Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-11-24
DC. May Buy
Sites 70 Lease
To Gas Stations
Move Designed
To Offset Log
In Fuel foxes
BY JAMES G. DEANE

The District is considering
buying land along main high
ways to lease for commercially
operated, parkway-type gaso-
line stations.
Thirty sites have been Sc
iected as possibilities for the
city-sponsored stations. Others
are under study but not vet
specifically chosen. highway of
ficials said yesterday.
Highway Director John N.
Robertson said he has sub
mitted the gas-station proposal
as a means of countering q
slump in District gasoline sales
and tax revenue.
The gas tax is a main sup
port for the city's highway
construction program. The
hope with the gas-station plan
is to try to attract gasoline
sales now going to the suburbs.
Mr.. Robertson said.
The city owns a few Of the
sites being considered, but one
official estimated 80 per cent
would have to be purchased.
But Mr.. Robertson predicted
the plan would not only be
self -liquidating but would earn
the city a profit.
Strict Controls
The proposed filing stations
would be built under strict
controls as to design and land
scaping.. They would be similar.
scaping. They would be similar,
parkways such as those in New
York and New England.
Among locations proposed or
under study are:
Five sites on Kenilworth ave-
nue. and the new Anacostia
freeway now under construc-
ton in eastern Washington.
Nineteen or more sites on the
projected inner loop expressway
around the center business dis
trict. This route will follow a
route approximately parallel to
Virginia avenue. Eleventh street
Sc and NE. Florida avenue,
+ street NV, Twenty-first and
Twenty-fifth streets NV. and
the waterfront.
Three sites on the new cross
town route through Soldiers
Home and along Irving street.
Other locations. still to be
pinpointed. on North Capitol
street, Michigan and Rhode Is
land avenues NE, Connecticut
avenue. Sixteenth street NV.
Deane avenue N. E.. and pos
Slply otnerS.
Cost Not Estimated
Mr.. Robertson said he has
not yet estimated the cost Of
the land for these sites.
The stations would be located
in areas not now served. or
where existing stations are to
be dislodged by highway con-
struction. and thus wouldn't
hurt present filling station OPP
orators, he indicated.
Gas stations are barred from
the immediate right-of-way in
the new Federal highway pro-
gram under which the city is
building many of its new roads.
But Mr.. Robertson said stations
could be conveniently located
alongside approach ramps. A
few. officials said, might 20
under elevated freeways.
The stations could be q big
help to motorists, as well as
the city. Mr.. Robertson said,
pointing out it is now hard to
find gas station on some main
streets.
Dealers or Companies
Land would be leased to
either dealers or oil companies,
he said. The stations, he added,
would presumably be subject
to approval by the Fine Arts
Commission or a similar agency.
Whether any of the proposed
stations would go on Federally
controlled park land is a ques-
ton still to be settled, officials
indicated.
Mr.. Robertson said he has
no intention Of proposing any
at conspicuous points where
they would conflict with esthet-
ic values, however.
I'm not going to put one up
in front Of the Jefferson Me-
mortal" said the highway d.
rector.
The plan still has to be con-
sidered by the District Com
See GASOLINE, Page AS