Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-02-13
PROTEST MARKET !.
0NPATTERSONS SITE
Columbia Institution and
Trinidad Citizens Ask
D. c. Inquiry.

Sharp protests against the proposed
scheme for commission mems head
quarters and market center on the so
acre Patterson tract. i'll Northeast
Washington. were received by the Dis
trict Commissioners today from Percival
Hall, president Of The board Of di-
rectors OF the Columbia Institution for
the Deaf, and G, NJ. Koockogey, presi-
dent of the Trinidad Citizens ASCOT
alton The latter also wrote 10 the
zoning Commission,
Reports that the group OF commission
merchants had petitloned the Commits
sioners 10 select tbs Patterson trace
because they are ready to buy this par
eel Of land and erect buildings on a
part Of II, are basis for the TWO pro-
tests
Asks Investigation.
ST believe a thorough investigation
will show The Commissioners that the
renorted price is about Sl,50o.000 for
land that YOUR assessor has rated as
worth only little more than onc-thlrd
Of that sum" said Mr Koockogey. 4
am not asking where these FIVE or SIX
commission men got this sum. but 40
ask YOU to look into the effect II VIII
have ON the prices OF our food supplies
II this high priced land is used for
market center.
Mr., Hall declared the tract undesir-
able, for among other reasons, the eS.
Establishment Of market there wouio
cause "incaicuahle depreciation" in the
value OF adjoining property owned by
THE Columbia Institution. DR.. Halls
letter read in part as follows:
AS one who followed the fairly con-
Quoted public meetings III regard 10
new market site. held before sOoco'n-
rittee Of the committee on the DlS'rlct
Of Columbia OF which Congressman
Gibson was chairman, wish 10 can
your attention 10 the fact that the ccnl-
mission merchants have had full OPP
ro-tunitv 10 be heard by this commit
tee An unbiased expert after care
full study of the problem. favored other
sites for the market, The District COM
m'.tee has already voted in favor OF an
OF !rr tract Bills have been introduced
ir'o Congress for the purchase OF oiner
si.as.
Would Know Prices.
"As a taxpayer OF the District I am
interested 10 know, and request that
you viii find out in considering the
petition before you. the price 10 be paid
bv the petitioners for this large tract
snlucf too large even for both commits
sion houses and markets. the terms on
which other commission merchants will
b. allowed to buy from your petitioners.
what price will be charged the District
government for its market site or sites
how much of this property will be used
for markets and how much will be used
for warehouses also request that YOU
ascertain II the remainder will be Of
fered TO the Park and Planning Com
mission for park. and a. what price"
MI Hall disputes the contention that
The Patterson tract is the most logical
location for the new market site and
furnishes statistics on traffic congestion
In that vicinity during circus shows to
disprove statements made in the r.eti-
ton.
He calls attention 70 the long 37eht
OF the citizens of the neighborhood
against rezoning the tract into coRiner-
cal territory and. TO the fact that large
residential developments nave been
made n that section.
He also calls attention 10 the fact that
the establishment Of the marke. on
the Patterson tract would be detri-
mental To the Columbia Institute, which
coutrp.s OVER 100 acres Of land adioin-
Ing The proposed rarkst site. and says
Il would tend 10 depreciSte that prop
eytY