Evening star., 1955-06-25
Acts TO Buy
|1ractson Hill

! HUklSV VII IT'LL
i The Government yesterda,
moved to acquire four squares Of
land and a parking lot on Capito
Hill for expansion of the Capito
grounds and a site for a third
House Office building.
Condemnation proceedings fol
this purpose were filed by the
Attorney General in the United
States District Court for the
/ District Of Columbia.
The property includes four
apartment houses, a large ware
house owned by Kann's Depart
ment store, the historic George
Washington Inn and a large
building known as the Labor
Magazine Building.
The land would complete Fed
eral ownership of all land be-
tween Independence avenue, q
street, First street Sc. and First
street S.W. with the exception
of the Congressional Hotel and
private property east of the
parking lot back of the Congress
lsional Hotel.
The action was taken under
authority of recent legislation
approved by Congress and signed
iby the President.
Speculation Blocked
The proceeding filed in court
yesterday is known as a so-called
general declaration of taking.
officials pointed out that this
puts all property owners on
notice that the Government in
tends to acquire their property
and has the effect of blocking
any speculation in the area.
No definite time limit has been
fixed so far for acquisition of
the whole area. It may take
almost a year or two, depending
on the success of private nego-
tiations or the progress of any
court proceedings necessary to
take the property by condemna-
ton.
j. George Stewart. Architect of
the Capitol, in a formal state
ment, said occupants Of the
properties to be acquired will not
be asked to vacate before early
fall.
The first properties to be ac-
quired sare those bounded by
Independence avenue. First street
S.W., Canal street S.W. and
Delaware avenue S.W., which
include the Labor Building, four
apartments and property owned
by Ourisman Chevrolet.
The next in order of priority
will be the parking lot to the
east of the Congressional Hotel.
Later to be acquired will be
the two squares along D street
S.W. and Sc. on which are 10
Gated Kanns' warehouse and the
George Washington Inn.
In the case of all the proper
ties. the architect of the Capitol
said "it is contemplated that
when appraisals are completed
and available with respect toE
these properties. deposits will be
made in the court of their esti-
mated values and negotiations
will be conducted in an endeavor
to agree upon prices to be paid
to the owner"
165 Suites for Members
The third House ONCE Build
ing recently authorized will con-
tain approximately eight COM
mittee rooms, Is subcommittee
rooms and 165 three-room suites
for members of the House. There
also will be Office Accommodations
for committee stats and storage,
service, garage and other mis-
cellaneouS facilities.
Further details win be devel-
oped after preliminary plans and
sketches have been prepared and
considered by the House Office
Building Commission. This COM
mission consists of Speaker Ray
burn, Representative Vinson,
Democrat, of Georgia and Rep
restative Auchincloss. Republic
can, Of New Jersey.
The new House Office Build.
Ing will be located on the site
facing independence avenue,
west Of the present office build
ing.
sc;s y II
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