Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-05-10
Conferees OK
Auditorium in
Foggy Bottom
Would Authorize
Government to Boy
25-Acre Truct
BY GEORGE BEvERIDGE


House-Senate conferees agreed
today on legislation authorizing
the Federal Government to ac-
quire a 25-acre tract in Foggy
Bottom as the site for the pro-
posed $50 million national audi
forum and cultural center.
The action, If adopted by the
full House and Senate, could
pave the way for orderly plan
ming of major highway and re-
development projects which have
been left up in the air by in
deflniteness of the auditorium
project.
Actually before the conferees
today were bills passed by the
House and Senate to extend the
life of the 2l-member District
Auditorium Commission. The
Senate bill also would have au-
thorized the commission to "se-
lect and acquire a site, without
naming one specifically in the
law.
New Language
The conferees. however, wrote
in new language directing the
General Services Administration
to acquire by condemnation.
purchase or any other means,
the specific Foggy Bottom site
favored by the Auditorium Com
mission. 1t lies generally west of
Twenty third street, east of
Twenty-sixth and south of Vir-
ginia avenue NV.
The conference action was
taken by a 7-to-1 vote with
Representative Broyhill. Repub-
lican of Virginia. dissenting. It
constitutes a major victory for
the Auditorium Commission,
which fought for the Foggy Bot
tom location over a tract in the
Southwest redevelopment area
which was strongly backed by
city business groups.
The Foggy Bottom site raised
major problems because ap-
proved plans of the National
Capital Planning Commission
call for the Districts proposed
inner-loop expresSway to run
through the site. Planners and
city officials have been left on
the spot of not knowing what
to do about the plan until Con-
gress expressed itself on the
auditorium site.
Alternate Routes
It was learned that District
highway officials have drawn ten
tative alternate routes, however.
which could permit the audi
forum to be built. These plans,
still in the study stage. are being
worked out with special con-
sultants for the Auditorium
Commission and for the big
Potomac Plaza private develop
ment. which could be harmed by
a major road relocation.
Presumably Congress would
appropriate money to GSA to
buy the tract under the con-
ferees' action. The auditorium
Commission asked Congress to
provide the site and offered to
raise the S36 million construc-
ton money through private sub
scription throughout the coun-
try because Of the national
character Of the project.
Senator Morse, Democrat Of
Oregon, told reporters as chair
man Of the conference group
that he had checked the new
language with the Senate par
Humanitarian to make certain it
would not be subject to question.
He said he would file the con-
ference report in the Senate for
action on Monday.
Mr.. Broyhill. who will file a
minority report and possibly
fight today's action on the House
floor, Is a strong advocate Of a
Southwest location for the CEN
ter He has commended that the
Government would have to pay
an exhorbiant amount to buy
land in the rapidly developing
Foggy Bottom section.
Today's action did not author
ize any specific expenditure limit
for the land but directed any Of
the required area now owned by
other Government agencies to be
transferred to GSA for the pur-
pose. Most Of the tract, however,
Is owned privately.