Evening star., 1944-09-16
ii. 5. Acts 10 Condemn
Properties on Site
For 6. W. Hospital

Moving swiftly toward erection Of
the new 400-bed George Washing-
ton University Hospital, the Fed
eral Works Agency has asked the
Justice Department to institute
court proceedings for condemnation
Of the site, on square 81, at Wash
ington Circle, bounded by Twenty
second, Twenty-third streets, Penn
sylvania avenue and I street NV.
Under the new procedure the
FWA hopes to acquire possession Of
the entire square by November /, but
oficials today assured residents of
the site that they will not be DIS
possessed on that date. They prob
ably will be given . longer time to
move.
On the site is st. Paul's Episcopal
Church, understood to be attended
by Vice President Wallace; the
Plaza Apartment House at the in
tersection of washington Circle and
Pennsylvania avenue and several
business establishments. On most
Of the remainder of the site are
private residences.
Aid to Property Owners.
The Justice Department will act
in court for the FWA and the Pub
lie Buildings Administration, which
will carry forward the project. The
request to the Justice Department
for action came late yesterday from
Baird Snyder, assistant Federal
works administrator. Court pro-
ceedings will be under the second
War Powers Act.
Steps were taken by FWA to assist
property owners forced to evacuate
business and residences.
In outlining procedure to be used,
an of1icial FWA statement pre-
dicted that many of the property
owners will be able to reach agree
ments with the Government as to
the fair market value of their prop
critics" before November /.
The statement added, however
that to insure that all property
owners will be able to obtain money
to help them locate elsewhere, the
FWA lin the near future" will file
through the Justice Department a
so-called declaration OF taking"
to facilitate the acquisition of
property.
The FWA will deposit sums rep
resenting the estimated value of the
separate properties forming the site.
Thereafter each property owner,
may apply to the court for permis-
sion to withdraw a substantial por-
ton Of the sum deposited" the
statement explained. These de-
posits will be based upon appraisals
made by private expert appraisers
already engaged in valuing the
properties to be acquired"
S2,700,00O Allotted.
FWA has allotted $2,700,000 for
acquisition of the site and construc-
ton Of the hospital. This is with
the understanding that the univer-
sity will equip and furnish the in
stitution at cost estimated at
about 100000.
Inc hospital Will be supplemented
by new medical school, to cost
approximately $75o, 900, and a $780,
600 nurses home in the same area
The PBA, in handling the project
under direction Of w. E. Reynolds,
PBA commissioner, has assigned
N. P. Thompson, one OF its archi-
tects, to cooperate with the firm
OF Faulkner d Kingsbury, Washing
ton architects, who have been work.
ing on the hospital plans for some
time. The United States Public
Health Service, it is understood, is
assigning one Of its experts on hos
pital design for advice and counsel.
Edward Whitman, PBA deputy
commissioner for real estate man
agement, is in charge Of the acquisi-
tiOn of nronertv Y,ro0rar