Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-09-09

An Avenue Site for Commerce.

Announcement that site IRONING
an pannsylvan mia avenue and adjoining
the Mali is now being seriously con-
sitered for the new Commerce De
partmert Building. rather than site
on the Mall itself. encourages the nope
that the further use Of park space for
building constructions, with one pos
sible exception. will not occur. The
site proposed az substitute Tor the
Mall Iocs ton would he in every re-
spect suitable for public convenience
" would establish large. notable
structure on the Capitals main thor
oushfare, in replacement OF buildings
that must eventusliy he removed. II
would be midway between the Capitol
and the White House and easy OF pub
lie access. 1t would have park set
ting through it's placement upon the
nank Of the Mall. without sacrificing
any of the reservation.
The use Of this area for the Com
n,erce Building would involve the clos
ing of Ninth street below Pennsyi-
varis avenue. That would not be
serious public inconvenience. That
short stretch OF Ninth street is of use
mainly for the market section. retail
and wholesale The removal of the
markets in the near future is assured.
With their shift 10 another location
this short section Of Ninth street will
~ of no particular utility. The reio-
cation Of the stree, car line now occu-
plying il would. of course. he neces-
sary If the street We're closed. hut that
is no; difficult adjustment.
lnasmuch as the taking Of the
epen.air farmers market for building
Of that service. il is highly desira bile
that the whole market problem be
solved soon, for whether the markets
be established in one center or d.
vided into two sections. wholesale and
retail, in different situations, the farm.
ers' market must have close re1a-
tionship to the new plan. A make
shift arrangement has been effected
whereby half Of the farmers market
site only will be taken Immediately to
make room for the Internal Revenue
Building,-the other half to be taken
later. thus giving time to reach de.
rision on the general market Question.
Should the Pennsylvs mia avenue site
be chosen for the Commerce Building,
with construction Immediately in pros
pect, il will he necessary. as ii is de-
sirable. 10 proceed promptly with the
relocation Of the market est blish-
ments 10 permanent situation.
Should the Avenue site not he
chosen for the Commerce Building
snd il be put on the Mall to the west.
there would be no particular urgency
the wholesale houses now occupying
the Avenue site. This would mean an
indefnite postponemeDt Of this settle
ment, with the farmers market re-
moved meanwhile to some other loca.
ton out of relationship to the general
food.buying centers.
Establishment Of the Commerce
Building upon Pennsylva MIA avenue
site will be practical move toward
accomplishment Of the long cherished
plan of utilizing the Mall-Avenue tri.
sngle. from the Botanic Garden to FIT
teenth street. for public constructions.
There now stand within this space the
District Building and the Post Office
Department. Four other buildings
gre soon TO he erected within it. for
the Deps rtments Of Justice and La Dor.
for the Hall or Archives and for the
Internal Revenue Bureau. Another
site within il rs held in contemplation
fer an annex or addition 10 the Post
once Department. Not much more
space remains to he used after the
present constructions are completed
and especially after the Commerce
Binding In located on the Avenue.