Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-09-26
A Municipal Center Imperative.

with the Advancement of the public
building program to the point OF start
Ing proceedings to condemn another
eroup of blocks within the Mall-Ave-
nue. triangle, the District governments
own necessities demand consideration
and attention. Discussion has already
been started at the District Building
regarding the future Of the Police De-
partment, which must have more room
for its proper administration. In this
connection It Is to be borne in mind
that two police units are directly al
fected. the House Of Detention, which
has already been ousted from its posi-
ton. and Number One precinct, which
Is included in one Of the squares soon
to bs condemned.
In view of the dilemma Of the House
Of Detention and Women's Bureau,
long located together in one of the
buildings on the Department of Com
naerce site, a determined effort should
be made Immediately to secure perma-
nent solution of this question Of Police
Department needs before further en-
barrassments arise. A plan is already
In contemplation for the removal OF
the District government headquarters
from the present building to new
structure tc be erected as a central
unit of O group located within an area
tentatively chosen, lying north of Penn
sylvania avenue, south of Indiana and
Louisiana avenues, and between Third
and Seventh streets. Within this space
is also contemplated the erection of
buildings to house the Police Depart
msnt and other branches OF the local
administration. If this plan is adopted
and executed all troubles will be avert
ed in the future, as the District grows
In population and IN municipal actiH-
ties.
1t viii require a number Of years to
put such plan into execution. Au-
thorization must first be given for the
project itself, and lanes must be &C.
CURED by purchase or condemnation
and finally the construction work it
self undertaken and completed. This
will compass o considerable period of
time. Meanwhile, the District govern
msnt is growing and without definite
project It viii have to be accommo-
dated in its growth b: nlaSeshift ar
fangements such as are even now
adopted with difficulty. as in the case
Of the House OF Detention. There was
plenty of warning regarding this in
stitution, the removal of which was as
sured from the day that decision was
reached to put the Department of Com
fnerce on the ''fve-square site" long
held by the Government for public
building uses. Yet finally when the
tim. of custer came nothing had been
actually sdone toward a substitute ac-
ccmmodation for this necessary branch
Of the Police Department
In the light Of this experience the
Commissioners should press with the
utmost vigor for the final ana specific
approval by Congress at the coming
session OF the plan for a new municipal
center. with space enough for all i'm
mediate and all conceivable needs OF
the future. The Government itself
will probably in time take over the
present District Building as part Of
the public ONCE equipment within the
Mall-Avenue triangle. 1t is archi-
tecturally in harmony with the group
Of projected structures now beginning.
It is so located that it Is impossible
Of expansion. When surrounded by
Government ofices, as it soon will be,
It will be isolated from all other munich
pal activities.
This situation should be presented
TO Congress at the coming session in
terms that will assuredly lead to action,
specifically for the sake OF the over
crowded municipal departments that
are now distressingly congested and
scattered and generally in behalf of
the District 1t should have a local
''habitation and a name" in keeping
With its importance and dignity.