Evening star., 1962-01-10
Moving Traffic
Beats Parking
On King Street
BY JERRY KLINE
Star Staff Writer

| ny JEAtkb1 NAAINE
Star Staff Writer
Should Alexandria's historic
King street cater to moving
traffic or parked cars?
The controversial issue came
up again before the Alexandria
City Council last night and,
despite the voclferous senti-
ments of q capacity audience
that favored parking spaces,
proponents Of moving traffic
won the battle.
During the debate the coun-
Gil rejected a motion by Coun-
Gilman James M. Duncan, jr.,
to rescind the ban Cn King
street parking and establish a
system of tandem" parking.
Under the system, a space
about one-car length after
every two parked cars would
remain off limits to space
seeking motorists. The sug-
gestion received the support of
Councilman John j. Ewald and
the opposition of the remaining
five councilmen.
Ban Is Assailed
For two hours a dozen per-
sons argued the merits and de-
merits Of the parking ban
which has been under fire
since it was installed Decem-
ber %.
Walter A. Weiss, president of
the Retail Merchants AsSocia-
ton, said more than 100 per-
sons attended a meeting of
the Traffic and Parking Com
mittee Monday night "and they
all opposed the BAN"
Eppa d. Kane, who has a
real estate office at 1915 King
street, said he has no objec-
ton to parking meters on King
street. But certainly with no
parking there, I'm out of busi-
ness" he added.
John Lawrence, an attorney,
identified himself as o COM
mercial property owner and "a
victim. a great sufferer from
parking elimination" He asked
for tandem parking.
Edward ]. r. Gulewicz, rep
resenting the Voters and Tax
payers League, said the league
was not prepared to take a
stand on the issue. But we
do believe the council should
seriously reconsider the ban"
Donald Mela, 1929 Taft ave-
nue., said his group, the Straw
berry Hill Association, felt the
ban should be given a longer
trial.
Charles Harbauch, president
Of the Del Ray Citizens Asso-
citation. said he agreed with
Mr.. Mela.
Negotiations Okayed
The council unanimously car
ried a motion by Councilman
John K. Pickins authorizing
Philip B. Hall, acting city man
ager, to negotiate for the acqui-
sition of five lots in the Old
Town area. The lots will provide
parking for more than 70 cars.
Mr.. Hall reported that four
city-owned properties, with
room for 81 vehicles, will later
be available for parking.
The council also received a
report prepared by the Koontz
Equipment Co. of Pittsburgh
and Freneau Inc, traffic engi-
neers of Columbus, Ohio. The
report suggested that all meter
ed locations in the city use
tandem parking, the hours of
operation should be expanded
and the meters should be paint
ed in six different colors, each
color indicating a particular
expiration time ranging from
Is minutes to 10 hours.
Such steps would relieve the
parking problem and would
raise meter revenue from the
present $4,000 annually to
$l27,000, according to the study
The report was forwarded to
Mr.. Hall for consideration.
The council also:
Appointed Roswell M. Ying-
ling, 213 South Royal street, to
the Redevelopment and Hous-
ing Authority.
Reappointed Councilm a n
Pickens to the Northern Vir-
ginia Regional Planning and
Economic Development Com
mission and w. H. Blackwell to
the Electrical Board.
Accepted the resignation of
Harmon E. Norris from the
City Planning Commission. Mr..
Norris served 18 years.
Referred to Mr.. Hall a letter
from Robert v. New, restorer
of Alexandria's historic Lloyd
House, detailing plans to con-
struct a SO million science
center in that city's Old Town
section.