Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-04-09
Auditorium Site
InFoggyB Bottom
Gains Backers
House, Senate Units
Urge Selection of
27-Acre Truct
BY GEORGE BEvERIDGE

House and Senate subcommit-
tees today jointly recommended
selection of a 27-acre Foggy
Bottom tract as the site for the
proposed national auditorium
and cultural center.
Senator Morse, Democrat of
Oregon. acting as chairman. said
the only dissent was from Repre-
sentative Broyhill, Republican
of Virginia, who favored a SIM
ilar-sized site in the Southwest
Redevelopment Area.
Senator Morse said he con-
siderS today'S- vote a recon-
mendation to the Congress" He
said he favors purchase of the
Foggy Bottom site by the Federal
Government, although no specific
subcommittee action was taken
on this today.
Senator Morse refused COM
ment on how today'S subcom-
mittee recommendation will get
before Congress. He parted
questions by saying they were
involved in a pending House
Senate conference on existing
bills to extend the life of the
District Auditorium Commission.
Favor FOggy Bottom
The House has appointed con-
ferees who strongly support the
Foggy Bottom site. Senate con-
ferees, due to be appointed to-
day. also are expected to be top
heavy in favor of Foggy Bottom.
This made it likely that the
bills in conference may be
amended to designate Foggy
Bottom as the recommended To-
cation. This would be an easy
means of getting the site ques-
tion-and possibly purchase
authorization-before Congress
quickly.
Senator Morse said he expect
ed the conferees to meet within
the next few days" but that any
comment he would make would
be anticipating a conference re-
portland that I will not DO"
The Auditorium Commission.
in a report to Congress several
weeks ago. strongly recommended
the Foggy Bottom site south of
Virginia avenue between Twenty
second and Twenty-sixth streets
NV, but said if this tract were
not available that locations in
the Southwest would be ade-
quate.
II also asked Congress to buy
the site. but said it would try to
raise $50 million for the center's
construction through private
subscription.
The Foggy Bottom site con-
ficts with a proposed route OF
the Districts "innerloop" ex-
pressway and a change in the
route could affect private de-
velopment projects in that area
Routes Studied
Studies are underway to see
If the route can be changed SC
all the projects can go forward
Presumably, if Congress desig-
mates Foggy Bottom for the
auditorium, this would have to be
done.
Mr.. Broyhill said a major rea
son for opposing Foggy Bottom
was that the proposed tract
would cost about $50 million
About 81 per cent is privately
owned.
Representative Morrison
Democrat of Louisiana. Foggy
Bottom proponent. sharply dis
agreed. contending it would cost
far less than so per cent Of $2C
million" Mr.. Broyhill said he
based his figures on records 81
recent sales of comparable pri-
vate land in that area"
Senator Morse said he wa,
Influenced by the fact that
there is such a small area left
In the District for Federal Gov
eminent development we ought
to take steps in our generation
to preserve such areas for tbs
future. II We don't act now ir
Foggy Bottom this land un.
doubtedly will be lost for tht
future TO private development
The Oregon Senator said ht
also was Influenced by a letter
from District Engineer Com
missioner Thomas a. Lane say.
ing the National Capital Plan.
ming Commission has ruled tina
sites in both Foggy Bottom anC
the Southwest would be accept,
able for the auditorium and tina
other development could b.
modified TO permit it.