Evening star., 1946-03-05
u. 5. Occupying
Space for 1000
antilles Here

| SAS
Holdings in Hotels
And Apartments
By Rudolph Kouffmonn II
The Federal Government. six
months after the war, continues to
occupy sufficient apartment house
space IN the District to house more
than 1000 veterans families If re-
converted, it was revealed today In
breakdown of such space made
public by Chairman Mcmillan of
the House District Committee.
The breakdown was compiled by
the Public Buildings Administration
after an appeal to the President
Friday to relieve the extremely
critical housing shortage in the
District by bringing governmental
use of residential buildings to an
end.
Mr.. Mcmillan said today, how
ever, he would make no further
statement on the subject until PBA
completes a special investigation of
the list provided. He said H. G..
Hunter. assistant public buildings
commissioner, is conducting the
survey.
The breakdown shows that Sc 900
square feet of building space for
merly in private residences is occu-
pied, in addition to former apart
ment buildings. This space former
ly was used by one family.
sos, 300 Square Feet Held.
Total square footage listed is 8O5,-
300. OF this 5000 square feet is in
hotel and apartment buildings con-
verted by owners into Office space
and leased to the Government; 249,-
300 square feet is in apartments
owned by the Government on future
Federal building sites for permanent
ONCE buildings, and 271,000 square
feet is in residential apartment
house properties leased by the Gov
ernment for the war emergency.
According to the breakdown, the
last category contains the only
apartment space which could imme-
dlately be converted to residential
use If the Government were to va
cate.
This includes the apartment house
at 250l @ street NV. and the Du-
pont Circle Apartment building. to-
gether containing $4,000 square
feet. A third apartment building
leased for the war emergency was
converted to an office building.
Previous statements by public
buildings officials do not indicate
that the results of the Investigation
now being made will affect the sit
uation materially unless the Presi-
dent, the Bureau of the Budget and
Congress are willing to cut Gov
ernment Office personnel or force
all agencies back into wartime
elbow to elbow" conditions for Of
flee workers.
Expanding Office Space.
PBA has maintained that the
Government actually is expanding
its space at present rather than
contracting it, and that agencies
IKE the Veterans Administration,
State Department and Civil Pro-
duction Administration are expand
ing faster than the military estab-
lShmentS and war emergency
agencies are cutting down.
Moreover, In the case of the vast
majority of buildings listed, PBA
officials said rebuilding of interiors
would be necessary before they could
be occupied by apartment dwellers.
Mr.. Hunter, who met with Mr..
Mcmillan late yesterday. said the
owners OF the buildings would pre-
Ter not to have to reconvert their
buildings at time when costs are
high and plumbing and kitchen
fixtures scarce.
The breakdown includes only
buildings leased by the United
States Government. Buildings leased
direct from owners by foreign gov
ernments are not listed.
A complete breakdown of the list
with a brief description of each
property follows and PBA's estimate
OF the chances of their release:
Apartments Listed.
Glass A-Hotels and apartment
buildings converted by owners into
Office space and leased to the Gov
ernment with no indication thev
will be released by permanent Gov
eminent activities now occupying
them:
Arlington Hotel-Leased Septem-
Der, 1885, contains $1,000 square feet
and, before conversion, 81 apartments.
1t is now occupied by the British
Admiralty Delegation, is expected
to be released by the British within
three to four months, but will con-
tinue to be used as Government
Office space.
Chaplain Apartments, 1424 KI
street N.W.-Leased January, 1899
contains $4,000 square feet and. be-
fore conversion, 80 apartments. I'll
is now occupied by the Federal
Communications Commission and
there are no plans for vacating it.
1857 K street N.W.-Leased Janu-
ary, 1889, contains $4,000 square
feet, and before conversion, 28I
apartments. 1t is occupied by the
Federal Power Commission. There
are no plans for vacating it.
Portland Hotel-Leased December,
1899, contains $4,000 square feet.
and before conversion, 81 apart
ments. 1t is now occupied by the
Reconstruction Finance Corp. RFC
expects to continue occupancy.
Premier Apartments-718 Eigh-
teenth street NV, leased Decem-
Der, 1885, contains $1,000 square
feet, and before conversion, 40
apartments. 1t is now occupied by
the State Department. There are
M nlQnc for uo fs,,r