Foggy Bottom Neighborhood
From GWUEncyc
Article
The following was written in 1955:
A plan which roughly affirms the 1930 preliminary design for University development of the National Capital’s great architect Frederick Law Olmstead has been approved by University Trustees. The Trustees’ action followed a recommendation of the District Redevelopment Land Agency which was approved in September by the National Capital Planning Commission.
Reports of this action appeared in Washington newspapers as follows: “The National Capital Planning Commission yesterday staked out of a 20-block urban renewal project southeast of Washington Circle to plan the future growth of The George Washington University. The area immediately adjoins the previously adopted Foggy Bottom renewal area south and west of the Circle. The new area is bounded by Pennsylvania Avenue, 19th Street, New York and Virginia Avenues, and 23rd Streets.
“University President Cloyd H. Marvin said the school already ‘owns or controls’ about 50 per cent of the area. He said: ‘We have pledged ourselves to work out a detailed plan for use of the area’ which will be submitted to the Planning Commission. The two groups will work out any differences and proceed with a mutually agreeable plan. Marvin declined to estimate the amount of money to be spent ‘over a period of years.’ He said addition of the area was part of ‘an over-all plan for the university’ begun in the mid-30’s. He mentioned a new law ‘center’ as one project slated for the 20-block area. The center would be between 19th Street and 20th Street, facing on Pennsylvania Avenue. The latest project for ‘urban renewal’ differs from that underway in Southwest Washington in one respect: buildings—or whole blocks—now occupying the site approved yesterday for G.W. would be left standing in the university area.”
“George Washington University officials will move quickly in the employment of a landscape architect to plan the future development of the institution. National Capital Planning Commission approval of the plan submitted yesterday by the university and the District Redevelopment Land Agency clears the way for decisive planning of a $1.5 million law center for the university. It also frees the hands of university officials to plan for future expansion in an area bounded by Pennsylvania Avenue on the north, Nineteenth Street on the east, Twenty-Third Street on the west and E Street, Virginia and New York Avenues on the south.
“Originally the plan called for a southern boundary at F Street. The Planning Commission added a four-block area extending the boundary slightly farther south giving the university officials a ‘pleasant surprise.’ University President Dr. Cloyd Heck Marvin said the existing expansion plans for the institution will be revised to utilize the new boundaries to the best advantage. The revised plan will be submitted to the RLA for approval. Nearly half of the property in the area is now owned by the University, one official said.” - The Evening Star, September 16, 1955. ‘Establishment of a George Washington University urban renewal area, for which boundaries already have been fixed was stated by NCPC.” It would include some GWU properties, but would extend beyond the University area.”
Document Information
Images: 0
Photographic Credit: n/a
Author or Source: GWU Alumni Review, November 1955
Document Location: University Archives
Date Added to Encyclopedia: December 21, 2006
Prepared by: Lyle Slovick, Assistant University Archivist
For more information about GW history
Contact:
Special Collections Research Center [1]
The Melvin Gelman Library [2]
The George Washington University [3]
2130 H Street, NW Suite 704
Washington, DC 20052
202-994-7549
mailto:archives@gwu.edu
Please send us your questions and comments about the encyclopedia.
This site is maintained by the Special Collections Research Center and the Web Development Group.
