Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-09-19
Bridge Approaches
Get Swift Approval
Planners Give
Endorsement
Unanimously

The District Highway De-
partment's latest plan for the
east approaches to the proposed
Constitution avenue bridge to-
day won the unexpectedly swift
approval of the National Cap
ital Planning Commission.
The plan, proposed by CoIs
Alvin c. yelling, District engiv
neer commissioner, was in-
dOrsed unanimously in the abb
sence of Harland Bartholomew.
commission chairman, and
Conrad L. Wirth. director Of
the National Park Service, ale
though Mr.. With had re-
Quested in writing that the
commission refrain from acting
on matters Of interest to his
agency.
Both Mr.. Bartholomew and
Mr.. Wirth have opposed in the
past any direct connection be-
tween E street and the bridge.
key provision Of the Districts
plan.
Change From Last Plan
In the E street connection
proposal, the Highway Depart-
ment plan further DIVORCES
from the last approach plan
approved in 1854 in that the
roadways bypass the west leg
of the proposed inner loop
around downtown Washington.
The 1854 plan called for .
bridge connection to the west
leg at Constitution avenue-a
lprovision that remains in the
new proposal.
The Z street connection with
bridge traf1c, however. would
have been on the inner loop at
approximately Twenty NTH and
E streets.
Twice as Much Land
| Commission officials pointed
out that the newly adopted
plan would require approxi-
| mately twice as much land for
the roadway between E street
and Constitution avenue as the
1884 plan required.
The commission later today
was to be asked to approve
plans for an eight-story. So
million ONCE building for the
Pan American Union and the
/ Federal Reserve Board at
lTwenty-third and = streets
INV. e
The building win be con-
lstructed by D. F. Antonelli and
associates, who own the land.
according to Norman Glasgow.
their attorney. They are await
ing permission both from the
Board of Zoning Adjustment
and the NCPC before breaking
ground.
The proposed structure is To-
Gated in the midst Of a Fed
Ieral taking area" In Foggy
Bottom. Congress has author
lied Uncle Sam to condemn
buildings in the tract bounded
roughly by E street. Virginia,
New Hampshire and Constitu-
ton avenues NV. But it has
neglected to appropriate funds
to carry out the acquisition.
Others Going Up
4 Meanwhile, building similar
to that proposed by Mr.. Anton-
lelli and associates have been
started. Among them is the
new headquarters for the Peo-
piles Life Insurance Co. : The
AREA is also sought for q ma
tional cultural center. rejected
this session by Congress.
J, The Pan American Union and
the Federal Reserve Board are
interested" in occupying the
building at Twenty-third and 4
streets, Mr.. Glasgow said. But
he stressed that neither agency
had committed itself.
The design calls for a white
Limestone exterior. similar to
the Federal offices surrounding
the site. It is much the same
style building as the new United
States District Corut House.
. The architect is Milton J..
Prassas.
More Items on Agenda
The NCPC. at its two-day
meeting, also plans to consider:
Joint Alexandria and COM
mission plans for handling
water and trafic problems in
the metropolitan area.
A study Of open spaces with
in the metropolitan region now
: under way in the National Cap
Iital Regional Planning Council.