Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-07-27
u. ). Reduces
Useof Rented
Office Space
Savings Amount
To $3.5 Million,
GSA Reports
By WiIIiom A. MiIIen

By WiIIiom A. MiIIen
The Federal Government has
given up 1.6 million square feet
of rented space here-including
several large buildings-in the
past fiscal year. the General
Services Administration said to-
day.
This has resulted in a savings
of $3.5 million in rent and main
tenance annually, officials said.
Fewer Government employees and
more intensive use of Federally
owned space have helped, they
explained.
Further cuts will be required
in rented space in the Wash
ington area this fiscal year, due
to reduced appropriations. they
added.
Since the end of World War
II, the Federal Government has
reduced its rented space require
ments here from million square
feet. costing SIS million annually
in rent and maintenance.
In the Washington Metropoli-
tan Area now, the Government
Is renting 1.3 million square feet.
OF this. / million is Office space
and the balance is used for
warehouse purposes. All this
costs So million in rent and
maintenance annually.
GSA officials said rent here
averages about $1.40 per square
foot annually in the District and
maintenance costs about 81 per
square foot yearly.
Tempos Still in Use.
Temporary Federal Office
buildings, over which GSA has
jurisdiction, now exceed 6 mil
lion square feet. They house
some 10000 Federal workers.
Previously, GSA officials esti-
mated that it would cost some
5000 million to erect new build
ings to permit these temporary
buildings to be torn down.
Ultimately. these temporary
buildings will have to be re-
placed. and during debate on
the lease-purchase bill, law
makers said there is hope of
getting rid of some of them
through new construction.
The Federal Government still
occupies the big Office building
at 1778 Pennsylvania avenue
NV. which houses the United
States Information Agency in
some 100000 square feet of office
space.
Perhaps the oldest Federally-
rented building in Washington.
the Lemon Building 20 New
York avenue NV. Continues in
Government occupancy. It has
been rented since 1903-over half
a century. 1t is occupied by the
National Capital Housing Au-
thority.
Buildings Vacated.
During the past fiscal year, the
Government has vacated here:
The Veterans Administrator
building, 1925 H street, NV
the old Commerce Department
building rented since 1918.
1924 F street, NV, rented
since 1911-and recently &C.
cupied by the National Advisory
Committee for Aeronautics.
The Walker Johnson Building,
Eighteenth street and New York
avenue NV, rented since 1913
once occupied by part of the
State Department.
119 d street NV, occupied by
the Defense Department.
Others Given Up.
These buildings recently were
vacated by the Federal Govern
ment here:
1712 G street NV, rented
since 1917 and used by Selective
Service. The renovated building
now is occupied by the American
Automobile Association.
The Moses Building, Eleventh
and F streets NV, occupied by
the Defense Department.
The Hurley-Wright Building,
Eighteenth street and Pennsyl-
vania avenue NV. rented since
1917 and formerly occupied by
the Federal Power Commission.
The ID. c. Paper Mill, 1855
Water street NV, a combina-
ton Office and warehouse, occu-
pied by the Defense Department.
The Woodward & Lothrop
Warehouse. First and M streets
NV, which housed a combina-
ton of agencies, including part |
Of GSA. Defense Department and
the Civil Service Commission