Evening star., 1952-03-27

NOuHty MUNICH Heu0
Hits Quonset Hut Plan
AS Zoning Violation
Residents .of the Connecticut
avenue section of Chevy Chase,
Md. had the assurance of their
Representative in Congress today
that he would investigate reports
that the Army Is considering
putting >quonset huts at the for
mer Chevy Chase Junior College,
6410 Connecticut avenue.
The president Of the Mont
gomery County Council, mean
while, attacked the move as a
"clear violation of coming and
good TASTE" and said the coun-
Gil definitely will go into the
matter"
Representative Beall. Repub-
lican. of the 9Th Maryland Dis
trict. in which Chevy Chase is
located, said he doesn't blame the
residents for being upset about
the planned expansion Of the
Army's Operation Research Of
fice on the former college prop.
erty.
Beall Returns Today.
"It's important to them and to
me- he added. ito preserve the
r side ial and architectural
character of that neighborhood."
Mr.. Beall, who made his COM
ments yesterday from Baltimore.
where he was campaigning for
the Republican nomination to the
Senate from Maryland. said he
intended to "look into the whole
thing" as soon as he returned to
Washington today.
Council President Lathrop e.
Smith said it would be repre-
hensible for the Army to attempt
to put temporary buildings in the
midst of one of our choice resi-
dental communities.
THE unfortunate part of it all.
however, is that no one tells the
Federal Government what to do"
he added. "The Federal Govern
|ment never consults the local gov
|ernment before planning projects
such as this"
Council to Discuss Il.
Mr.. Smith said the proposed ex-
Ipansion Of the research Office will
be discussed by the council at its
earliest opportunity.
He pointed out that since the
Army center at the college is a
Federal project. county building
and zonihg officials have no juris-
ldiction over any expansion or
alterations there.
Meanwhile, there still was no
iefficial word from the Army on the
.Iraat tier. It is known that officials
lat The research Office have asked
an additional 10000 square feet
for a computing laboratory and
'Ithat quonset huts or other tenn
Iporary structures are being con-
,1Sidered by the Army Engineers.
but no definite decision has yet
been disclosed.
/ A proposal for a permanent
addition to the college has been
made to the Army by the National
All Club foundation, which owns
the college and has leased it for
1.-THE research Office.
Could Convert Building.
E. w. Alton. executive director Of
the foundation, said his group has
Submitted architects drawings of
a proposed building which would
satisfy the present space needs Of
the Army and could be converted
to an auditorium when the college
is turned back TO the foundation.
Mr.. Atoms organization, which
purchased the college only short
time before leasing it to the Army
last spring, plans eventually to
set up a national All center there.
Blair Lee III, chairman Of the
Planning and zoning Committee
of the Montgomery County Civic
Federation, said the federation
often has expressed strong opposi-
ton against "the unqualified right
Iof Federal agencies to violate
existing local zoning and building
patterns.
He said the junior college mat
ter would be discussed by the fed
Grafton.
The research Office at the coll
lege does a job which the Army
classif1es as secret. Generally, it
can be said that the Offices 150-
man staff analyses warfare with
a view to modernizing techniques
-,