Evening star., 1952-02-20
Plan 10 Expand
Trade
Area Submitted
15-Point Program
Urges sic Million
TriungIe Development

Urges SIC Million
TrioneIe Development
A 15-point program for expan-
sion Of the Bethesda business dis
trict and enlargement Of its pub
lie parking facilities, with q min
mum encroachment upon resi-
Dental areas, is now in the hands
OF the Montgomery County Coun-
Gil.
The recommendations were
made by q voluntary committee
OF residents and businessmen,
headed by Ray K. Windham, after
a f1ve-month study.
Hightlighting the report was a
recommendation that the county
acquire and develop, under some
sort Of county authority, the
Woodmont Triangle for CONNER
|cial use, at a total cost Of SIG
million.
The Woodmont triangle, formed
by the intersection OF Wisconsin
avenue and Old Georgetown road,
was described by the committee
as an almost hopeless development
problem in its present form.
The area, according to the re-
port, contains about is million
square feet and would cost the
county about Sc million. Another
$40 million would be used for
buildings and development before
it could be leased to commercial
users by the county.
Parking Needs Cited.
The comprehensive survey said
the area south Of the East West
highway is in the greatest need
OF parking space. Old George
town road. the north end of Wis
consin avenue and the East-West
highway should have no parking
problems, provided that new busi-
nesses are required to provide
sufficient off-street parking.
The committee also recon-
mended study of the feasibility
of developing air rights over the
Baltimore & Ohio Railroad for
parking facilities.
The committee listed nine no.
tential areas for public parking
lots: Of Arlington road extended,
the Sunnyside tract, of alley be-
tween Chase avenue and Chenten-
ham drive, of alley between
Chase and Maple avenues, corner
Strathmore street and Bradley
boulevard, strip between Bradley
boulevard and Wisconsin avenue
next to Carrier Drug Store. north
west corner Of Bradley boulevard
and Wisconsin avenue, Leland
street at Wisconsin avenue. and
over B. & o. tracks.
The committee emphasized that
procurement of residential zone
property for parking lots should
be at minimum. It added, how
ever, that unimproved residential
property next to commercial lots
ought to be purchased, leased or
condemned, if necessary, to pro-
vide parking facilities. r
Asks, Study on Operation.
The report recommended study
Of the practically of leasing or
operating directly parking build
ing on Wisconsin avenue south Of
Elm street. It said the next $780,
600 spent by the county for park
ling lots should be used in this
tarea.
The committee, in it's conclu-
Isions, asserted that under present
tax methods, a suitable parking
development program could not
be successful. 1t suggested that
all public parking lots be fitted
with parking meters to help f.
nance them.
The survey stressed that new
parking lots should not be added
until proved that they will be self
supporting. It suggested that
lessees or owners of business prop
erty should be exempt from the
parking area tax, if they supply
required parking on their own or
LEASED ground.
Residential Reaction Pointed Out.
The report pointed out that ex-
|pansion Of the Bethesda business
district and its necessary en-
croachment on residential zones
was violently opposed by home
owners. The committee was
formed after a hearing on pro-
posed legislation to permit the
county to purchase residential lots
for parking areas last fall.
The study group also included
Adam Richmond, vice chairman;
William r. Kelley, secretary; c. B.
Sager, chairman of the area sur
vey group; r. E. Brown and Clar-
ence Keiser, co-chairmen Of the
finance group, and Cecil A. Eby.
chairman of liaison.
The County Council yesterday
turned the report over to its tech
nical advisory committee, which
| is making a study of the overall
parking situation in the county.
/. Lee Potter 10 Direct