Evening star., 1955-07-29
Acc Picks Site
At Germantown
Area Chosen
Is % Miles
From D. C..

A4C AbOAA4AN A1LlCA ~ SOt1l1llS~
sion today announced selection
of the site for its new $40 mill
lion headquarters building near
Germantown. Md, % miles from
Washington on Route 118. about
half mile west of new U. S.
Route 240.
| Construction is expected to
start next spring and the build
ing will be completed in the fall
of 1857.
The Acc said at least so acres
will be required for the site, with
exact boundaries to be de-
ltermined after detailed engi-
Ineering surveys are completed.
The site, owned by William o.
Dosh, is about 5 miles north
west of Gaithersburg and about
9 miles from Rockville.
| Ends Months of Speculation
The announcement ended
months of speculation over the
new Acc location, in which in
dications had been that a Mary
land site would be chosen. The
building was authorized early
this year and construction funds
are in pending supplemental
appropriation measure.
/ The present Acc headquarters
is in the old Public Health
Building. at Nineteenth street
and Constitution avenue NV,
although units are scattered
throughout the city, mostly in
temporary buildings.
The Acc said the location and
type of building will afford
reasonable protection against
blast effects of a thermonuclear
weapon in the event of an attack
on Washington and also permit
quick access to the Congress and
the Executive branch of the Gov.
ernment."
Easy access to the White House
and, at the same time, a location
some distance from the heart of
Washington are two obvious ad-
lvantages of the new site. Other
factors involved in its selection,
the Acc said, were an adequate
water supply. a labor market,
supporting community facilities,
accessibility "for business and
committing purposes" and fac
tors affecting the economy OF
construction.
Route 240 Aids Commuters
One of the chief advantages
for commuters is the sites prox-
unity to the new Route 240, now
under construction toward the
Washington area. Route 118
runs from Pleasant Hill to Route
240.
The sites purchase will be
negotiated with Mr.. Dosh. But
the commission said it also has
filed petition for condemnation
"as a protection of the Govern
ment's interests in the event
negotiations are not successful.
Mr.. Dosh, bondsman, oper-
ates a big horse farm known
as ShadoWland. He raises pure
bred Belgians. At one time he
was one of the largest Maryland
dealers in work horses.
The 69-year-old Gaithersburg
resident said he had no idea
how much the Acc might be
willing to pay for the tract.
Some land across the road
went for 81 900 an acre and I've
been offered $500 an acre for
some of the front acreage" he
added.
! Owns Total of 700 Acres
I Most of the land is cleared and
in pasture for the 81 head of
stock he grazes there.
The Acc site is only one Of
five Montgomery County farms
totaling about TOO acres owned
by M. Dosh.
/ Mr.. Dosh has owned the 1885,
acre farm from which the estab-
lishment will be carved for about
10 years.
Il traded a fellow a farm near
Ounce orchard (Md.l for it in
1854 or 1855. Pretty good trade.
guess" he observed.
While final design OF tine new
building has not been deter
mined, it probably will be a
| See Acc, Page AS
7 -