Evening star., 1931-10-07
Transfer of D. C. Garage and
Final Payment on Private
Tract Soon to Be Made.
"APEX" BUILDING TRACT
ALREADY IS CONDEMNED
Reservation A and B to Be Ac-
quired for Union Square Park
way Development.

The Government virtually has COM
pleted acquisition of all property be-
tween Pennsylvania avenue and Ihe
Mall from the Capitol to the Treasury
Department for the public building
program.
Moving gradually but steadily. the
Treasury and Justice departments,
through purchase and condemnation
proceedings. are now rounding up the
last pieces OF property for the glgantlc
park and building Development OF tne
Mall ana so-called Federal triangle
area.
West Of Seventh street the only de-
tails remaining are transfer OF the DIS
trict Of Columbia Garage. located IN
the Grand Plaza area, in the heart OF
the Federal triangle. and final pay
mcnt on one piece of privately owned
property, the price for which has been
fixed by condemnation. Both OF these
details are expected TO be cleaned up
this week. so that the Federal Govern
ment by Sunday will have complete
title to the Federal triangle area from
Seventh to Fifteenth streets, Pennsyl-
vania and Constitution avenues.
Buildings to BE Razed.
The Grand Plaza squares. including
the District of Columbia Garage and
one remaining outstanding piece Of
property. are located between Thir-
teenth and Fourteenth streets, d street
and Ohio avenue. and are TO be razed
for the NEST part soon to make way for
the plaza This plaza will run from
the new Department of Commerce. on
Fourteenth street 10 the new Post
Office Department, on Thirteenth
street.
East of Seventh street the triangu-
lar-shaped square. known as Square
No. 46l, bounded by Sixth and Seventh
streets, Pennsylvania and Constitution
avenues. has been condcmne5, awards
nave been confirmed by the court. and
the Treasury Department soon will be-
gin setting and paying owners for thei.
property. On this site is TO be erected
what is known as the apex" building
as it is situated at the apex of the
Federal triangle What Government
activity will occupy this structure has
not been decided. TIE Coast Guard
was at one time allocated to it because
OF the symbolism Of the Coast Guard
ship and the ship shape of the triangle
Of lan5 But recently suggestions have
been put forward to place in this build
ing such correlated activities of the
Federal Government as the Fine Arts
Comm iSSiOn. the National Capital Park
and Planning Commission and the
Public Buildings Commission.
Tract Under Condemnation.
Stretching from Sixth to Third
street between Pennsylvania and Mis-
souri, avenues are two big areas of land
known as ReserI ations A and B, which
are now under condemnation proceed
ings. 1t is understood that the Gov
ernment will file soon in the court a
declaration of taking" by which it is
possible for the Government TO get
title under the new condemnation law
much sooner than under the old pro-
cedure. This will enable the Govern
ment to serve notices soon to vacate
this property. and it will be turned
over to Lieut.. Col. U. S. Grant. 80, Of
the Arlington Memorial Bridge Com
mission, and the National Capital Park
and Planning Commission for develop
ment of the new Union Square park
way and the extension of Constitution
avenue through this property straight
into Pennsylvania avenue. At the pres
ent time Constitution avenue comes to
a dead end at Sixth street. But it
will be cut through and extended
eastward by funds already in the hands
of the Arlington Memorial Bridge Com
mission.