Evening star., 1938-06-08
SOUTHWEST SITE
PICKED FOR NEW
u. .S.>STRUCTURES
Employees Can Rent There
at Reasonable Prices.
Commission Holds.
AREAS REHABILITATION
EXPECTED BY CHAIRMAN
Social Security, Rail Retirement
Buildings Will Start 10-Year
Program.

buildings Will oLarC ~. ear
Program.
The theory that low-salaried en-
ployes, who make up the bulk of the
staff of the Social Security Board, will
be able to obtain economical housing
in proximity to their work is advanced
by the National Capital Park and
Planning Commission in stamping ap-
proval on the projected construction
of two buildings for the Social Security
and Railroad Retirement boards in
Southwest Washington.
That the commission recognized this
unusual factor among the others
which determined the suitability of
the area around C, D, Third and
Fourth streets, and Independence ave-
nue. S. w: is shown in letter from
Frederick A. Delano, the chairman.
which appears in the printed hearings
on the second deficiency bill, reported
out by the House Appropriations Com
mittee yesterday
Writing to Representative Woodrum,
Democrat, of Virginia, chairman of
the subcommittee which conducted the
hearings, in behalf of the $4,000 900
grant to start work on the project
ultimately to cost $l4,250, 900, Chair
man Delano said the location is suit
able particularly in view of the fact
that approximately 80 per cent of the
Social Security Board employees are in
salary classification groups below 81
900 annually. In the eastern and
southern portions Of the city, rents
and housing facilities are obtainable
at lower cost than in the more ex-
pensive Northwest section.
Trend to East Seen Aided.
The chairman's letter also points
out that the location of a large Gov
ernment activity in this section-a
new General Accounting Office eventu-
ally is contemplated in the same vi
cinity-" should lead to rehabilitation
not only Of Southwest Washington, but
should also provide a stimulus to resi-
DENTAL development to the east, and
therefore produce better balance in
the growth of the city than now OBJ
tairls with SO much Government de-
veiopn1ent in the Northwest section"
In getting started on d building pro-
gram which in 10 years calls. for ex-
oenditures Of $142 ,257 900 under lines
laid down by the Presidents Commit
tee on Public Buildings in the District
of Columbia, the Government is mov-
ing for the adequate housing and con-
solidation of activities that now sprawl
from the Capital into adjacent States.
The Social Security and Railroad
Retirement Boards occupy II buildings
here and in Baltimore (the Old-Age
Insurance section of the Social Secur-
ity Board is set up in the vast old
Chandler warehouse there) while the
War Department, which would also
get $3,000,000 to start a see, 900 900
project under the deficiency bill, is in
19 buildings in Washington, Maryland
and Virginia. according to testimony
at the hearings by Secretary of War
Woodring.
War Department to Benefit.
While the War Department is to
have finally $26,000,0 900 home, the
expenditure contemplated in the i'm
mediate future is less than half of this,
totaling $10,815 900, which would care
for the first building unit and the ac-
nyyiSitioo of 1oy,d paodoJ for fl,o ~,,-.
pleted project. The building is to 60
between Twenty first, Twenty third, c
and E streets NV, and ultimately will
be joined in that area by a new Navy
building. For the present however,
Navy will get along with its 20-year-
old temporary building, with the ad-
dition Of q $4,000 penthouse" pro-
vided by the deficiency bill to give
badly needed space.
Admiral Christian ]. Peoples, direc-
tor Of procurement for the Treasury, in
charge Of building operations, ex-
planned to Chairman Woodrum that
the penthouse" is to be built on two
wings of the structure for drafting pur-
poses in connection with the new ship
building program. The cost Of the
work, he added, would be no more than
would otherwise have to be expended
for rental.
Admiral Peoples told the committee,
incidentally, that the life of the Navy
Building and the companion Munitions
Building OCCUPIED by the War De-
partment-is not more than to 10
year1 more.
The Social Security Railroad Re-
tirement buildings will pay for them
selves over 20-year period, according
to Admiral Peoples. These two agencies
now pay annual rentals of $673, ,221. SO,
and Admiral Peoples figured this cost,
added to the value Of additional space
provided, would bring a total annual
savings of $956,31475. This is 81 per
cent of the estimated cost of the two
buildings, and, Admiral Peoples am
plified, would amortize q $14,240, 900
loan at per cent in 20 years.