Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-04-25
NJ. {. PROPERTY /
NEAR CAPITOL TO
/. Be BOUGHT BY us.
Government Adheres to Ex-
pansion Plan, Say Architect
Lynn and Col. Grant.
AREA AROUND GROUNDS
ALL TO BE FEDERAL
Methodist officials Statement on
Apartment Project Raises
Question.

The Government still Is adhering to
the plan Of taking over eventually all
of the privately-owned property sur
rounding the Capitol Grounds, includ-
ing the Methodist Building adjacent to
which the Methodist Board of Temper
ance Prohibition and Public Morals is
planning to erect an apartment build.
ing between First and Second streets,
running from Maryland avenue to B
street northeast.
This statement was made today by
David Lynn, architect of the Capitol,
who testified recently before the House
Appropriations Committee that the Gev-
eminent plans eventually to acquire this
property now owned by the Methodists
and all the rest of the property in the
triangle between First street, Maryland
avenue and B streets northeast, and by
Lieut.. Col. U. s. Grant, Bird. the execu-
tive officer of the National Capital Park
and Planning Commission. These two
are the officials who should speak with
most authority regarding the Govern
ment's plans for acquisition of land and
public improvements In the Capitol
area.
Apartment Plan Announced.
The question was brought up by the
statement made yesterday by an official
of E:Se Methodist Board of Temperance,
Prohibition and Public Morals in an
nouncing plans for, the new apartment
house, who said that the board had
approached Government officials who,
it was thought, logically would be in
terested in such a proposal. to inquire
If the Government desired to take over
the Methodist holdings for its own ex-
pansion program, but negative answer
was received and the board told to go
ahead with any plans 1t might have.
Both Col. Grant and Mr.. Lynn today
called attention that the report of 1901
by the Mcmillan Commission recon-
mended the acquisition at some future
date by the Government Of all the area
surrounding the Capitol, including this
particular triangle, and that this pro-
gram has been in the minds of the
National Capital Park and Planning
Commission and has not been aban-
doned. As there was no immediate need
for this area, it has not yet been bought,
especially as it would be used largely for
park purposes to give the Capitol group
i OF buildings, including the new Supreme
Court Building, better setting. The
National Capital Park and Planning
Commission has in the past recon-
mended that all such areas surrounding
the Capitol should be bought-eventually.
Taft and Hughes Views.
The late Chief Justice and former
President Taft was anxious to have the
site occupied by the Methodist Building
included in the Supreme Court site, ex-
tending from East Capitol to B street
between First and Second streets north
| east But as this would close Maryland
| avenue for one square between the in
| tersection of B street at Second street
to the Capitol grounds, 1t was opposed
at that time.
In the last Congress Senator Keyej
of New Hampshire, who is a member
of both the Commission on Enlarge
ment of the Capitol Grounds and of the
Supreme Court Building Commission,
| introduced a bill authorizing the ac-
QUESTION of the entire area north from
the site of the Supreme Court, between
First and Second streets to D street.
This would include the proposed site
| for the new General Accounting Once.
east of the Senate ONCE Building. This
measure was not urged for action be-
cause there we're number of PROPOSE
| tions. of more pressing Importance.
Senator Keyes has served notice that
he will renew his efforts for acquisition
of this entire area in the incoming Con-
gre5s.