Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-09-01
NATIONAL HOTEL
MAY Be RAzEO
New Structure Possible With
in Year-Ground Is Part
of Civic Site.

| The old National Hotel. on the north
| side of Pennsylvania avenue near Sixth
| street. located in the site approved b.
| the District Commissioners for the pl y
! posed new municipal center, may be
| RACED within the next year TO make
way for large new hotel. it was in
dicated today by George H. Calvert. jr.,
| head Of the National Hotel Co
| Mr.. Calvert said, however that
nothing definite as to the new building
! had been decided. although negotiations
were being carried forward
II developed at the same time, how
ever, that the District authorities have
been approached on the project in re-
lation tn the coming regulations.
Mr., Calvert was reluctant to make a
| public statement on the plan, but said
| it was possible" that the new building
might be started this year. He could
not indicate the estimated cost of the
new structure, nor its size or accommo-
dations, he said
When reminded regarding the plans
Of the District for the development Of
great municipal center in the section
which includes the site of the National
Hotel Mr.. Calvert expressed doubt that
actual Government building plans would
materialiZe in the next few years.
Maj, Donald A. Dawson, Acting En-
gineer Commissioner and executive
officer of the Zoning Commission, said
that the hotel project had been brought
to the attention of the District author
titles. but it was added that no steps
would be taken to prevent such a de-
velopment, because District plans have
not yet progressed to a point where
steps can be taken to acquire the prop
erty in the area.
Until condemnation proceedings. /"
said Maj. Dawson. "a private property
owner has right to erect a building in
the area which has been considered as
site for the proposed civic center.
The life of the buildings erected there
| probably viii be limited to a decade
should the District carry out its plans
20 develop the area, but the promoters
OF the new hotel are aware of this
situation
Maj, Dawson was not exercised over
| the idea. because he said the hotel
would serve as an impetus toward the
| early rehabilitation of the area north
OF pennsylvania avenue and provide a
more attractive setting for the new
Government buildings to be erected on
the south side. AT the same time. how
ever, Mai. Dawson lis cognizant of the
TACT that the new hotel will uneioubted-
- AniH1 LAC RhinE Ul Tie pTOpGTLE In
the proposed civic center area and in
crease its cost to the District should
the officials ultimately decide to con-
denim the triangle north OF Pennsyl-
pania avenue between Third and sixth
streets
The height Of the new hotel building
VIII be restricted to 80 feet under ex~
lsting coming regulations and the pro-
motors have asked the Zoning Commits
sion to raise the limit to 10 feet, Plans
VIII be drawn, however, for 90-foot
building so designed that two additional
stories may be added should the COM
mission later extend the height restric-
tions
Maj, Dawson said that he is confident
that II the District officials requested
the promoters Of the new hotel to keep
out OF the triangle area that they would
be glad to do IT, But he said. "the
officials cannot do that, because the
District has not gone far enough with
its plans for the proposed civic center
! 10 be able to definitely state that 1t
VIII take over the triangle area