Evening star., 1950-11-22

territory where this
commission has cooperative re-
sponsibilities, advisory to local
authorities. Inside the District,
the plan is more specific.
The National Capital is Its own
reason for being; industrial de-
velopment is not needed to sup
port its economy, nor desirable
in this setting. Since the WASH
ington region is not especially
well located In relation to raw
materials or labor forces. the
plan proposes no major indus
trial growth. Set aside for fac
tories is only enough area for
service industries.
Major business centers are
planned in relation to major
streets and transit, taking advan-
tage of decentralized locations
made possible by new arteries Of
transportation, to relieve overcon-
centration downtown. Each major
commercial center, including
downtown. will have enough land
area to make room for buildings
needed and for car parking in ad-
dition. Determination Of local
neighborhood centers requires
more detailed. localized planning.
Historic sites, stream valleys,
river shores. or wooded hillsides
Of natural beauty are kept as per-
manent open space. So, too. are
lands too steep, too rocky, or too
low for economical development.
Planned for open types Of use are
lands in outer areas most suitable
for farming or forestation. both in
order to make use of valuable nat
ural soil resources and to preserve
rural open spaces between urban
lied communities.
Residential Areas.
Residential areas are planned
in the older city and In new sec.
tions, only where it Is realistic t<
expect the creation or preserva.
tion of neighborhood condition,
that will make for good living. II
addition to protection from nuis'
ance types Of factories and stores
residential areas need enough
people to support schools. play
grounds, and community services
and enough space for uncrowdee
living, for sunlight and clean air
They need, too, protection from
the noises. odors. and dangers o.
through traffic.
Good neighborhoods do not neec
to be all single-famiiy houses, OF
all identically designed garden
apartments. or all the same renta.
range, or all the same kind o1
people. A balance of housing
types and a range of social anc
economic levels is necessary to &
health community where people
can live in an American way.
In rural areas not within reach
Of water and sewer lines, resi-
dence must be of low density
with lots big enough to have waite,
supply (wells) and septic tanks or
the same lot. Depending on the soil
they may take an acre or NOR
| per family. In suburban area
where public water supply ant
sewage disposal can be justifiet
economically, medium densitie
make sense. In areas alread.
built up and established will
utilities and with transportation
and services already in use. highe,
densities may have to be accepted
Unless a district is so old ane
worn out that it must be clearee
and rebuilt, the houses and apart,
ments now there set the patterr
for years.
General Principles.
Within the District of Columbia
the plan follows these genera
principles, but is more detailed a!
to densities. In the outer part!
of the District moderate densitie.
are recommended-up to IS per.
sons per gross acre. wGross acre
includes not only house lots but
also streets, local stores, schools
Fairgrounds. churches and the
like) Typical blocks in such an
area would have single-family
detached houses on lots so by 10C