Evening star., 1936-11-28
SALE TO Be URGED \
FOR D. c. BUILDING
| AND CENTER SITES
Hazen Announces Plans to ="
Raise Funds for Struc.
lures on New Location.
TWO LOWER SQUARES
OF LAND NOT NEEDED
Congress to Be Asked in Coming ..
Session to Approve Program.
Public Hearing Due.

Sale of the District Building and the
two lower squares Of the Municipal
Center sites to the Federal Govern
ment will be proposed again to Con-
gress in the forthcoming session, under
plans announced today by Commis-
sioner Hazen.
The objective Is to raise funds
needed for construction of new mu-
nicipal buildings in the remaining por-
tion Of the Municipal Center site, pur-
chased several years ago when Federal
building plans contemplated forcing
the District from its present home at
Fourteenth and E streets.
The bill, drawn for the Board of
Commissioners by Edward A. Dent.
District surveyor, will be included in
the tentative legislative program to be
presented to Congress early in the next
session. Commissioner Hazen said A
special public hearing would be called
on this program early in December ir1
move to get united public support.
Appraisal Committee Proposed.
Inc Municipal Center bill proposes
the appointment of a committee. con-
sisting OF District Assessor Fred d.
Allen. Architect of the Capitol David
Lynn and a real estate appraiser. to
be appointed by the Commissioners. to
estimate the prices to be paid for the
District Building and the two squares
OF the Municipal Center site. Con-
gress. OF course, would hold final de-
cislon on the price for the properties.
1t IS Commissioner Hazen's idea that
the District might obtain some s5,oOO.-
600 for the District Building and at.
least $4,000.000 for the lower portion
OF the Municipal Center site.
The portion proposed to be sold is
bounded by Third and Sixth streets.
Pennsylvania avenue and c street. II
such prices were approved by Con-
gress, the District would have S9,O0O.-
600 or more to use for the construction
OF a new municipal headquarters on
the northern half of the center site.
The site was purchased at a cost Of
well over s6,0o0 900 back in the days
when Federal planning experts had
visions of a new Municipal Center
costing as much as $4,000, 900.
Times Have Changed.
Since financial troubles struck the
city government, however, these ideas
have been drastically revised, and
within the last two years the Com
missioners decided only half of the
site was required for the needs of the
present and many years to come. As
part of the plans the new homes
for the Police, Municipal and Juvenile
Courts are to be erected in Judiciary
Square rather than in the Municipal
Center site. Construction of the new
Police Court Building already has
been ordered.
| Commissioner Hazen revealed today
that the District National Guard has
prepared a bill authorizing construc-
tion of an armory in the Municipal
Center site, but Hazen voiced disap-
proval of that plan. He said he saw
the need of an armory, but believed
it could be located on less expensive
land, where it would not offer a com.
plication with plans for the Municipal
Center itself. He suggested either the
site at the rife range of the Guard
at Camp Simms, or at the end of
East Capitol street, where some on
clals propose extensive developments,
including a stadium.