Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-02-11
LIVELY FIGHT OVER BUILDINGS
AROUND LAFAYETTE SQUARE
Senate Committee Likely to Modify Ship
stead Bill-Favor Law Regulating
Structures Around u. S. Edihces.

mittee the idea behind the bill was
his own, and that he had never seen
Mr. Moore of the Fine Arts Commits
sion until yesterday. The Senator
explained that he did not have any
one location in mind, but felt that
with the Federal Government plan
ming to spend $50,00o,000 on new
buildings here, some steps should be
taken to regulate the kind of struc-
lures that are to be put up around
these Government projects.
Mr.. Lee said he did not object to
the bill if it stipulated an S5-foot
height limit around Lafayette Square,
and would even be willing to have the
bill regulate the kind and color of
materials used in the fronts Of
buildings.
Horace Peaslee and Frank c. Bald
win presented the Endorsement of the
bill on behalf Of the Institute of
Architects. Mr.. Peaslee, referring to
the need for protecting the White
House, said that L'Enfant originally
intended to exclude all buildings from
Fifteenth to Seventeenth streets in
order to provide for a Presidents
park, and that the first violation of
that proposal was the erection of the
Treasury Department. MIR. Peaslee
said the pending bill could not pos
s!bly interfere with private structures
about to be erected around Lafayette
Square because it could not be
retroactive.
Senator Sackett of Kentucky in
Quired what Congress can do to pro-
tect the White House if hotels and
other commercial structures are about
to be erected.
White House Unprotected.
There is nothing left to do but buy
it." Mr.. Peaslee replied.
This brought from Senator Bruce
the observation that 1t would cost
$50 900 900 to buy the land around
Lafayette Square. He said he studied
the assessments around Lafayette
Square before he recommended plac-
ing of Federal buildings in the triangle
south OF Pennsylvania avenue and be-
came convinced it would not be feast
BILE to put them around Lafayette
Park.
Discussion of what would be the
proper height limit for buildings
around Lafayette Square developed
the fact that in the Veterans Bureau
the Government itself has a 130-foot
building, the tallest structure around
the park. 1t developed that the pri-
vate buildings being planned now will
not go nearly that high. 1t was as.
serted by several that if the Govern
ment really wants a uniform sky line
around the park it will have to take
SO or so feet off the Veterans Bureau
Building at some time.
Col Grant said Lafayette Square
presented a difficult problem that
might require further study, but that
the Shipstead bill would prove help.
full in protecting areas around new
public buildings and new park sites
that are being acquired.
Miss Harlean James of the Ameri-
can Civic Association said she had
found confidence exists throughout the
country In the judgment of the Fine
Arts Commission and that there also
is sentiment in other places for rea-
sonahle regulations to protect the sur
roundings of Government buildings in
the National Capital.
Mr.. Moore denied that the commits
sion has sought to put private prop
erty in cold storage. He said he did
not believe the value of private prop
erty had been injured by discussion
of plans for its acquisition by the
Government. The chairman also
denied that the Fine Arts Commission
seeks to require elaborate ornamental
fronts on buildings submitted to 1t.
He pointed out that the school build
ings and fire stations Of the District
are approved by the commission and
that they are built along lines of SIM
plicity.