Evening star., 1926-11-30
BUILDING PROBLEM
PUT UP TO DISTRICT
City Officials Must Evolve
Housing Plans for offices
/ in Way of U. S. Project.

The problem of providing for the
various District of Columbia agencies
that will have TO vacate existing quar-
ters to make way for new Federal
structures south Of Pennsylvania ave-
nue. was carefully gone over by the
Public Buildings Commission in con-
ference with Engineer Commissioner
Bell: today, but no change was made
insthe decision arrived at by the com
rnMgion 10 days ago to, place one d
ti1eE Federal buildings directly south
ofsthe District Building.
Chairman Smoot of the Public
Blilfdfngs Commission, stated, follow
ing the meeting, that 1t would be left
to the municipal officials to recommend
to Congress a plan for hour;HS the
municipal institutions that stand in
the way Of the Government building
program.
Senator Smoot declared that he
would cooperate with the Commis-
Sioners, but that it would be their
function to initiate a proposal for ad-
ditional building space for the city
government.
Market Also Discussed.
The relocation of the farmers mar
ket, which must be moved from the
triangle south of Pennsylvania ave-
nue., also was discussed. Senator
SmOot said the Public Buildings Com
mission may join with the District
government in recommending the
site to be purchased for the farmers.
He indicated that a conclusion had
been reached as to the most desirable
site, but stated that its location should
not be made known until negotiations
ahoo hod hooy, OF q - r.
ed.
The Commission also turned its at
tention today to what will prove to
be one of the most troublesome prob
lens In connection with the Federal
building program, namely, where to
house temporarily Federal bureaus,
including hundreds of employees who
are now occupying the buildings that
are to be torn down between Four
teenth and Fifteenth streets, Penn
sylvania avenue and B street. This
large area has been designated as
the site for the new building for the
Department of Commerce and Justice.
Survey Is Ordered.
Senator Smoot indicated today that
the Commission does not know at this
time what provision will be made for
these Federal bureaus, but said sur
vey has been ordered to determine
where they might be housed while
the new structures are being erected.
These agencies include the income
tax unit, the Coast Guard Service
and branches Of Internal Revenue on
Pennsylvania avenue.
The Public Buildings Commission
has some~ vacant buildings in the
group of dormitories on Union Station
plaza, but members Of the commission
said these buildings are not very well
suited for Office use.
Although Senator Smoot said 1t was
for the Commissioners to recommend
where they want additional buildings
for the municipal government, he
stated in answer to questions that
he still believes the municipality
should take in the Southern Railway
square just east Of the District Build
ing.
Proposal Borne Out.
This proposal also was borne out
by the fact that the commission to-
day made no change in its former de-
cision to put the general supply build
ing and the Department Of Labor
directly south Of the District Building,
between d street and B street. This
particular area has been looked upon
in the past as a logical one fer the
expansion of the District Building.
The importance Of obtaining one or
more new municipal structures with
out delay becomes apparent when
IL Is realized that the following mu-
nicipal agencies will have to move
when the new Federal buildings are
started: No. l police station and the
municipal lodging house, on Twelfth
street; No. 16 engine company and
No. 8 truck company, the former on
ID street and the latter on Fourteenth
street: the House Of Detention, oc-
cupying the old Emergency Hospital
on Ohio avenue; the Traffic Bureau
and the District Employment Agency,
on Pennsylvania avenue between
Fourteenth and Fifteenth streets.
In addition to these branches, there
remains the already crowded condi-
ton Of the office forces in the present
District Building.
No Changes Made.
Senator Smoot stated today that no
changes were made in the compre-
hensive plan agreed upon 10 days ago,
under which it was decided to ask
congress to acquire all of the private
ly owned land between Pennsylvania
avenue and b street and as far east
as Third street, nor were any changes
lil<tdC Iil tilC iOt<tlloHS dIltlOuIlccu pre-
Niously for eight of the new Federal
buildings that are to go in that tri-
angle.
Senator Smoot said that on the first
day of the session of Congress he
would introduce bill calling for the
necessary authorization to complete
the purchase by the Government OF
the triangle. No additional funds,
however, will be asked for at the short
session.
The commission already has money
in the initial appropriation made at
the last session tQ get the building
program started.
GIIcThV HIECIE MEAN