Evening star., 1933-09-03
D. c. WOULD BUILD
FIRST CENTER UNIT
Fight for $4,000, 900 Grant
Continued Before Works
Administration. .
Continued From First page)

Continued From First Page)
position that the municipal center plan
was born largely on account Of the
United States Government.
Additional Once Space.
Originally the Commissioners asked
that they be permitted to continue in
the present District Building and to
acquire the square Immediately to the
south to provide additional ofice space.
Such an arrangement was in conflict
with the Federal building program, and
the Commissioners, therefore, had to
drop 1t. Then the Commissioners
sought authority to acquire the old
Southern Railway Building, immedi-
ate!y east OF the District Building. That
arrangement also was found to be in
conflict with the Federal building pro-
gram, so that the Commissioners were
compelled to find some other site in
some part of the city where new build
ings for the municipal government
could be erected.
Largely due to the wishes of Congress,
the four blocks opposite the Federal
triangle near the Capitol grounds were
purchased. The area is bounded by
Third street on the east, Sixth street
on the west, c street on the south, and
Indiana and Louisiana avenues on the
north.
At the same time the Government
housing project in the triangle area
involved what amounts to forced
eviction of the District Government
from the present District Building. In
view Of this, the Commissioners plan
ned to have the Federal Government
pay the District s5,OoO,oOO for the
District Building, these funds to be used
to pay the cost Of the first unit of the
municipal center It was believed that
the Secretary of the Treasury, under
existing law, had ample authority, and
that funds were available to effect the
transfer of the title to the UnittG
States for the building. 1t developed,
however, that certain matters relating
to the purchase would have to be
settled by Congress before the transfer
could take place. In addition. there
also arose question as to whether the
District would be permitted, should the
United States purchase the District
Building, to continue to occupy 1t until
quarters were available in the municipal
center without the payment of rental.
The Federal Government 1t was
pointed out, also ordered the Plans for
the building to harmonic architectural
ly with the Federal buildings on the
south side Of the Avenue. Engineer
Commissioner Gotwals has figured that
the ornamentation probably will add at
least 19 cents to the cost per cubic foot
Of the building.
Cost of Construction.
Buildings suitable to house District
activities, it was said, could be con-
structed at about IS cents a cubic foot,
the maximum now paid for public
school buildings. whereas the estimated
cost of the municipal center unit will
amount to about 54 cents a cubic foot.
The Commissioners emphasized these
points in their formal request to the
Public Works Administration for funds
to build the first unit Of the center, in
the following language:
The enforced project, the nature Of
It, is in every sense due to the Federal
desires and aspirations playing upon
the District government. For these
reasons, this grant to carry forward
this project, which at least is Federal
to the extent of the grant request, IS
therefore highly justified"
Early this year during hearings on
the original 1884 budget estimates for
the District, former Representative
Holiday of Illinois emphasized the
point that the plans of the Federal
Government virtually had dictated the
program for Development OF the new
Municipal Center.
He said at that time: Personally
feel that the Federal Government in
taking over the District Building should
be liberal with the District. because the
Federal Government is more or less
responsible for the general idea OF a
municipal center which is far more
expensive than the District really needs" "
Maj. Daniel J. Donovan, District
auditor. stated That is entirely cor
rect, Mr.. Holiday. because it is fact
that the Commissioners recommended,
and the Budget Bureau approved. the
purchase of the two northern blocks
of those four blocks. 1t was anticipated
that We could purchase those blocks
for about S2,400,000 and put up two
buildings for about S8000,000 thus
making about sll 100000 expenditure,
which we would have been able to take
care of. But Congress amended the bill
and required the District to purchase
all four blocks, including two very ex-
pensive blocks facing on Pennsylvania
avenue
Mr.. Holiday then added That was
for the purpose of furthering the gen.
eral identification scheme, and not be-
cause the District really needed it,
Since the plans for the Courts Build
ing have already been completed. Maj
Gotwals believes that actual construc-
ton could be started within month
| after the grant is approved. Some
notifications may have to be made in
the original plans. he said. otherwise
the work probably could be started
sooner
Although plans have not been pre-
pared for the second unit Of the, nu-
nicipal center, the Commissioners ap-
lieve it could be erected at cost ap-
proximating that of the first unit. The
secord unit would house all Of the ad-
ministrative branches Of the municipal
government.