Evening star., 1926-12-03
Commissions Consider Group
on Site Now Occupied by
Center Market.
May BE INCORPORATED
IN PLEA TO CONGRESS
Charles Moore, Fine Arts Commits
sion Head, Explains Idea to Glib
son Subcommittee Today.
BY WILL p. KENNEDY.

OF Columbia business, on the site be-
tween Seventh and Ninth streets,
pennsylvania avenue and b street,
now occupied by the Center Retail
Market, Is being seriously considered
by the Public Building, Fine Arts and
National Capital Parks and Planning
Commissions. 1t may be made a part
of the recommendations to Congress
next week for an appropriation of
$25 100000 to complete the purchase
of all privately-owned land in the
triangle south of Pennsylvania ave-
nue. to 3 street, between Third and
Fifteenth streets.
A bill has already been drafted for
early removal of the Center Market
from this area which is desired for
new Federal buildings to house Gov
ernment departments and other i'm
portant agencies of the general Gov
ernment.
Legislation also has been drafted to
be introduced next Monday in both
House and Senate which will pro-
vide for the cutting of Ninth street
through the Mall. in conformity with
plans of these three commissions.
Art Gallery Change.
This will necessitate the use of
part of the site that has previously
been set aside in the Mall for an art
gallery building, facing b street
north on a line with the new National
Museum and between Seventh street
and the museum.
1t is now proposed to locate the
art gallery on the Mall site between
Twelfth and Fourteenth streets,
where it was at first planned to erect
the new $10,000,0 900 building for the
Department of Commerce.
Plans are also being considered by
this conference of the three commits
sions, working in cooperation for
Capital development. for the biggest
natural science and park develop
ment in the world. comprising sew
eral thousand acres at one of the most
important entrances to the Capital.
This is to he achieved by purchase
of the Mount Hamilton tract for a.
national arboretum, with aquatic plant
museum and bird sanctuary, which
would link in with the Anacostia
Park development, and adjacent to
which would also be the new expert
mental farm for the Department of
Agriculture, which must surrender its
present location on the Virginia side
of the Potomac for enlargement of the
Arlington National Cemetery.
Moore Discusses Plan.
Proposal is also made that Massa.
chusetts avenue, the one great avenue
cutting straight across the District
Of Columbia for 10 miles. should he
extended ON both ends to give en-
frances from Maryland, and the east
ern entrance would he part of this
great natural science and park pre-
serve.
Part of this program was discussed
before the Gibson subcommittee Of the
House District committee today when
Charles Moore, chairman of the Com
mission of Fine Arts, was before 1t as
witness.
The proposal to erect a municipal
group of buildings with the Center
Market site as a nucleus mas been q
dream of the Fine Arts Commits
sion and city planners for more than
20 years, Mr.. Moore stated. Chairman
Gibson of the subcommittee and Rep
resentative Houston were particularly
interested in this suggestion, as they
have been wrestling with the District
government housing problems. They
have invited DR.. Moore to appear
again before the committee, so that
this matter can be thoroughly dis
cussed.
In connection with the Federal
building program, for which Congress
has already authorized an expenditure
of $50,000.000. the area south of the
District Building has been charted off
for new Federal buildings, just at the
time that District officials were en-
phasiZing before the Gibson subcom-
mittee the need for space for ex-
pansion of District government houS-
ing. The Gibson subcommittee
promptly indorsed a plan for erection
of q municipal group to meet this
need. which it will support at the COM
ing session Of Congress.
Problem Has Developed.
In connection with the Federal
building program very serious prob
lem has developed as to where the
work of the income tax unit, now oc-
cupying temporary war buildings be-
tween Fourteenth and Fifteenth
streets, at B, can be housed while the
new Internal Revenue Building, which
will eventually house them and the
new Commerce Building to go up on
the site they now occupy are being
erected.
For expansion of the District Gov
ernment activities. the acquisition Of
the Southern Railway HEADQUARTERS
building has been recommended. This
10 JuoI cast VI IIC DIcSEIlt
Building and is a modern office build.
ing. 1t Is not, however, sufficiently
large to accommodate the District ac-
tivities that would have to find a
new home when the Federal program
gets underway.
The meet this double situation II is
now proposed that the present District
Building be turned over to indepen.
dent offices. or some other small unit
of the Federal service-possibly the
Labor Department. 1t Is proposed also
that the Southern Railway Building
could be used for Federal activities
that need temporary home during
the building process.
1t is proposed that since the Far
mers' Market and the Wholesale Mar
ket have to move anyhow. now is the
logical time for the retail market
also TO be moved, especially since
these commissions are agreed that
eventually the market site must be
surrendered, as retail market is not
in harmony with the planned develop.
ment of beautiful Federal buildings.
Mr.. Moore pointed out today to the
Gibson subcommittee that the District
government should be dignified with
Continued on Page Z. Column 81