Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-27

Building and its site at $500, 600, Maj
Layson E. Atkins, Assistant Engineer
Commissioner of the District, last night
proposed before the distinguished gath
ering at the Chamber of Commerce OF
the United States that the plan pro-
posed recently by Representative Sim
mons of Nebraska be pursued and the
estimated value of the District property
be placed to the credit of the municipal
center by the Federal Government SO
that work might be started on the
project.
/ The proposal of Mr.. Simmons is be-
fore Secretary of the Treasury Mellon
who was sponsor for the assembly last
night, the second of series of two
meetings on the public building pro-
gram in the National Capital The
Simmons ulan would greatly speed up
the civic center.
Maj. Atkins discussed the develop
ment of the civic center idea as an out
growth of the Federal building pro-
gram.
THE completion of the municipal
center of the City of Washington" de-
clared Maj. Atkins, will give to the
world more adequate expression of
Washington as municipality. AS the
Federal development of the triangle
will express the growth and Importance
| of the Federal Government, so the
municipal center will express the dig
nifty and importance of Washington as
city. These two groups of buildings
will form magnificent nucleus for the
new and greater Washington of the
future.
District Building Too Small.
1.-THE present District Building, con-
| ct od in, 1O0Q hos FIR cofoa time happ
too small to accommodate the various
executive departments of our city gov
eminent. When this structure was
erected it was expected that future eX-
pansion would be provided by building
an addition on the square to the south
of the present building, which would
be connected by bridges over d street
The execution of the plans Of the Fed
eral Government for a monumental
group of buildings to house the differ
ent governmental departments south
of Pennsylvania avenue not only pre-
cludes the possibility of constructing
| this addition, but also requires the re-
placement of the present District Build
ing by new structure in harmony with
the general development Of the Federal
triangle. Therefore, it was necessary
| for District officials to find new loca-
/
properly accommodate the functions Of
the city government.
"A committee was appointed March
| IL, 1927, to study the situation and to
recommend new location. After a
careful study it was finally decided to
locate on both sides Of John Marshall
place (Four -and-a-half street, north Of
| Pennsylvania avenue. and to provide for
practically all departments of the Dis
trict government in one group oil
buildings.
Bad as Is the need for additional
space for the executive departments Of
the city government, 1t is even more
imperative that provision be made al
once for the Police Court, the Munich
pal Court, the Juvenile Court and the
Recorder of Deeds, which are now
housed in quarters wholly inadequate
and unsuited for their purposes.
Structure Valuable Asset.
"The city has in the present District
| Building very valuable asset. This
should be recognized and credit allowed
| by the Federal Government in granting
| the appropriations for the new munich
pal center. The area OF the ground on
which the building stands is 10000
| square feet. AS conservative eSti~
mate, the land is worth $50 per square
| foot, giving a total value for the land
of approximately $1,380,000.
! THE cost of the present building
when built in 1908 was 81 100000. In
the meantime building costs have more
than doubled. If built today, the esti-
mated value is about $4,000 900. giving
total value for land and building Of
| $4,000 approximately this sum
I r11 he kA1 e. he afnisN N
| center by the Federal Government.
1.-THE proposed site for the new
municipal center faces on the south
Pennsylvania avenue from Third to
Sixth street: on the west, Sixth street;
on the north, Louisiana avenue, D street
and Indiana avenue; on the east, Third
| street. This comprises four squares
| two on either side of John Marshall
place, which forms the north and south
axis of the group. The difference In
level between Pennsylvania avenue and
d street, directly In front of the Dis
trict Supreme Court Building, is SO
feet. Approximately midway between
| these two levels will be placed great
court $50 feet in width by 500 feet In
| length. The approaches to the court
from Pennsylvania avenue will be by a
series OF steps, Other flights of steps
VIII NC PiaCeu az Llc IOItu Gnu 1IOIl
| the court level to D street.
1.-THE court will be surrounded with
an arcade giving direct access to the
various parts of the building, offering
shelter In inclement weather and a
shady paSsageway during the hot Sum-
mer months. The court will be treated
as a great garden, with trees and
flowers and large pool in the center.
Harmonic With Others.
1.-THE architecture of the building on
Pennsylvania avenue will harmonic
with the Federal buildings on the south
side of the Avenue, carrying practically
the same belt courses and cornice lines,
Due to the difference in elevation OF
ital City and the people of the Nation