Evening star., 1960-06-26
The Presidents Park

The congressional authorization OF
a huge new courthouse on the east side
of Lafayette Square is a regrettable
mistake. An available alternate location
in the Southwest redevelopment area, as
proposed by General Services Admins
traitor Floete, is so infinitely more desir-
able, both for the needs of the courts
and for the best interests of the city,
that only great political pressure could
account for this lamentable decision.
Unfortunate as it is, however, pros
poets are dim that the decision will
be reversed. And that being so, the COM
pelling requirement now is that steps
be taken to assure that the courthouse
is designed in such manner that it will
help reclaim the once-lovely grace and
character Of Lafayette Square, rather
than further it's destruction with an
other incongruous and ugly wart.
How can that be done? 1t can only
be done effectively, in our judgment, by
considering the future development of
the entire square as an entity, and by
drawing basic architectural plan for
the new buildings which will restore
as closely as possible the dignity and
charm which originally made Lafayette
Park and its surroundings such an ideal
setting for the White House.
This does not mean preserving such
unimpreSSive relics as the BelaSco Thea
ter and the Dolley Madison House. 1t
is too late for that. Most of the early
buildings which originally bounded the
park already are gone, and none of
those which remain Except the Blair
Lee and the Decatur Houses on the
west side of the park) is worth pre-
serving. The real downfall of Lafayette
Square was not merely that its rows
of stately town houses were replaced,
however, but that they were replaced
in haphaZard, uncontrolled fashion,
with many structures of divergent size
and appearance. For the first time,
the imminence of Federal construction
has opened the opportunity to clear
away the heterogeneous mixture, to
reclaim the old values of order and
balance, and this can be done If ex-
traordinary steps are taken to assure
that the bureaucratic architecture of
the GSA is held in tight rein.
To accomplish this, we suggest that
the President direct the Fine Arts Com
mission, or appoint special panel of
distinguished architects, to develop
new plan for the square. In essence,
this means a plan for the courthouse
on the east side of the park and the
new Executive Off1ce building on the
west. For these buildings are of such
magnitude that they will occupy vir-
tually all the space on both the blocks
Such plan certainly would impose
rigid restrictions on height and bulk.
AS well, it might require a type Of
architectural design and a selection
of building materials reminiscent of
the early days. Instead of single
massive chunk of stone, for example,
why not break the courthouse into two,
or possibly more, smaller buildings? This
probably would require that. only two,
instead of three, courts would be ac-
commodated. But what does that really
matter? What is the compelling need
that they be housed together?
Lafayette Park traditionally has
been known as the presidents Park.
Nothing could be more fitting now
than for President Eisenhower, from his
vantage point across Pennsylvania ave-
nue., to take a personal hand in the re-
clamation of its lost charm and beauty.