Evening star., 1950-08-02
ParkUnit Buys
.6-Acre Tract
For playground
ApproisoIs Begun
On 81 Parcels AIonq
Memorial Parkway
By Nelson M. Shepard

The National Capital Park and
Planning Commission today ap-
proved purchase contracts cov-
ering slightly more than six acres
of the Glover tract as an addition
to the Friendship playground in
the Northwest section.
Negotiations also will be started
soon, it was announced, for the
purchase of "a parcels of land
along the Virginia bluffs on the
upper Potomac River for the
George Washington Memorial
Parkway.
Col. Vincent E. Stack, the COM
missions land purchasing officer,
said the addition to the Friend
ship playground is in the vicinity
of Forty sixth street, Van Ness
street and Massachusetts avenue,
being part of the site of the
WAVE barracks during World War
II. The eastern portion of the
22-acre tract is still covered by
Navy installations along the Ne
braska avenue frontage at Ward
Circle:
Col. Stack said the Planning
Commission had approved the
contracts subject to certain condi-
tions relating to street alignment
and highway plans.
Appraisals Under Way.
In conjunction with the Arling-
ton County Board, the Planning
Commission now is engaged in
appraising "a parcels of land along
the Virginia bluffs of the Potomac
from the neighborhood of Spout
Run to a point beyond Chain
Bridge. The G. w. highway is
now being paved from Spout Run
through the Spout Run Valley.
where the road will connect with
Lee highway.
Negotiations with property own
ers will be started as soon as de-
tailed appraisal reports are COM
pleted, Col. Stack said.
David Lynn, Architect Of the
Capitol, It was announced prior
to the meeting. will sit with the
commission tomorrow to discuss
certain planning problems requir-
ing coordination. Some of the
commissions plans may be af-
fected by the decision to hold up
construction of the new annex to
the Senate Office Building as a
result of the Korean disturbance.
independence Ave. Issue.
The widening of independence
avenue is another matter of con-
Germ to planning officials and Mr..
Lynn. A bill has been introduced
providing for a study of Independ-
ence avenue by the District Com
in collaboration with
the planning commission and Mr.
Lynn.
John Mole. jr.. director o.
planning, said the commission is
disturbed" over private encroach-
ments in the so-called Northwest
and Southwest triangles in the
central area, which have been re-
served for Federal building sites
since 1926. Congress then author
lied the commission to acquire
land in these two areas for future
development, but appropriations
have been tagging. especially in
recent years.
Apartment and commercial
buildings have been erected in the
two triangles during the past year,
Mr.. Nolen said, and there is always
danger that property the Govern
ment wants to use may be bought
up by private interests.
Triangle Boundaries.
The Northwest triangle, where
the Navy and State Department
buildings are located, extends to
the Potomac River. 1t is bounded
on the east and south by Nine
teenth street and Constitution
avenue NV, and the area en-
braces the few remaining tanks of
the Washington Gas Light Co.
The Southwest triangle is the
site now of the Social Security and
Railroad Retirement Buildings. 1t
is bounded by Independence, Vir-
ginia, Maryland and Delaware
avenues.