Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-04-10

naIlOn Vi new DOIllllS COIiIlOIS IiS
Will recommend throughout the
city.
The area covered in the three
sketches is one of 1873 neighbor-
hoods analysed as a guide to the
new coming proposals by staff
members of Mr.. Lewis firm and
the National Capital Planning
Commission.
Population Menace
The drawings are intended
entirely to bear out Mr.. Lewis
basic ideas:
4 That excessive population
growth, possible under present
coming. can ruin good neighbor-
hoods by overcrowding such
public services as schools. sewers.
shopping and recreation faclli-
ties.
And that planning studies Of
neighborhoods are essential to
determine what kind of coming
is needed to discourage too much
population growth in a specific
area.
Washington residents will see
the results of these studies at
a series of informal public hear
ingS soon. in the form of maps
applying new zoning classical
tons to each parcel of land in
the city.
The main object OF study in
the nelghborhood shown above
is the future development of
the So-called Glover tract"
large private estate south of
Ward Circle between MasSachu-
sets and New Mexico avenues
NV. A portion of the tract al
ready has been sold for apart
ment development.
High Density Apartments
The heavy black symbols IN
the drawings represent high
density elevator apartments,
which George S. Cater. Mr..
Lewis deputy, said would be pos
Slole under present coming regu-
lations. The shaded areas repre-
sent lower-density garden-type
apartments. The statistical ia
bies estimate population and the
volume OF various kinds of public
services required under the
various developments.
Mr.. Lewis, in letter explain
ing the drawings to the citizens
committee, said the neighbour
hood is typical of those in
winch good living conditions
prevail. but which require some
measure Of conservation, through
coming and other practices, to
insure their continuing health
Mr. Lewis explanation follows:
Illustration 1.-The picture of
the neighborhood today, indicat-
ing a nine-claSSroom school, a
large estate which is breaking
up, and development of good
quality detached houses, with
one new apartment house.
Illustration 2--This shows the
complete development OF the
neighborhood some years hence.
with just enough school yard.
play space, shopping, parking
and utilities to serve the eA-
pected population see tables.
The presently underdeveloped
land is assumed to be developed
at density of Is or 30 families
per acre in accordance with the
best plans which are now known
TO be on developers drawing
boards
1t can be expected that this
neighborhood. if construction is
carried forward approximately
in accordance with the sketch, /
ought to be very desirable and
attractive place in which TO live
for many, many years. and thus
remain positive asset to the
city. I
Lot by Lot Thinking
Illustration 3-This shows
what may happen if lot by lot
OF plccemeal thinking is applied
70 the neighborhood in the
process of coming administra-
ton.
The area is zoned 'A-4O Resi-
Dental, but part of it has al
ready developed in eight-story
apartments, and there are plans
under way for rezoning and de-
velopment Of History apart
ments at denSities well over 1875
families per acre (preSent density
Of the area is Ave families per
acre..
The sketch shows how the
existing and planned neighbour
hood facilities would be uncom-
fortably inadequate for the
crush OF people and automobiles
which uncontrolled development
will bring. In a relatively few
years. the neighborhood environ
ment will become unattractive
and uninviting, so that it is not
unreasonable to predict deteri-
Grafton, decline and blight"
one Washington architect,
contesting Mr., Lewis line OF
reasoning, said its application to
many parcels of land in the city
would prevent any development
because the land Is valued too
high to be sold for low density
use.