Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-11-05
Alternate Size
Is Studied for
Air Museum
Choice Moy Solve
Obstacles Delaying
Southwest Project

posed National Air Museum in
Southwest Washington to elm
mate conflicts with proposals for
redeveloping the area is under
study by Federal planners.
The site, between Independ-
ence avenue and c, Fourth and
Seventh streets, was disclosed
yesterday by the National Capt.
tai Planning Commission.
It's use would free a site orig
inaliy requested BY the Smith
sonian Institution on Tenth
street just south Of Independ-
|ence. That location is required
for a 300-foot-wide mall to serve
Jas a gateway to the rebuilt
Southwest.
Site to Be Offered
Robert v. Fleming, executive
committee chairman OF the
Smithsonian Board of Regents.
wrote the planners he would
submit the alternate site to the
regents. II he could have COM
Iplete assurance as, to its avail
ability.
In view Of the Importance Of
1.-THE Tenth street mall to the
Southwest redevelopment pro-
lposal. Planning Commission
chairman Harland Bartholomew
directed q special committee yes
lterday to consider the alternate
lsite and bring back q specific
Recommendation az the Decem-
der I4-15 meeting.
In other major actions. the
commission:
/. Approved basic features Of q
compromise plan showing the
route and approach road connec-
ltions for the long delayed Con-
lstitution avenue bridge. The
bridge would extend from the
washington shore about $40 feel
north Of Constitution avenue and
would cross Roosevelt Memorial
Island In the rnid-Potomac.
2. Received from the Redevel.
opnnent Land Agency preliminary
estimates Of the costs Of proyid.
ling public facilities In the yasI
Southwest redeyelopment area.
8. Directed stan committees Il
lstraighten out, in reports nexi
month. any confusion over high.
way projects near the big Poto,
jmac Plaza apartment and ONCE
building project in Foggy Bot
tom.
On the bridge action the plan,
Iners approved the general routs
Iof the span. Virginia approaches
land major approach roads or
THE Washington side. They left
open, however. the question Of
whether bridge traffic could b.
routed directly to E street NV
long q subject Of bitter dis.
Ipute between planners and city
highway officials.
Next week the bridge plan Il
ilexpected to 60 before the FINE
ARTS Commission and probably
1.-THE Theodore Roosevelt Associa-
ltion. II these agencies also APP
lprove. detailed planning on the
span can begin.
Gets Cost Analysis
The cost analysis submitted b,
ria for the big Southwest re,
development program estimated
1.-THE RIA would pay STA million
for various utilities and thu
Tenth street Mall construction.
/ The District would pay $2l.i
million as Its one-third contrihu,
'ltion toward the projects tota
''Ecost. All Of this contribution
however, would be In the form
I,of land or such public improve
Iments as streets, schools. librariei
land fire stations virtually all b
them already scheduled in thl
'Icity's long-range public work
construction program.
The RIA estimated It wouls
have TO pay $50 million to acquir,
1.-THE Southwest land. After tn
Hand is cleared. it would be sol,
Tor leased to private developer
for rebuilding for an estimated
Il$45 million.
Il The difference between the to
.Ital cash outlay for the projec
Hand the amount recovered for tn,
Illand--an estimated $2T.9 million
would be made up by q Fedora
grant.