Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-06-13
100000 Voted Is EST.
mated to Be Sufficient to
Obtain Half of Area.
METHOD OF ACQUIRING
PROPERTY is Indefinite
Square 400 Probably Will Be First
Sought-Ford Building
Could Be Used.

Steps to acquire the site for the
municipal center will be taken promptly
upon the signing by President Hoover
Of the Bingham Simmons resolution
making available So 900 900 of the sur
plus revenue credited to the District in
the Federal Treasury for that purpose,
It was announced today by Commits
sioner Proctor L. Dougherty.
The Senate adopted the resolution
yesterday afternoon, thus completing
congressional action. It now goes to
the White House for the Presidents
signature.
The 5000, 900, it is estimated, will be
sufficient to acquire about one-hah of
the four-square area in which it is
planned to developed the center Funds
for the remaining property, under pres
mental estimates to be sent to Congress
when the regular session convenes In
December.
Acquisition Plan Indefinite.
While q definite program Of proceed
ure for acquiring the site has not been
adopted, the Commissioners, 1t was in
Dictated, will follow the usual policy
with respect to the acquisition of prop
made first to purchase the property
and II the owners refuse to sell at =
price which District officials believS
to be reasonable, condemnation pro
ceedings will be instituted.
The task Of buying the large site or
inStituting condemnation proceedings
will fall upon Mai. Layson E. Atkins,
Assistant Engineer Commissioner, who
has charge Of acquiring all property
Atkins, however, is now confined ia
Walter Reed Hospital, where he has
been for the last several weeks, but
he Is convalescing and Is expected to
return to duty within 10 days
Square 400, bounded by Sixth street
on the west, g street on the south, John
Marshall place on the east and Louis
lana avenue on the north, probably will
be the first property to be acquired,
building, the initial project In the de-
velopment. The other northern square,
identified on the plat books as square
$50, bounded by John Marshall place,
Third street, Indiana avenue and C
street, Is expected to be the second
to be acquired, as on this site will be
erected an administrative building to
replace the present District Building,
which, it is believed. will be taken over
~ tAAC CSuCAdA COtOthulSaO WAtAA1h tAIS
next five years.
May Acquire Other Property.
Piecemeal acquisition OF some of the
property in the two remaining squares
bordering Pennsylvania avenue on the
south also may be attempted, it was
said, as the Commissioners are particu-
larry DESTROYS of housing various units
Of the District government now quar-
tered In rented buildings in the suitable
structures in the municipal center area.
The Ford Building, a modern Struc-
ture on the northwest corner of John
Marshall place and Pennsylvania ave-
nue., is one which the officials hope to
purchase in the near future, for in it,
they believe, can be accommodated two
or three Of the municipal departments
now in temporary quarters.
The Globe Building on Pennsylvania
avenue and the old Walker Building on
Louisiana avenue, which was the Dis
trict Building until 1905 when the new
District Building was completed, are
two others which the officials think
can be very useful pending the cree
ton Of several Of the units In the new
municipal group. The Juvenile Court,
which is to be moved into the Arthur
School temporarily July l, Is one Of
the District activities which the Com
n1dssioners hope to find quarters for
in municipal center area.
The four squares in the municipal
center area contain 1877 individual lots
and 710,723 square feet of ground. The
largest Of the four is known as reserva-
ton 10. It Is on the eastern fringe of
the area, bounded by John Marshall
place, Third street, c street and Penn
Sylyania avenue and contains 81 lots
and 262, 514 square feet Of ground.
The assessed value of the four squares,
according to the records Of Tax Assessor
William p. Richards, is $4,235, Tie. The
ground alone was valued by Mr.. Rich
ards at $2,189,919, while the improve
ments are assessed at $2,045, 800.