Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-04-25
IT, BUY A TRIANGLE
PROPOSED RESERVATION IN THE
NoRTHERN SUBURBS.
Report on Senate Ban to acquire Land
Between 10th ard ME-. Pleasant
Streets and Kenosaw Avenue.

A written report on Senate bill $685. di-
recting the Secretary OF the Interior to ac-
quire by condemnations for sthe purpose OF
providing q government reservation, the
ground included within the triangle be-
tween 18th street extended. Mount Pleasant
street and kenesaw avenue. containing in
the aggregate q, 40 square feet, has been
placed before the Senate. To pay for the
ground the sum of $4,000 is appropriated
for this purpose by the bill.
In recommending the favorable passage
OF the bill the committee states:
Area Of Reservation.
1.-THE area Of the triangle to be purchased
is about q $50 square feet. and has APP
purtenant thereto some 81 500 square feet
of parking, which would form part of the
reservation-nearly double the area of the
triangle to be purchased-which has already
been condemned as parts of 10th street and
Mount Pleasant street, at the cost Of the
District of Columbia and abutting lot own
ers, 30 that it is apparent that the District
has already contributed more than its share
toward acquiring this reservation.
Plans for an apartment house about
eighty feet in height have been completed
to be bull, upon this triangle, and bids for
Its construction have been invited"
The fact that the Commissioners recon-
mend the passage of the bill Is referred to
and the report continues:
In the opinion Of your committee the
erection OF this building, or any other build
Ing on this triangle, which SO obviously
should be a government reservation would
be calamity to the District of Columbia
sixteenth street has been extended at an
expense to the District Of nearly one million
dollars, and is designed to be a creditable
feature of the national capital
Building Regulations Suggested.
A 1D<r
special benefits In anticipation of such an
exceptionally fine street being established
as this was designed to be- your committee
Is Of opinion that, so far as practicable, no
structures should be permitted along said
street that will tend to defeat the purpose
OF the government in making this extern
s1on And 1t seems appropriate in this con-
nect1on to suggest that a building regula-
tlon should be established restricting the
issue OF permits for buildings along this
street to such as would, in the opinion of
the District Commissioners, conform with
the general plan and character of street
contemplated in levying these special as
sessments. Good faith seems to require
that the benefits for which the lots were
assessed should be secured to the lot own
ers; and good administrative policy REQUIRES
that this site be preserved for governmental
purposes In harmony with the character
of the street and In conformity with the
system which has been followed in the city
proper greatly to the credit of the national
capital.
Ihis commanding situation, affording as
II does view of the city and Potomac
river for miles, is a desirable site for a
work OF art or statue, and the Improvement
OF the triangle as reservation, like SINH
lar triangles in the city now belonging to
the government are improved, would, in the
opinion OF your committee, tend to encour-
age the building of handsome residences In
tne vicinity and to make 18th street such
an avenue to the, national park as 1t was
intended 1t should be. There are no reser-
vations provided for alongs this street In
Its entire length from the city limits to the
District line, and this triangle is excep-
uonally well situated for such purpose"