Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-01-30

GU hllCI41Cl Viz 4OSBJ oObSOhA
location would be available.
Chairman Agnes E. Meyer dis
closed that the commission ia
forS Foggy Bottom, but would not
be unhappy if one of the South
west sites are selected. The de-
cision, however, she said, should
be made by Congress.
Key issue, as fAr as the Foggy
Bottom site is concerned, is loc>-
ton of the Districts proposed
sinner loop" expressway. AS
now planned, it would bisect the
suitable" auditorium site.
Visibility Advantage
The commission report said
the Foggy Bottom location. on
high land overlooking the Poto-
mac River, has "esthetic advan-
tages in it's visibility. outlook and
surroundings"
Against these, however," it
said, lis the desirability of reha-
bilitating Washington's south
west sector. The center would
provide an interesting and hand
some focus for such a. redevel-
opment."
In addition to size require
mentS and eSthetic values. the
report said. Washington's popu-
lation distribution, street sys-
TENS, public transit, hotel loca-
tons and existing cultural IA
cilities" all were factors rated in
commission site studies. In all,
10 location were studied in detail
before the three suitable" areas
were specified.
Description of Sites
Following are the three To-
cations, and highlights of what
the commission had to say about
them:
Foggy Bottom-An Irregular
shaped area bounded roughly
by Virginia and New Hampshire
avenues NV. on the north, F
and Water streets on the south,
23d street on the east and 26th
street on the west.
Its total area. with cross
streets closed, would be 26.9
acres, which the commission
said is ideal" About So per
cent of the area is on city tax
rolls. and 1T has a total assessed
value IN land and structures OF
$26 million.
The commission report as
sumed that. if the elmer loop
freeway route is changed, it
would pass to the west of the
center site, and provide access
ramps.
The sites high elevation. the
report said. would provide "a
vista (which would enhance
the center, much as it has the
Lincoln and Jefferson Memorials
and. indeed, the Capitol itself" "
In addition. the report said, it
Is near such tourist attractions
as the White House and the
Lincoln Memorial, and such cul-
tural centers as Constitution Hall
and the Watergate.
Total Area of 27.2 Acres
Southwest (East)-Bounded
by Tenth street S.W. on the
west, D street on the north
Sixth and Seventh streets on
the east and E street and the
proposed Southwest IF street,
expressway on the south.
With streets closed, it would
have total area of 27.2 acres
About IS per cent of the area
is taxable" and has an as
sessed value of So million.
This site. backed by the Dis
trict Redevelopment Land
Agency officials and a number
of civic groups for the auditor
ium location, would front on a
proposed broad tree-lined Mall
along Tenth street. In addition
the city's redevelopment plan
contains no specific use for the
area.
Like the Foggy Bottom site
the commission said, it is neal
tourist. attractions and meets
other basic requirements.
Warehouse Cuts off View
The commission said it has
"some major esthetic difficulties
however, and added:
"On its north boundary, for
instance, a large and dingy Gov
eminent General Services Ad-
ministration) warehouse cuts off
the possibility of vistas of the
center from the Capitol or from
the Grand Mall.
ALSO, at the sites northeast
corner. PENNSYLVANIA Railroad