Evening star., 1953-06-04
Council Gets
7 Proposals for
.Ar1lory LOT
Allied Civic Group
Backs Compromises
In Silver Spring

In Silver Spring
Two plans suggesting ways to
use the Silver Spring (Md.)
Armory lot are being sent to the
Montgomery County Council, the
Silver Spring Board of Trade and
the Maryland-National Park and
Planning Commission following
their approval last night by the
Allied Civic Group.
The compromise plans were
introduced after the rejection Of
four other plans which had been
presented by q special committee
Of the group appointed to plot
future uses Of the Armory lot.
The approved plans were intro.
duced by Theodore Repplier.
whose Eyanswood Citizens AS
sociation long has been the lead
ing voice in a campaign TO erect
q community center on the lot.
Provisions of Plans.
Provisions Of the Evanswood
plans are: . e
l. Most Of the Armory lot.
preferably thirds. would be
reserved for erection of q library
and community center when
funds become available. In the
meantime, the area would be
maintained as a park. The re-
naming one-third. to be used
for parking, would be purchased
by the county with parking funds
and properly Handicapped. When
erected, the community center
might be a memorial to the com.
munity's war dead.
2. If the planning commission
decides to sell the Armory lot
as a means Of raising money, q
land offer Of approximately TO-
600 square feet by the Board Of
Trade announced earlier this
week would be accepted. This
tract has a 190-foot frontage
on Colesville road between Spring
and Springvale streets. extend
ing through Ellsworth drive, and
would house community CEN
ter.
Representatives Of the Evans
wood association announced q
preference for the first plan
since they said it would perma-
nently establish a park-like area
in central Silver Spring and Of
fer protection against further
extension Of the commercial
zone.
The Armory lot, located at
Fenton street and Pershing drive,
is now the property Of the plan
ming commission. The commits.
sion's right to the title and to
sell the land recently was af-
firmed by court action: This
right had been questioned by
the County Council when the
commission was reported ready
to sell the land to Silver Spring
private interests.
Willard A. Morris, president
of the Allied Civic Group, said
the commission now is anxious
to dispose Of the land.
Four Defeated Plans.
Provisions of the four de.
feated plans. the last of which
was unanimously opposed, are:
/. Half of the property facing
Fenton street. or 10000 square
feet, would be purchased by the
county council with parking
funds. The title Of the remain.
ing half Of the lot would re-
main with the planning COM
mission and be developed as .
park.
2. A community center and IL
brary would be erected on two
thirds of the lot when funds are
available, but in the meantime
the area would be planted and
maintained as a park. The re-
mainder of the land, that near.
est Fenton street, would be pur-
chased by the county council
with parking funds for a parking
area and Handicapped on all sides.
8. The entire lot would be
purchased by the county council
with parking funds at a cost not
exceeding $500, 900. The Board
Of Trade offer of land would be
accepted and used for such civic
purposes as the council might
direct.
4. The county council would
buy about two-thirds Of the lot
with parking funds. The re-
mainder would be made avail
able for such civic purposes as
the council might determine.
Total cost for the entire prop
erty would not exceed $500, 900.
Parts Of Budget Indorsed.
In other business the group
Endorsed six parts Of the county
budget as proposed by the coun-
ty manager and increased the
appropriation in another.
The Board Of Education budg-
ct for school construction and
the operating expense budget
were indorsed, although approval
Of the latter was made on the
assumption that adequate pro-
vision has been made for the hir-
ing Of additional teachers re-
quired for new schools and new
teaching stations. as well as for
the annual salary increments for
present staff within the current
salary scale.
An effort to indorse the public
library budget as proposed by the
director Of public libraries lost
by one vote to the county man
ayers lower budget proposal.
Budgets proposed by the
County Manager regarding pub
lie highways and civic improve
ment both we're approved. An at
tempt by committee members t6
insert a $150.00e swimming
pool provision In the parks and
recreation budget was defeated