Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-11-29
Federal Changes Impend in Downtown Area
New Post Office Site Is
Next Operation on
u. S. Schedule.
OLD CENTER MARKET
WILL BE DEMOLISHED
War and Navy Departments
Separated From State
Branch by New Plan.

Activities in clearing sites for new
Federal Government buildings along
PENNSYLVANIA avenue and in the Mall
to the south will be expanded early in
the new year, revealing more concretely
and on larger scale the change that is
destined for an immense section OF
downtown Washington.
The next big operation to be def
nitely scheduled, barring any unforeseen
change in the program, Is the razing OF
the existing old buildings between
Twelfth and Thirteenth streets, G street
and Pennsylvania avenue, which in
cludes the site of the new Post Office
Department Building.
Plan Center Market Razing.
This will bring greatly increased &C
tivity to the Avenue side OF the Mail
triangle and accentuate the sweeping
program that will do much to clean up
the entire frontage of the south SIDE
of the Avenue from the Capitol to the
White House in time for the 1882 WASH
ington bicentennial celebrations here.
The razing of the old Center Market
structures between Seventh and Ninth
streets south of the Avenue is scheduled
to be started shortly after January /,
contract for this work already having
been let Workmen now are proceeding
with clearing the triangle bounded by
Fourteenth and Fifteenth streets. Penn
syIvania avenue and street, lust to the
north of the new Commerce Building.
Just when work will be started on the
clearing of the site of the new Post Or
flee Department Building depends upon
ACQUISITION of title to the property. The
awards made by the Condemnation
Commission in this case have been pro-
tested by property owners involved and
as soon as final decision has been rem
dered and title is passed to the Gov
eminent bids will be advertised for
clearing of the site.
It is expected that this will be &C
complished early in 1881.
New Post Office Planned.
Plans for the new Post Office Build
ing, for which maximum appropria-
ton of $10,300,000 has been authorized,
now are being completed by William A.
Delano, New York architect.
1t is believed actual construction OF
this building will be started some time
during the ensuing year.
The building will be of an irregular
shape, due to the place it will take in
the architectural scheme for the whole
triangle development. Both east and
west sides of the building will be con-
cave in shape. The eastern part will
form part of the great circle center
ing on Twelfth street, in the center of
which will rise tall monument.
A part of this circle already is seen
in the raw brick facing of the corner
Of the Internal Revenue Building on
Eleventh street just to the rear of the
old Post ONCE Department Building,
which is to be RACED as the Federal con-
struction program proceeds. A portion
Of the new building later to be erected
on the site of the old Post Office Build
ing will form the remainder of the cir
cular development.
Other New Buildings Cited.
The western exposure of the new Post
Office Building. concave in shape, will
overlook the Grand Plaza to be de-
veloped in the space between this and
other buildings in the larger end of the
triangle to the east of Fourteenth street.
This plaza will be lavishly Handicapped
and treated with sunken gardens, foun-
tains, rejecting pools and walks.
When the new Post Office Depart
ment Building is completed, the depart
ment will move into its new home, and
the old structure will be razed. This
famous old building, it is recalled. rests
upon wooden piles. Much water was
Iouno IN the subsoil in the adjoining
tract to the south on which has been
erected the new Internal Revenue Build
ing. 1t was found necessary in that site
10 place concrete piles deep into the
ground to support the foundation for
that large structure.
To the south of the new Post Office
Building. in the site between Twelfth
and Thirteenth streets. B street and a
line running about where C street now
exists, will be erected a new building.
now tentatively planned for either the