Evening star., 1952-02-10
ft :s :. 9tg.
$40 Million Fund
For rD.C.P Parking
Program Urged
Committee Proposes
Loon From U. S. and
Dual Structures

Legislation enabling the District
to borrow $40 million In Federal
funds for large-scale expansion Of
off street parking facilities was
recommended last night by .the
Commissioners special advisory
committee on parking.
It said the District should seek
authority from Congress to ac-
quire property and sell or lease it
to private parking enterprises.
Congress also should be asked to
permit dual-purpose structures on
this property. the committee ad-
vised.
The advisory group, appointed
by the Commissioners last April,
thus would plug existing gaps in
the Special Parking Act Of 1912.
The Act established the District
Motor Vehicle Parking Agency but
provided no funds other than for
a bare existence Of the agency it.
self.
The advisory boards is men,
bers agreed that while the agency
has worked with telling effect
to ease parking problems, It's lack
Of funds has precluded any real
cure.
Funds rs Low as $1,000.
The proposed $40 million United
States loan would be set up as a.
revolving fund, fed also by prop
erty rentals. Committee Chairman
Charles M. Upham said this
amount should be sufficient to buy
land and establish the project and
would recover operations costs Of
the agency.
For the last 10 years, Mr.. Upham
pointed out, the parking agency
has SubSisted on appropriations
ranging from a mere $1,000 to
$4,000 yearly.
The Federal loan would be re-
paid in 20 years. beginning in
1868, under the committees pro-
grams.
An important point in the rec
concentrations is that efforts bel
continued and intensified to in
tereSt private enterprise in parking
projects.
Mr.. Upham said last night that
despite restrictions caused by
short funds, the agency already
has done an excellent job Of
stimulating the interest of park
ing businessmen in private pro-
jects, guiding studies for sites and
assisting in parking garage de-
signs.
Stores Would Share Site.
The dual-purpose use of parking
property leased by the District
would permit operation of stores
on the ground floor. with parking
facilities on upper floors by means
of ramps. 1
According to Mr.. Upham, this
treatment would give the city
higher rental returns on the same
piece of property. It also would
help preserve the present appear
ances of given neighborhood.
The chairman cited The Evening
Star Parking Plaza, Tenth and e
streets NV, as an example.
The committee report directed
especial attention to the develop
ment Of parking lots in outlying
sections of the city. as well as
on the fringes of the downtown
district.
Establishment Of parking lots
In these areas should be planned
without delay" the committee
said. And along the same lines,
the members also recommended
that the parking agency. the De-
partment of Vehicles and Traffic
and the Zoning Commission be
brought into harmony" to facili-
tate fringe parking.
Suggest Mall Project.
An old proposition was raised
again: that the agency look fur
ther into the possibility of creating
new parking facilities on the Mall
and Ellipse. Mr.. Upham last night
acknowledged that underground
garages are contemplated by the
committee.
The commissioners also were adj
vised to petition Congress to pro-
vide sufficient parking places for
Federal employees as close as pos
sible to their place of employ
ment.
Creeping paralysis and blight"
of extensive areas may result un-
less steps are taken to end the
community habit" of street park
ing which "gluts" reidential and
business areas alike, the report
warned.
This is true, the committee
added, despite the fact that off,
street parking facilities have in
creased about so per cent since
1916. Progress to date, however.
has been palliative rather than
curative" the report declared.