Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-04-29
Group Clears
Grounds Bill
House to Debate
Capitol Site Plan

SoPIIoI SIte TIoh
A bill to expand Federal land
holdings on Capitol Hill has
been cleared for I hours debate
on the floor by the House Rules
Committee.
The measure Of Senator
Hayden. Democrat of Arizona,
already has cleared the Senate
and affects about one-half Of
the block bounded by First.
Second. c and D streets NE.
Several members Of the Rules
Committee. which took up the
bill yesterday. criticized the
measure. But Representative
Jones, Democrat Of Alabama,
pointed to plans for future de-
velopment Of the Capitol Hill
East Capitol street area and
said it is necessary to acquire
property now before values |
increase further.
There is a fear by the Cap
itol Architect" Mr.. Jones said. |
that certain commercial in
terests might acquire 1t (the
affected land) and increase It's
value"
Hotels Excluded
Mr.. Jones said the Carroll
Arms Hotel. the Plaza Hotel
and certain other buildings
would be excluded. leaving an
authorization to acquire only
about one-half Of the block at
a cost Of $4,000.
Some Rules Committee men,
bers expressed irritation over
the Senate's plans for future |
expansion In the area just
north Of the new Senate Once |
Building which has not yet
been completed.
Mr.. Jones statement fol-
lowed closely the report on the
bill from the House Committee
on Public Works. Concerning
acquisition Of this property.
the public works group had
this to say;
1.-THE trend in recent years
for labor and trade organiza-
tons to establish national
headquarters and construct
office buildings in the District
Of Columbia has also had its
effect on property utilization
and property values.
Property Values Up
"Since World War II the ef- |
fects Of these conditions have
been distinctly noticeable in the
vicinity Of the Capitol. During |
this period there has been
underway a program of restora-
ton and improvement Of old
homes in areas near the Capt.
tol. Such improvements have
more than doubled property
values.
Removal of slums and OBJ
solete dwellings from other Sec
tons near the Capitol will un-
doubtedly result in further i'm |
provements and increased
property values in other Sec
tons in that vicinity -.
I'm 1881, two squares were
acquired in that area in each
OF three separate transactions
at a cost Of 81 million or less.
In l949 the cost of acquiring
only one-half of square 725 as
a site for the new Senate Of
flee Building amounted to 81
million.
"In 1854, subsequent to the
purchase Of the west half of
that square. the alley dwellings !!
In Schott's court. located on
the east half of the square,
were purchased by private in
terests and have since been
completely rehabilitated and
converted into de luxe living
quarters. resulting in increased
property value.
Need for Space
I'm view of thiss increase in
property values, and the obvi-
GUS need for additional space
for expansion of activities in
the future. it appears that pro-
visions should be made at this
time for this anticipated ex-
pansion by acquisition of GER
tain adjacent properties"
Representative Van zant,
Republican Of Pennsylvania,
past commander of the Veter-
ans of Foreign Wars. said the
WV owns a headquarters site
in the affected area and must
sell to the Government before
it can proceed with construc-
ton elsewhere.