Evening star., 1952-12-04
Merchants Push
Plan for $500
Parking Spaces
To Call Early Meeting
On Five-Yeor Program
For Downtown Area

turerS' Association Will call az
early city-wide meeting on a pro.
posal to finance private provisions
for $500 new off-street parking
spaces in the congested centra
business district through creation
of $40 million District Parking
Authority.
To make possible the flve-yeal
program for staying the flight OF
shoppers to outlying business
areas, Congress would be asked
to authorize the lending borrow
ing authority and make available
to it:
A total of $40 million from the
sale of Revenue Bond Series A.
the interest rate to be determined
by the authority.
Another $40 million in a non
interest bearing Federal loan re-
payable in varying amounts over
q period not to exceed 80 years.
Year of Study.
Chairman Maury L. Nee of the
associations Traffic and Parking
Committee. which had the plan
under a years intensive study,
made it public yesterday. 1t has
the unanimous approval of the
Board of Governors. Copies re-
Gently were given to Brig. Gen.
Bernard L. Robinson, engineer
Commissioner. The committee now
is waiting to discuss it with his
successor, Col. Louis w. Prentiss.
The $500 off-street parking
spaces would represent a net gain
in the f1ve-year goal. There are
now Ito on-street spaces within
the specified area, bounded on
the north by K street, south
by Pennsylvania avenue, east by
Fifth street and west by Fifteenth
street. It is planned to replace
about 600 of these, which would
require an ultimate provision for
7.100 off-street spaces. About 500
meter spaces on streets would be
retained.
Nee Lists Highlights.
Chairman Nee outlined other
highlights of the program as:
A greater use of one-way
arterial streets in the downtown
area, permitting a faster flow OF
traffic in and out.
Uses of traffic lane markings
for the entire block, rather than
at the ends Of the block; also in
creased use of unbalanced iane
operations and the study of great
= er turn restrictions.
More street widening, channeli-
alton and curb-out-backs, the lat
ter permitting easier right turns.
The committee urges the ulti-
mate substitution Of buses for
streetcar service in the downtown
area. It also urged greater use
of mass transportation facilities
during the shopping hours.
Mr.. Nee said 81 other cities have
undertaken even more vigorous
programs to meet their parking
problems.
Would Aid Traffic.
Studies here and in Baltimore
convinced the committee that the
even flow of traffic in the down.
town area would be greatly aided
by this partial removal of on
street parking. more one-way
streets and the elimination of
streetcars.
ITO have parking without free
movement of traffic would be fool
ish," Mr.. Nee said.
He declared the committee feels
the revitalization of the central
business district in this way will
bring increased demands for both
public and private transportation
It. was estimated the average
shopper visits between one and
four stores before making up her
mind and that she refuses to walk
further than 750 feet from store
to store.
The proposal for $40 million
fund for the parking authority is
the first of it's kind made in the
District, Mr.. Nee contended. Com
missioner Robinson recently sug-
gested a $40 million fund to help
buy land for fringe parking. There
was no provision for parking In
the 1919 million Addison report
for long-range improvements.
Five Unsalaried Members.
Under the merchants plan, the
authority would consist of five un-
salaried members appointed by
the District Commissioners fol
three-year terms.
The authority would be author
lied to borrow money to make anC
issue negotiable bonds secured by
it. Loans would be made to pri-
vate operators up to 80 per cent
of the cost of land and buildings
for approved projects on a 20-yeal
repayment basis. The borrower
would put up the remaining II
per cent.
Mr.. Nee pointed out, as an in
ducement. that the tax assessment
in the original land would remair
the same for the duration Of thu
loan. despite new construction. HI
anticipated no trouble in getting
private operators to invest in tn,
parking program.
Land Condemnation.
It is believed the authority
would be empowered to condemn
land. if necessary, or make somt
such arrangement in cooperation
with the District Motor Parking
Vehicle Agency, which has tina
power now.
The authority, however. woult
exercise its own right to buy ant
operate public parking space onl.
If private enterprise did not us'
the available funds within a rea
sonable time.
In Baltimore, it was said. onl.