Evening star., 1926-10-29
Building Sites.

00AANAh3 1@SSo'
A delay in the execution of the pub.
tic building plans IL probable in view
0f O difference Of opinion on the part
Of the members Of the various COM
missions which have advisory Juris'
diction over the matter Of buildings
and parks. These three bodies, the
7ublic Buildings Commission, the
commission Of Fine Arts and the City
rark and Planning Commission, can.
no. without full meetings and inter
onn1ission conferences agree upon a
policy Of Mall-Avenue treatment and
building emplacement. There is a
question as to the possibility Of using
any Of the money available for con.
struction purposes for the further ac-
auisition Of land in the triangle with
w. view to utilizing the entire space
eventually for building sites. In the
circumstances il Is possible that legis-
3Gtion will be sought at the next ses-
sion OF Congress to the end Of permit
ting the immediate and complete pur-
chase Of all the remaining areas not
now occupied or owned by the Gov
ernment.
Yt IS fer better that there should be
delay to the end Of a satisfactory
solution Of the problem Of Msll.Avenue
treatment than that constructions be
started now which might later make
impossible a proper development Of
shiS space between the Capitals main
ihcroughfare and the central reserva-
sion.
Il has been often urged during
tween tho Avenue and the Mall should
be taken as a whole and treated for
building purposes without reference
10 street lines. Had this been done be-
FORE any structures were erected with
sn tho triangle there would now be
seos dif1culty In the suitable setting
ut the three buildings Immediately
contemplated and the others that are
- follow In. 1t 10 hoped. short order.
The Post once Department and the
District Building crowd their sites to
the street limits. The latter building
has, It 10 true, q small triangular park
IN front Of Il. but It's northern edge Is
ccincident with the building line Of
khe street which on the map runs
through from east 70 west. There Is
no chance Of extension Of either OF
these buildings without the closing Of
existing streets. This street closing
should be determined upon in con-
F"--7'ty with q broad plan which aims
= fullest and best use Of the en-
tire space "-h the most effective en-
placement Uf tho public structures Of
the future.
There should be no difficulty in Sc
curing from Congress at the coming
session authorization for the immedi-
ate condemnation of the remaining
spaces in tho Mall.Avenue triangle
net in public ownership. Apparently
there Is no difference of Judgment on
the part Of the several commissions
~ TO the propriety and wisdom Of
using tho entire triangle area. though
there may be differences as to the
specific plan Of treatment. and as to
the relationship between this building.
1lled space and the Mall itself. 1t is
evidently established that no depart.
mental buildings are to 90 on the
Nall. other than the extended Depart
s.snt Of Agriculture. The public
buildings act now in force stipulates
shat with the exception Of the print
inR Office no new buildings under this
program shall be located save in what
,nay BE- known as the Mall-Avenue
assa- In these circumstances a sup.
plernentary enactment definitely ap.
propriating for triangle acquisition
ana development on broad lines OF
economical as we'll as attractive build
:nx snplacements Is an essential step.