Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-07-18

DOAAAAAAS PAOSA0 gill AL WASHING
worth of new construction, befor
few weeks.
Details of the program. discl
for IS new Federal buildings in
downtown Washington and its
suburbs by 1860, as the FIRST
stage.
These new buildings would
provide enough permanent Office
space to permit demolition Of
more than 80 eyesore Govern
ment "tempos," and subsequent
stages of the program contem-
plate razing all downtown tempos
by 1862.
At a GSA press conference fol-
lowing disclosure Of the program
yesterday. Fred S. Poorman.
deputy public buildings admins
traitor. said he thought the goal
of a congressional green light on
all the first stage projects during
this session was attainable.
Some Money Appropriated
Congress. he explained, already
has appropriated planning or
actual construction money for
eight of the Is first stage pro-
jects. These five, to cost $189
million. include new State De-
partment annex, a Smithsonian
Museum of History and Tech
nology and new buildings for the
Bureau of Standards, Central
Intelligence Agency and Atomic
Energy Commission.
The remaining eight projects
are proposed for construction
under the Federal lease-pur-
chase program. They do not
require appropriations. but need
only concurrence by the House
and Senate Public Works Com
mittees to go ahead Immediately.
Mr.. Poorman said four of the
eight lease-purchase buildings
already are pending before the
committee. The other four are
expected to be forwarded by the
administration in a matter OF
days. Mr.. Poorman said early
committee hearings are expected.
If the committees approve, he
said, contracts for design Of all
but one of the eight projects
would be let in q few months.
Annual Payments
Under leaSe-purchase. the
buildings are constructed by
private investors. The Govern
ment makes annual lease pay
mentS" for the space it occupies.
but acquires title to the buildings
after a specified number Of
years.
The single lease purchase
project that could not get under
way Immediately involves three
small buildings proposed as part
of Washington'S Area c South
west redevelopment program.
Their construction time table.
Mr.. Poorman said, must follow
that of the redevelopment pro-
gram.
OF the seven that could go
ahead, five would be built in the
downtown area. 1t has not been
determined precisely which
agencies would occupy them.
The other two projects-a head
quarters for the Geological Sur
vey and one for the Coast and
Geodetic Survey-probably will
be located in the suburbs.
The entire GSA building pro-
gram, divided into three con-
struction stages, calls for % new
structures or extensions of
existing Federal departments,
long on the planning books.
Would House $4,000
At the programs completion.
Mr.. Poorman said. all downtown
ltempos would be gone and per-
Imanent Federal Office buildings
west of the Capitol would house
about $4,000 Federal employees
There are now about $4,000
executive branch" Federal
workers west of the Capitol.
The new goal of $4,000 is close
to an employment ceiling" Of
$4,000 recommended for that
area by the National Capital
Planning Commission.
Along with the employment
ceiling figure, Mr.. Poorman said,
the new GSA program CON
forms entirely with longtime
proposals of the planning COM
mission for the location Of new
Federal Office buildings"
A major benefit of the new
plan. GSA officials said. will be
to ease downtown trafiic in many
locations. Some Of the worst
snarls are caused by heavy con-
centrations of employment