Evening star., 1955-10-31
School Officials Considering Plan
70 Acquire Upshur Street Hospital
Use os Offices
Or for Glasses
Being Weighed
By JAMES G. DEANE

considering bidding for the clos
ing Upshur Street tuberculosis
Hospital for use as an elemen-
tary school.
Assistant School Supt. John M.
Riecks said today top school
officers also plan to revive dis
cussion tomorrow on q long,
dormant plan for q school ad-
ministration center in the hos-
pital vicinity.
Conversion Of the hospital
building to school use is only in
the idea stage. Mr.. Riecks
stressed. It would be intended
to supplement the Powell Ele-
mentary School. which Is across
the street from the hospital.
Boht the Health and welfare
Departments already have made
separate proposals for convert
ing the 47-year-old hospital
building, which the Commission
ers last week announced would
he closed next month. Health
officials have suggested various
projects, including a civil de-
Tense disaster training hospital
and q clinic. Welfare Director
Gerard M. Shea has suggested
setting UP q child pSychiatric
center.
Powell Near Capacity
Mr.. Riecks said he did not
know how suitable the hospital
building would be for school use.
he said he was considering 10
because Powell is fun and is ex-
ipetced to become overcrowded
soon. and use Of the hospital
building at least as q temporary
annex might save some money,
The plan for q school admin
IiStration center does not involve
the hospital building. School Of
|ficials for several years have had
adjacent land at Thirteenth and
Upshur streets NV. earmarked
for such a center, but so far the
project has not been approved
by the Commissioners.
A $2.1 million combined office
building and warehouse-garage
was proposed for the site in Q
long-range school construction
program drawn UP several years
ago.
The center was proposed to
consolidate ofiices and ware.
house facilities now scattered In
some 80 old school buildings in
many parts of the city. School
lofiicials long have contended
that the present sprawling adj
ministrative setup is inef1ciept-
land costly.
Storehouse Deteriorates
What is making the project
more urgent now. Mr.. Riecks
said. is the deterioration of the
school systems present central
Istorehouse, the former Jefferson
Junior High School at 524 Vir.
lginia avenue s.w. This building
lis rapidly deteriorating, and of-
ficialS have avoided extensive
repairs because they feel these
would waste money, he said.
The building has no elevator
and nothing can be stored on
the top floor anyway because the
building is not sound enough. he
pointed out. Within several
years it also is scheduled to be
wiped out by Southwest slum
redevelopment.
| Some consideration has been
given to converting Armstrong
High School to a storehouse il
1.-THE school is closed, but officials
recently have been talking about
keeping Armstrong operating.
Western High Suggested
| The school subcommittee
which helped plan the city's
present public works program
rejected the new administration
center plan. suggesting that
Western High School be con-
verted for the purpose. Western
wouldn't provide adequate store
house facilities. however, Mr..
Riecks said. Western. Roosevelt
land Cardozo High Schools also
have been under consideration
flor housing the new District
Teachers College,
Archie Hutson, District con-
Istruction director, said today he
was certain there. was ample
room on the Upshur street prop
lerty. which is all District-owhed.
\ for the school administration
center and any other projects
now being talked about.
1 School officials have contend !.
ed that increased efficiency and
sale of old school buildings
would completely pay for the
proposed administrative center
within 10 years. Mr.. Riecks said
he didn't know whether the $2.1
million estimate would cover the
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