Evening star., 1937-02-12
BY WILLIAM A. MILLEN.

Dey OF Government space require.
mentS, present and proSpecttpeJ
BY WILLIAM A. MILLEN.
The Social Security Board, whose
space needs accentuate the problem
Of an expanding Government here, has
been promised the Potomac Park
Apartments at Twenty-first and c
streets until a new building can be
constructed.
This was made known today by
A. E. Demaray, associate director Of
the National Park Service, who is
working closely with Secretary Of In
terror Ickes on space problems.
Growth incident to old-age benefits
and other matters under the Social
Security Board demands more space
Immediately. Because of this, the
forthcoming trek into the new Interior
Department Building at Eighteenth
and E streets, will not materially
solve the Governments space problems
in the National Capital, Demaray as
serted. Comparatively little rented
space will be given up in the series
Of moves that will start, just as soon
as Ickes gives the word.
Inauguration Of the shift into the
Interior Building South-as it is off,
cially termed-will not begin this
week end, according to present indi-
cations, as the workmen are still en-
gagged in putting the finishing touches
on the interior of the structure.
The Social Security Board is now
working under handicaps. inasmuch
as part of its force Is quartered in
Baltimore. The board wants 100000
square feet of space in Washington
Immediately, but Government officials
| in charge of space confess that they
| cannot find it. Consequently, it looks
like the board will have to expand
in Baltimore. shortly-rending the
completion of a new building here.
Just where this structure will go has
not ofdcially been determined, as this
is job for the National Capital Park
and Planning Commission, but opinion
Is that 1t will be in the Southwest,
south Of the Mall, bounded by Viz
ginia, Maryland and Delaware avenues.
As some Of the Government author
ities envision 1t, the Social Security
Board building would be constructed
directly south Of the old Patent Office
and Archives building. along this
main axis of the city. South Of Inde-
pendence avenue, some of the officials
believe a great Government develop
ment Is in the making.
The supervising architects Office
of the Treasury Department and the
Park and Planning Commission. are
jointly working out detailed program
for future Government build .ngs in
the Southwest Triangle, bounded by
Maryland, Delaware and Virginia ave-
nues.
Northwest Rectangle Picked.
The Park and Planning Commission
has already set apart the Northwest
Rectangle, bounded by Constitution
avenue, Seventeenth street, E street
and the Potomac River, for the imme-
diate future. In this area ere the new
Interior Department, just about fin
ished, and the Federal Reserve Board
building, under construction at
Twenty-first street and Constitution
avenue. The new War and Navy De-
partments and the new Naval Hospital,
as well as a Naval Museum building,
are projected in that rectangle. Al
ready built there are the Public
Health Service, the National Academy
of Sciences and the Pharmaceutical
For
Memorial.
The perplexing problem Of the Pan
american Union Annex, at Constitu-
tion av nue.. Eighteenth and Nine
teenth streets and Virginia avenue,
remains to be finally solved. The
union has authority from Congress to
erect its building on that site and
the Carnegie Foundation has made
funds available for it, but Ickes is
strenuously opposed to its erection.
contending chat It will interfere with
the appearance and view Of his new
Interior Department building, imme-
diately to the north.
AS matters now stand, the new War
Department, estimated to cost $685.
100000, will be constructed on the
squares bounded by Twenty-first.
Twenty-third, c and e streeGs. If Con-
gress approves the Bureau Of Budget
estimates, sent to Capitol Hill recently
by President Roosevelt. This looks to
be the next construction move of the
Government. Just when the new Navy
department and Naval Hospital will be
built Is conjectural.
DR.. Charles Moore of the Fine Arts
Commission and his colleagues, have
recommended that the United States
purchase the land on both sides Of
Pennsylvania avenue for future Gov
ernment buildings, from Seventeenth
street to Rock Creek. The commission
has indicated that 1t would like to see
the new War Department built on
Pennsylvania avenue and provide for
future expansion Of that department.
But President Roosevelt has forwarded
the Bureau Of the Budget estimates to
Congress, naming the specific site at
Twenty-first, Twenty-third, G and e
streets.
To erect the new War Department
on that site, the Government will have
to purchase a couple of apartment
houses, as well as q variety of private
dwellings and stores. The Boulevard
Apartments are located at 2121 New
York avenue, while the Riverside
Apartments are at 2145 c street. These
will have to be purchased and torn
down by the Government to provide
for the new War Department. The
Potomac Park Apartments and the
Mayfair, adjoining it Immediately to
the westward. at 2115 c street, are
now in public ownership. The May
fair will shortly be the new home
of the Headquarters Company of
the washington Provisional Brigade,
United States Army.
1.-THE nert article piu deal spith
Uncle Same rent sitxatton hers.l