Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-07-06
House Group
Approves Ga,
State Funds

telligence Agency's headquarters
at Langley, Va.
Both amounts are less than
the estimated full construction
costs, but the committee indi-
caed it will grant funds to COM
plete each project next year.
The State Department project
calls for extension two blocks
westward of the present building
lat Twenty-f1rst and Virginia
avenue NV. The new annex
will make the State Department
the biggest Federal building in
Washington.
Request Cut S10.7 Million
The department asked for $55.6
million-the total construction
estimate-but the figure was
trimmed SLOT million. The COM
mittee said department officials
stated the cut would "in no way
delay or alter" construction,
however, since the final $40 mil
lion could not be obligated during
1857.
| In addition, the committee
recommended a $150,000 grant to
the General Services Adminis-
tration to permit purchase Of
private land on the south side of
C street between Twenty second
and Twenty-third streets-im-
mediately across the street from
the new State Department
Annex.
The CHA appropriation of $40
million was the precise amount
requested by that agency.
The CHA has warned Con-
gresS, however, that full cost Of
|, its new Langley center will ex-
coed this figure by $40 million.
and that the additional amount
will be requested next year. Add
ed to the $40 million is SIS mil
lion Congress already has appro-
priated, making a total project
, cost of $54.5 million.
; Parkway to Be Extended
OF this $54.5 million, $46 mil.
lion is to go for the building it.
self, and $8.5 million for exten.
t sion Of the George Washington
: Memorial parkway along the Pc.
S tomac River from its present
terminus near Key Bridge to the
new CHA installation.
The CHA expects to start con.
struction next spring and be
ready to occupy the new center
about three years from now.
CHA officials said construction
cost increases are responsible fol
the extra $40 million to b.
needed eventually. If it shoulc
! not be granted, they said, CA
employees would have to continu,
to occupy II permanent" build.
lngs even after the new center
is finished. In addition, how.
y ever, the agency occupies about
half of all the downtown
tempo" buildings nthe Mall
These will be free for demolition
J when the center is finished.
|, Would Gather Personnel
The committee report said thu
new State Department annex
' would gather that agency's per-
, sonnet from among "29 separate
r buildings" where they now are
scattered.
State Department officials said
this Capitalization would per-
i init the agency to save $2.1 mil
, lion a year.
, The committee said it was
, amazed, however, to discover
+ that no present estimate of flu
ture savings as a result of the
need for fewer employees hao
, been computed by the depart.
ment."
The committee made it plair
that it expects such an estimat,
to be furnished in the near flu,
ture."
In addition to the $44.9 millior
recommended today for tn,
State annex. the committe,
noted that it has already appro.
priated $l.8 million. The add,
tional $40 million the depart.
ment will request next year will
bring the final cost up to $57..
million, and the Appropriation
Committee said it considered
this to be final ceiling" on tn,
project.
GSA Requested More
The $15O,OOO the committe,
recommended for purchase O
land just south of the State De,
partment was only half tn,
amount requested by GSA. Th,
committee said this would b,
enough for initiating condem
nation" however.
Requests for this money rep,
resented a laSt-ditch effort b,
GSA to control private develop
ment in the Government area
just south of the new State De,
partment.
A year ago Congress refused
money to denim propert.
bought by the National Associa
ton Of Life Underwriters for
new headquarters on the south
west corner of TWenty-secont
and c streets NV. The none,
sought this year would permit
GSA to condemn the Congel
Laundry property at Twenty,
third and c streets, to provid,
room for a land swap" with thu
underwriters organization.
AS GSA outlined the swap Il
Congress, the underwriters are
willing to trade their tract fol
a site in the center of the block
between Twenty-second ano
Twenty third, but farther back
from c street and farther away
FrAV,o tLo watt, oxaNvaAao fa ell a