Evening star., 1928-06-17
CITY REAL ESTATE
BOARD is ASKED
Bureau of Efficiency Recon-
mends New Method of Buy
ing Public Land.

Creation Of a board Of real estate
purchase composed Of the District sur
veyor and an Assistant Engineer Com
missioner to acquire property for use
Of the municipal government was rec
commended to the Commissioners yes
terday by the Federal Bureau Of Ell
cheney.
The recommendation was contained
In report which criticized the present
method Of the District government in
purchasing real estate for school sites
ana other municipal purposes. except
lot PARKS and street widening.
realty negotiations are now carried
on py Mai. Layson e. Atkins, Assistant
engineer Commissioner, but there was
no crltlclsm Of him either direct or
ImpiIeo IN the report Maj. Atkins re-
ports offers received by him TO Tax AS
oessor william P. Richards for COM
makes his recommendations to the En-
glneer Commissioner, who. II he an
proves them, places them before the
Board OF Commissioners.
Short Term Cited.
The practice of vestinp soIe re-
sponslDility for conducting transactions
leading to acquisition of District real
estate in an Army officer who is de-
tdiIeo 70 the Commissioners for a maxi.
ally less-does not actually safeorIsTa
the interests Of the District" the re-
port declared.
Familiarity with local conditions
controlling the real estate rnarket CO..,
De acquired only by close contact and
IioInaIly increases as this contact con-
tinues 1t cannot be disputed that the
oIncer newly detailed to this post us,I-
any unfamiliar with District realty val
ues, must operate for some time under
considerable handicap.
On the other hand, IL Is evident
that within three or four years time
ene oMcer VIII have accumulated fund
oL valuable information, and will have
tunately the cycle must be reneated
with each new detail. there being M
provision for that continuity OF contact
sirable. "e-
For Continuous Contact.
IN order to insure close continuity
Oh contact, procedure and policy. with
view OF assuring that transactions con-
cerning acquisition Of property by the
district shall be conducted with the
greatest public effectiveness, the follow
ing recommendation is proposed:
Inere should be established a boar,
OF real estate purchase TO be corn
posed OF the Assistant Engineer Com
missioner charged with Conducting nr.
EQUATIONS for acquiring real estate ard
the District surveyor, who shouId
JOINTLY conduct all transactions lead
ing 70 the acquisition Of real estat,
THESE two members should consul.
with the assessor regarding proDerty
assessments. sales and fairness OF oT-
ferS received.
! The advantages to be derived bv
me establishment Of this board are a.
First. the familiarity with local rea,
estate conditions which the District
surveyor possesses should peculiarrS
quaAfy him TO assist in obtaining fos
the District the most advanfaSeos,e
sites and offers.
Second, by providing for a contin.
ulng board member the present IN
satisfactory Arrangements whereby m
ASSISTANT Engineer Commissioner rl,g
oe required. shortly after taxing officc
70 conduct negotiations for the pur-
chase OF real estate and 70 recomnieno
| tne acceptance of offers without haS
ing acquired a sufficient knowledge
property values and realty practices !.
/ the District would be corrected"