Evening star., 1950-08-03
Planning Commission
Urges Early Abolition
OF Temporary Units
By Nelson M. Shepard

HCQCI al P10l11lClo tOday AA 6Cd
the Public Buildings Service to
proceed as rapidly as possible" in
getting Congressional funds to re-
place downtown temporary Gov
ernment buildings with permanent
structures in two central areas.
The National Capital Parks and
Planning Commission, at its
monthly meeting, pointed out that
private encroachments in these
areas threatened to dislocate Fed
eral plans for their proper de-
velopment.
The areas in question are the
northwest rectangle, bounded by
Nineteenth street, the Potomac
River, S street and Constitution
avenue and the Southwest tri-
angle bounded by Independence,
Maryland and Virginia and Della
ware avenues.
4 Mall Situation Cited.
While the Korean situation dis
pels any hope for early action
planners pointed out that perma-
nent buildings will be needed in
these two areas when the war
situation changes. The Mall and
West Potomac Park are cluttered
with wartime structures which
may stand for years, it was feared,
unless determined efforts are made
to replace them.
The planning commission was
authorized by Congress in 1890
to purchase the two areas in ques-
tion for Government buildings.
Some progress has been made, but
in recent years new apartment and
commercial buildings have been
erected in the areas.
The planning commission in
dorsed bill introduced by Rep
resentative Mcmillan, Democrat,
of South Carolina, for widening
and improving independence ave-
nue. and B street adjacent to the
Capitol grounds. The extension
would be from First street S.W.
to Second street Sc. to fit in with
the long discussed East Capitol
street parkway.
Land Program Agreed On.
}, Meanwhile, the Planning Com
| mission and the District Recrea.
ton Board were reported today il
. satisfactory" agreement on items
in the land acquisition program
for the 1852 fiscal year, most oi
which includes long deferred play.
ground projects.
| In view of the secrecy with
which such plans are guarded
John Nolen, jr., director of plan.
!, ming for NCPPC, omitted listing
definite sites and estimates of con-
templated expenditures. He point
ed out, however, that recreationa.
areas include the bulk of the 1857
program and the locations involve
"in-lying as well as outlying Sec
, tions."
The realization Of the program
Mr.. Nolen said, would leave only
about one-fourth of the SIG mil
lion Congress provided some years
I ago for land purchases under the
Capper -Cramton Act. Items in
! the proposed program were con-
sidered at yesterdays monthly
planning session and were said to
be entirely satisfactory to the Rec
reation Board.
, The planning commission sharp
, ly rejected a proposal from the
/ Motor Vehicle Parking Agency
that the old Patent Office, now
occupied by 1000 Civil Service
employees, be sold to make room
for a downtown parking lot. IT.
) reaction to the plan was forecast
= by objections raised to it at the
: previous meeting.
With a ST million valuation
placed on the building, planning
officials said $40 a square foot j.
= an excessive price to pay for 6
parking lot. The building face.
F and G streets, between Seventh
! and Ninth streets NV. In the
i vicinity. it was suggested, are site.
f available at $5 and $40 a square
foot, which might be acquired by
condemnation.