Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-08-01
ARTS BODY TO ACT
ON BUILDING PLAN
Capitalization of District Ac-
tivities Soon to Be
Considered.

The plan of Municipal Architect Al
bert l.. Harris for the Capitalization
of all District government activities
in the area lying between Third and
sixth streets and Pennsylvania avenue
aud Indiana avenue will be consider ed
hv the Commission of Fine Arts early
in Autumn. Cha irman Charles Moore
notified the District commissioners
TODAY.
Mr. Harris plan has been under
consideration by the ComnliSsi toner's
ever since the announcement of the
Federal Governments public buildings
program for the Pennsylvania avenue
triangle. which will crowd out OF this
area number, Of municipal activities
md prevent the proposed extension of
the oNerCioWded District Building.
The Commissioners, however. have
nct actively pushed the plan pending
its approval by the Fine Arts Com.
mission.
Estimate Space Needed.
The Commissioners have had pre-.
pared for the commission "a blue print
showing the total amount of floor
space now used by the various munich
pal agencies, the amount needed at
present to house them comfortably
and the estimated amount which will
he needed 10 years hence. These sta
tistics were compiled by Maj. j.. T..
Atkins, Assistant Engineer Commits
Sioner. and are expected to play
dominant part in the movement. which
probably will be initiated at the forth
coming session Of Congress to procure
funds with which TO begin at least
preliminary plans for the development
of the proposed civic center.
Maj. Atkins compilations show that
all municipal agencies, including those
housed in the District Building, &C.
cupy at the present time 81 $50 square
feet of floor space. and that 63.604 ad-
ditional square feet are needed imme-
diately to uncramp them. The natural
growth in the next 10 years, accord
ing to the figures. will require 1896:
additional square feet of floor space.
The largest individual amount OF
extra space needed now. according to
Maj. Atkins figures. would be as
signed to the W0mans Bureau of the
Police Department. one of the activi-
ties which will he ouSted from the
avenue triangle as soon as the Fed
eral Governments building progra m
gets under way. Space amounting
to $4,000 square feet has been set
aside for this bureau. Approximate
~ l., t5O square leet mas Deen re-
served for the Trat fic Bureau, another
activity which will he forced from its
present location by the public build
ings program The next largest
amount of space. 5000 square feet. is
allocated To the Health Department.
Provided for Vista.
The plan suggested by Mr.. Harris
for civic center contemplates The
grouping Of a number of buildings in
the area between Third and Sixth
streets and Pennsylvania and In
diana avenues, separated in the CEN
ter by John Marshall place. which
would be widened To form n mag
nificent vista to the courthouse. The
buildings would face on both Penn
sylvania and Indiana avenues.
The administration buildings would
face Indiana avenue and the Court
House, while the Woman's Bureau
and other large units would be quar-
tered on the Pennsylvania avenue
frontage with the repair shops, garage
and similar buildings of unesthetic
chara cter between the two avenue
frontaEeS.
Mr. Harris plan, however, has not
taken definite form. 1t has only been
sketched roughly in order to convey
his ideas to the Commissioners and
the Commission of Fine Arts. The de-
tails will be worked out with the
commission at it's meeting which will
be de2oted to this purpose.