Evening star., 1939-01-28
Plans Changed
1oGiive Single
War Building
Planning and Arts
Bodies Revump
Original Design

Work will be undertaken at once
on the preparation of detailed con-
struction plans for single huge
War Department Building in the
Northwest Rectangle instead of two
separate buildings of different sizes,
as provided in former proposals, it
was announced today.
At the same time the way has
been cleared for the immediate
preparation of plans for the pro-
posed Census Bureau Building In
the Southwest building area, and for
the development of more advanced
plans for the new Central Library
Building in the Municipal Center
area.
Decision to combine the. War De-
partment's new home into single
building was reached late yesterday
at Joint meeting of the National
Capital Park and Planning Com
mission and Commission of Fine
Arts. A model submitted by the
Treasury Departments Procure
ment Division showing the proposed
development as single building of
unique design was approved by the
two commissions, which approved
the immediate preparation of de-
tailed plans.
To Go Up by Units.
Although the structure ultimately
will be one large building, it will be
constructed in two or more units.
Congress has appropriated $4,000 900
for acquisition of land and COM
mencement of construction. This
originally was intended for
smaller building which eventually
would have become an "annex" to
the main War Department. In
stead, the funds will be applied to
construction of the initial unit of
the main building.
The commissions approved the
shape and general dimensions of
the new building and a general plan
for the entire area. The building
is to stand between Twenty-first
and Twenty-third streets NV,
south of Virginia avenue.
proved the ground plan for large
building for the Census Bureau in
the square bounded by Second and
Third streets and Virginia avenue
and D street SW The building is
to be six stories in height with
maximum height limit of 80 feet.
1t will be of relatively plain, un-
ornamented design; not as elaborate
as the proposed Social Security
Board Building already authorized
in the new Southwest building area,
but more ornamental than the large
Federal Warehouse Building in the
southern part of the area, it was
explained.
To Provide Filing Space.
The new building is to be occupied
by the expanded Census Bureau dur
ing the taking and analysis of the
1910 census. Thereafter it probably
will be used for the storage of files,
the commissions were informed
New plans approved for the Dis
trict library building call for a struc-
ture with It's southern elevation
parallel to Pennsylvania avenue
rather than with Constitution ave-
nue.. This will result in building
of irregular rather than rectangular
shape. The site is between John
Marshall place and Sixth street and
Pennsylvania avenue and C street
NV.
Nathan C. Wyeth, municipal ar
chitect, was requested to prepare
two or three preliminary designs in
accordance with this decision, show
ing the area to be occupied by the
building within these general boun-
daries. Congress last year appropri-
ated $4,000 for the preparation of
plans, but has as yet made no ap-
preparation for construction.
The commissions tentatively ap-
proved plans for location of the pro-
posed Gallatin statue, a memorial to
Albert Gallatin, second Secretary of
the Treasury, at the north end of
the Treasury Department grounds.
Final plans will be prepared by the
Procurement Division.
Authorize Small Plot Transfers.
4llC Z dl dllO T1dllIllllS SOIllI1llS-
s sion approved the transfer from
the Federal Government to the Dis
: trict government of two small tri-
angular park areas between L street
and New York avenue NV, near
Twelfth street as a necessary step
toward proposed street widening
work there.
+ John Nolen, jr., director of plan
ming of the commission and COM
mission representative on the Board
) OF Zoning Adjustments, reported
that the new board is making sat
: isfactory' progress. 1t has handled
F. some 40 cases so far, granting zoning
!. requests in about so per cent of the
: cases and rejecting the other half
of the petitions.
The Planning Commission de-
clined to act on a proposed amend
( ment of the zoning regulations for
: Massachusetts avenue between Scott
( Circle and Dupont Circle increasing
: the maximum building height limit
- from 60 tn on feet Tho commission