Evening star., 1924-07-27
EXPECT CONGRESSIONAL ACTION
ON STATION PARKWAY PROJECT
Zoning Commission, Called Upon to Decide Moot
Question, May Cause Entire Mater to Go to
legislators.

Congress for the acquisition Of the
land. ,
All of the land needed for the park
was purchased years ago, except that
controlled by the Baltimore and Ohio.
The railroad holdings were the sub
ject of a condemnation proceeding
in 1912, but the railroad purchase was
never settled.
When the scheme for the laying
Off of beautiful plaza north of the
Capitol as far as the railroad terminal
was started by Congress in the Sum-
mer of 1910-14 years ago-it contem-
plated the purchase Of IL squares of
ground.
In April, 1912, two squares had
been acquired by condemnation. and
| UP to that time Congress had ap-
propriated $1,500,000 in three annual
installments of 100000 in 1910. 1911
and 1912.
In January. 1913. condemnation pro-
| ceedings for the remaining ten
| squares were completed and the total
| appraisal placed at $3,204,43478. In
June Of that year Congress appropri-
ated approximately $2,S0O, 900, which,
with a balance left over from the
previous appropriations, was suffi-
cient to complete the purchase.
Referred to Comnaission.
| the purchase were carried out, how
ever, Congress in October, 1914,
passed a resolution turning the task
| OF completing the purchase over to
commission of three. to be appoint
| ed by the President.
This resolution Of Congress carried
a provision that the amount to be
paid for the holdings of the Balti-
more and Ohio Railroad and the Real
Estate and Improvement Company of
original cost of the land, plus s per
cent, to the time of the condemnation
proceeding.
The condemnation value placed on
the railroads property in the court
award was sl,731,937. The commits
gress in 1914 recommended that the
| railroad be offered $1,143,443.54. The
Baltimore and Ohio declined to ac-
| cept this latter figure, and the project
came to standstill.
Then the war with Germany came
. on and all such peace-time improve
| ments were forgotten, while Wash
nigton, with the Nation, concentrated
| war workers had to be housed, and
| the Housing Bureau entered into an
agreement with the Il. & o. for the
use of its property on the plaza, to-
| Gether with adjoining squares the
| Government already had purchased
for temporary dormitories. The Gov
eminent Hotels are still being op-
! Grated under annual appropriations
(
Just what legislative steps would
| nave to be taken now to complete the
| plaza purchase is problematical, but
| It may be given Consideration next
| Winter.
Records show that of the total area
comprising the plaza the government
has acquired 543,349 square feet and
the baltimore and Ohio still owns
| 4S3.S29 square feet.
lf after the railroad property is
i, zOned, any Of it should be sold for
private building operations. the final
| execution of the plaza park scheme
as originally planned would be
further complicated.
Various schemes for the treatment
OF the plaza after the acquisition of
the land has been completed have
been worked out in the office of David
Lynn. architect of the Capitol. The
most practical of these plans calls
for the setting aside Of several
building sites for future Government
structures on the plaza, surrounded
by spacious areas of grass, flowers
and walks.
1t is understood the B. & O. takes
the position that if negotiations were
reopened with the Government today
to complete the purchase of the plaza
| land there would have to be a new
appraiSement of il.