Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-03-31
Navy i|IAbandon
Jones Point Facility
To Stop Using
Training Site
Next Year
BY JOHN BARRON
Star stan Writer

Alexandria that it intends to
abolish the reserve training
center at Jones Point next year.
Mayor Leroy S. Bendheim.
Representative Broyhill, Re
publican of Virginia and Alex
andria State Senator Armistead
Boothe are opposed to the dis
establishment and are waging
a behind the-scenes fight to
preserve the training facility.
The Navy contends it must
abandon the building which
houses the center at the foot Of
Lee street to provide right-of-
way for the new Woodrow Will
son Bridge now under con-
struction across the Potomac
from Jones Point.
Plans call for transfer Of
most of the Jones Point units,
which contain about 450 per-
sonnet, to the Naval Gun Fac
tory.
The Navy mas offered as
Surances that II OF the reServ-
lists now participating in the
units at Alexandria will be con-
tinued in their paid Lrill status
and their organization will re-
main unchanged.
Justification Challenged
Calling abandonment of the
Jones Point Center callous and
unnecessary, Mayor Bendheim
declared yesterday that con-
struction Of the bridge does not
justify the Navy's plans.
The Bureau Of Public Roads
desires 100-foot right-of-way
on either side of the bridge. A
corner of the building extends
into one of the projected rights
of-way. Although 1t will pro-
tude into the right-of-way, the
building still will be at least
20 to 80 feet away from the
bridge" Mayor Bendheim said.
Because of the elevation of
the bridge, the building could
not possibly interfere with
traffic or the bridge itself. I
further am informed that the
Bureau of Public Roads will, If
requested by the Navy, permit
the present building to remain
for the purpose for which it is
now being used 1"
Senator Boothe, in a let
ter to the city council, called
| the scheduled abandonment. a
matter of first Importance" to
the city and expressed the
view that the move could be
averted.
He urged the council, to-
gether with other city officials
and community organizations.
to ask for a waiver from the
Bureau of Public Roads to
permit continued use of the
building.
Senator Boothe noted that
the center is the only one in
Northern Virginia. and one Of
eight in the State.
In response to recent pro-
tests the Navy wrote:
1.-THE Navy has given full
consideration to the possibility
of retaining this facility in the
Alexandria or Northern Vir-
GINA area.
1.-THE various Federal build
ings which might be made
available in this area are either
inadequate or would require
extensive and costly modifica-
ton or rehabilitation. The con-
struction Of the replacement
training center on Government
property in the Jones Point
area or other Virginia locations
was likewise thoroughly inves-
tigated. Such a project would
cost over 100000 and it would
be difficult to justify in view Of
the fact that sufficient facih-
ties are available at the Naval
Gun Factory training center
for these reservists.
Need Of Changes Denied
an view Of the above, the
prospect of continuing the OPP
Grafton of the Naval Reserve
Training Center in the Alex
andria or Northern Virginia
area beyond 80 June, 1860, does
not appear to be a likely pos
sibility at this time"
Mr.. Bendheim declared, how
ever, that the Jones Point
building is entirely satisfac-
tory as it stands. 1t requires no
modification, he said. and de-
clared that this opinion Is sup
ported by naval .hcers famil-
liar with the structure.