic element has
been designed.
The Planning Commission
closed its second day of delibera-
tions and was preparing to make
a tour of the city to see projects
at first hand before adjourning
the monthly session.
1t gave announcement to Rep
resentative jenkins. Republican,
of Ohio, who made a strong plea
yesterday afternoon to. rename
Riverside drive for shis State. The
group took his plea under "ftyor-
ableconsideration," but postponed
further action until it is possible
to consult with Associate Director
A. e. Demaray of the National
Park Service, who was absent.
Runs to Hains Point.
Mr.. jenkins said he is willing
to have it designated Ohio drive,
instead of avenue, if the Planning
Commission would help him in
his campaign. Riverside drive,
Washington's most popular hot
weather" drive, extends along the
Potomac from Lincoln Memorial
to Hains Point and thence to
Fourteenth street. following the
shore of Washington Channel.
The Commission met for the
first time yesterday with the
newly formed Northern Virginia
Regional Planning Commission,
which represents Arlington, Fair
fax and Prince Williams Counties
and Alexandria and Falls Church.
Mutual planning problems in
the Metropolitan Area were dis
cussed, and the Virginians offered
cooperation in carrying out the
comprehensive plan for the
"greater Washington area" The
problems include sewage disposal,
future water supply, highways and
regional parks and general prob
lens of suburban expansion! q.
Virginia representatives attend
ing were Chairman John W..
Brookf1eld, for Fairfax County;
C. c. Kinnier, for Arlington
County; Leroy Peabody. for Alex
andria, and Edward Kanous, for
Falls Church.
The Federal group was inter-
ested in questioning PBA officials
about efforts to preserve from
furture enroachments certain sites
in the Central City" chosen as
future building areas. Chairman
William w. Wurster thought it
would be well to apply the same
restrictive measures in this area
as 1t is proposed to do in old
Georgetown for the protection of
historic buildings.
Lists Examples.
He had in mind, he said, such
buildings as the United States
Court of Claims and the three
properties of the Carnegie Foun-
dat1on for international Peace on
the same block as Blair House,
Pennsylvania avenue between
jackson place and Seventeenth
street N. w.
The planning commission took
an additional step in planning for
an extension Of the George WASH
ington Memorial Parkway by ap-
proving the taking lines" or
boundary from Spout Run, on the
Virginia side of the Potomac, to
the Fairfax County line. The
parkway will vary from 100 to
1000 feet in width from the top
of the bluff to the river.
A resolution in tribute to Maj.
Gen. U. S. Grant III, former
chairman, was adopted. Gen.
Grant retired month ago.
The resolution concluded with
the statement that his former as
sociates desire to express their
deep appreciation of his long serv-
ice to the Nations Capital and
environs, and his wise, progress
e;vo opd Y,ofriofir leadership nj