University of Virginia Library

City Postpones Action On Highway Proposal

Students Protest Expressway
Through Fraternity Area

By Rod MacDonald
Cavalier Daily Staff Writer

Gordon Avenue Extension Would Force Throughway At Pi Kappa Alpha House

Four Lane Artery Also To Connect Preston At Grady To Cloverleaf At U.S. 29

A city proposal to construct a
four lane highway of Grady and
Gordon avenues that would connect
with the Route 250 bypass
was deferred Tuesday in the face
of strong protests from area residents
until the public could be
better informed.

The changes would make
Grady one-way west, and Gordon
one-way east, and provide for
the construction of a connector
between the two that would eliminate
the Alpha Tau Omega
house. The highway would then
connect to U.S. 29, forcing the
removal of the Pi Kappa Alpha
and Theta Delta Chi houses.

Make Area Commercial

The state highway department,
in its proposals for eliminating
the east-west traffic congestion in
the University area, hoped to
gain final approval of the construction
at the Tuesday meeting
of the City Planning Commission.
The maps presented,
however, failed to show in detail
the changes that would alter
the entire area.

Edgar J. Gunter, associate professor
of mechanical engineering,
then presented a plan showing
the actual work to be done in
the fraternity-residential area (see
diagram). He contended that the
changes would make the area a
commercial one and a through
route for trucks entering the city.

Approval Deferred

Mr. Gunter asked that an alternative
route be considered,
one that would remove the traffic
stream from the University
area. He added that the residential
nature of the University
community would effectively be
destroyed.

Jack M. Horn then moved that
approval be deferred until the
entire plan could be made public
knowledge, a motion that was
passed by the Commission.

'Long-Standing Idea'

In an interview with The
Cavalier Daily yesterday, Commissioner
Werner K. Sensbach,
said that "The city is proposing
that this facility be built as part
of a long-standing idea. No action
will be taken, however, until
the public has been fully informed."

"The 'long-standing idea' is to
relieve the University area of its
east-west congestion," added
Richard C. Brown, assistant to
the city manager. "We have to
plan for the increasing demand
in this corridor."

Representatives of the area
houses and citizens opposed the
plan, however, as one that
would "make the whole community
useless except for commercial
purposes."

'Real Black Eye'

Lee Hilbert, President of the
Inter-Fraternity Council, said that
such a project would place a "real
black eye" in the community.

In support, Richard Davis,
chairman of the IFC Long Range
Planning Committee, added that
"We will oppose this plan and
try to influence the University
to oppose it. Such a highway
would split the residential system
and ruin the entire Rugby
Road area."

Cut Lambeth Field

In detail, the proposal calls for
the widening of Gordon and
Grady avenues, making each one-way,
and making a four lane
artery connecting Preston Avenue
at Grady to U.S. 29, where
a cloverleaf would be built. The
artery would also cut through
Lambeth Field.

Mr. Horn's motion to defer action
came after the residents of
the area protested that the plans
were not public knowledge and
had been kept quiet.

Edward M. Ford, representing
ATO at the meeting, told The
Cavalier Daily that "the Commission
claims it had the University's
consent. The consent
however, should have come from
the students, whom it concerns
more directly.

"For a question that is so important
to so many students, it

seems strange that we just
stumbled upon it." he continued.
"The decision seems to have been
made without the knowledge of
the people affected."

"Is there a public plan and a
secret plan, or is there a policy
that everything that affects the
public be part of the public record?"
asked Mr. Senshach. He
recommended at the meeting that
no action he taken "until every
record is made available to the
public."

The plan, if passed, would not
take effect for at least three
years. Mr. Brown said yesterday.
"The city has no commitment
yet, so nothing will be done until
funds are available."

Mr. Brown added that the future
plans called for relocation
of other streets, and the extension
of the Grady-Gordon expressway
out to the 250 bypass
north of the area.

At last report, the fraternity
representatives said they would
fight this action through the University
and the city. Mr. Hilbert
added that "this plan, if it is
finalized, would ruin the entire
area. We just cannot permit it."

Map Shows Proposed Rerouting, Extension Of Grady, Gordon Avenues

Shaded Buildings Are Fraternity Houses Possibly Affected by Plan