Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-09-11
Preserve the Mall!

It is announced in dispatches from
the Summer White House in the Adj
f'ordacks that President Coolidge
favors the preservation of the Mall as
= park, ard in principle approves the
proposition to locate the new Com
merce Department building on ii site
outside Of the reservation. 1t is known
that he is greatly interested IN the de-
velopment OF Washington artisticallN.
and itIfolloWS as a natural deduction
that if the matter of the emplace-
ment OF any OF the proposed new Gov
eminent structures is referred to him
for decision or advice he will he dis.
posed to advance that development ''y
the preservation of the Mall and the
reclamation of Pennsylvania avenue
from it's present condition by utilizing
the spaces available along it for public
constructions.
Visitors to Washington have always
heard of Pennsylvania avenue as the
Capitals chief thoroughfare. 1t is
historic. 1t has been the scene of the
most significant and important paS-
eants and parades. 1t is the direct
communication between the Capitol
and the executive offices. 1t is the
tangible, visible link between the two
great coordinate branches of the Gov
eminent. It's present condition Is far
from satisfactory. Plans have been
drawn for It's improvement near the
Capitol. in connection with the devel-
opment of the Capitol-Station Plaza,
and will no doubt in some part be
executed in the course of few years.
But those plans contemplate the evo-
luton of a new boulevard thanking or
within the Mall, which will serve as
the parade ground of Washington. To
this proposition there are strong OBJ
jections on the ground that the hat
ural line of march on such occa-
sions should be between the Capitol
and the White House as directly as
possible.
To place the Commerce Building on
the present market site. with addi-
tional land acquired for that purpose
to the west, would dignity pennsyl
vania avenue without reducing the
park area. 1t would make the Capt.
tails chief uhoroughfare more attrac-
tive than ever before. The public con-
venience would be enhanced without
heavy cost.
Had advice given nearly two dec
aides ago been followed fully instead
of partially, the whole of the Mall
Avenue triangle would by now have
been taken by the Government. AS
it was, only the western edge of it
was acquired five squares" thanking
the White Lot" designed at the time
for three public buildings. For years
this land has lain virtually idle, so
far as Government uses were concern
eel, but allowed to remain in private
occupancy under Government owner
ship. Now 1t is TO be used for the
construction of two department build
ings. Meanwhile. the value IF the re
mainder of the triangle has increased
with the general advance in realty
values in the city. and the cost of ac-
ouisition is certain TO be greater thar
ate against the present taking of sites
for public buildings. in addition to
those already selected.
In the case OF the Commerce Build
Sx f., To-. -
It Is already in Government owner
ship. To complete the site two pri-
vstely owned blocks would be needed.
The space of two streets would be
sylvana avenue and Il street. and
Louisiana avenue :petween Ninth and
Tenth streets. These street spaces
costing nothing would be a very ma
terial contribution to the site, and
their loss would not he felt.
Every practical consideration favors
the Avenue site fo, The Commerce
Building. The use of the Mall for thar
construction would not only destroy
park space, but would encourage. and
probably lead to, other Mall invasions
for building uses.
Now is the time to determine
whether the Government is to tres
pass upon the central park of the
Capital for constructions that were
far better located elsewhere. The
Presidents interest In Mall preserva,
ton should he 4 determining factor
IN favor of the Avenue Site, and hence
the development of Washington alofrs
the lines Of local CAPITAL making.