Evening star., 1930-06-22
u. S. WILL RENEW
MANY LEASES ON
OFFICE BUILDINGS
Expenditure for Space Is Put
at More Than ST 100000
by Col. Grant.
COMMERCE STRUCTURE
TO BE TAKEN 6 MONTHS
Part of New Edifce Is Expected
to Be Ready for Occupancy
About January /.

The Federal Government Is prepared
to renew its leases on June 80 with the
owners of several structures housing
many of the great Government de-
partments, at an expenditure above the
81, ,000, 900 mark. This program is be-
ing carried forward under the direction
of Lieut.. Col. U. S. Grant, Sd, executive
officer of the Public Buildings CommiS-
sion.
The Commerce Department Building,
at Nineteenth street and Pennsylvania
avenue, is to be renewed only for six
months, as it is anticipated that part
of the new Commerce Building, at Fiji
teenth and B streets, will be completed
about the new year, to permit occu-
pancy by large number of the bureaus.
The annual rental of this building has
been $149, ,629.
Most of the leases of the Government
department buildings that occupy rent
ed space will be renewed for one year,
only that of the Department of Justice
being at this time in doubt. These
structures include the Interstate Com
merce Commission, at Eighteenth
street and Pennsylvania avenue; the
Walker johnson Building, on New York
avenue near Eighteenth street; the De-
partment of Labor, on G street near
Seventeenth street, and the Investment
Building, at Fifteenth and K streets.
Hardy Explains Release.
Karl ]. Hardy, secretary of the Pub
lie Buildings Commission, explained
yesterday that the Government is re-
leasing 3,704 square feet Of space in
the Barr Building, on Seventeenth
street. near K street, by reason of the
vacating of the war plans division of
the War Department Ninety-seven
thousand square feet are being va
Gated in the National Press Club Build
ing, at Fourteenth and F streets, but
10000 square feet are being taken in
that building by the Federal Radio
Commission which is to move from
the Interior Department Building.
The movement of the Board of Tax
Appeals from the Earle Building at
Thirteenth and e streets. to its new
home in the newly completed Bureau
Of Internal Revenue Building, at Tenth
and B streets, releases $4,000 square
feet there, but $4,000 square feet will
be taken in the Earle Building by the
Department of Agriculture
The Hurley-Wright Building, at
Eighteenth and Pennsylvania svenue,
housing part of the Interstate Com
merce Commission and Department of
Commerce activities, will have its lease
renewed for one year. The Archi-
tects Building at Eighteenth and E
streets is being vacated by the Gov
ernment, some 10000 square feet being
released there by the Treasury Depart
ment as are 5000 square feet in the
Albee Building, by the supervising
architects office.
Reserve Board Moves.
In the National Savings & Trust Co.
Building at Fifteenth street and New
York avenue the Court of Customs and
Patent Appeals, which has moved to
new quarters in the new Bureau of In
ternal Revenue Building, 1892 square
feet will be released and in the Otis
Building 10,500 square feet will be re-
leased by the Federal Reserve Board,
which goes to Treasury Annex, No. /,
Just north of the Treasury Department
Building.
Figures announced by the Public
Buildings Commission show that for
the calendar year 1929 the Govern
ment's rent bill was 81, ,381, ,308.82. Gov
eminent officials pointed out that activi-
ties of the Federal Government are con-
stantly growing, so that new space con-
ttnually is needed.
Another important factor In the sit
uation Is the fact that many buildings
housing Federal agencies are being torn
down under the Identification program
now In process, such as the triangle.
bounded by Fifteenth street, Pennsyl-
vania avenue and z street. This area.
In which the Coast Guard, part Of the
Bureau of Internal Revenue and other
governmental units are housed, is to be
cleared to make way for a park adjoin-
ing the new Department Of Commerce.