Evening star., 1961-01-03
Capitol Hill
Group Wants
Stewart Out
Property Offers
In 2-BIock Area
Anger Residents

| In 2-Block Area
Anger Residents
A group of Capitol Hill resi-
dents, angry over congressional
plans to take their homes. may |
petition President-elect Ken
Enedy for the removal of Capitol
Architect j. George Stewart.
James w. O'Connor. presi-
dent of the Capitol Hill South
east Citizens Association, said
today that residents Of the two
block area south of the Library
of Congress and east of the Old
House Office Building are hop
ping mad-and fearful.
The 100 homeowners and
40 business owners have been
offered a total of $4.832,100 for
their properties. The area may |
be leveled for a park or for
an eventual. Library of Congress
annex.
Protests Acknowledged
Mr.. O'Connor said more than |
IS persons have telephoned |
him or visited him With COM
plants about the offers, which |
range from $14.150 to $500, 900
the latter property owned by
the Capitol Hill Club. of which
1900 prominent Republicans
are members. Mr.. O'Connor
noted that Mr.. Stewart is a
Republican appointee.
He, estimated that 80 per cent
Of the home owners have re-
ceived offers far below real
worth or replacement cost.
MY own home, which I be-
lieve to be the oldest frame
home in Washington. was built
in 1904 and owned by Stephen
Decatur. 1t has nine rooms and
q two-car garage. I'm being
offered about $23.000." he said.
II feel it is worth SAC. 900. To
buy a similar home with a
similar history in Georgetown
would cost me $4,000 to $780,
O00."
He added that Mr.. Stewart
is offering about $4,000 for a
home Just across the street
from an inferior home that re-
Gently sold for nearly twice
that.
Age Brought Into Issue
He charged that Mr.. Stewart
is rushing to finish his program
before age forces him to retire.
He is putting all these
elderly people out in four
months-and he doesn't even
know yet what he will do with
the property" Mr.. O'Connor
charged.
Mr.. Stewart was appointed
by President Eisenhower in 1855.
The appointment does not re-
quire Senate approval and is
NORMALLY for life. An aide said
Mr.. Stewart is about 10.
There have been only eight
Capitol architects. the first be-
ing appointed by George Wash
ington. the aide said.
The aide added that the ap-
praisals Of property were made
by two private firms and that
MIR. Stewart was directed to
have the homes vacated in the
spring of 1861 and the busi-
nesses in February, 1862.
Appraisers Named
Richard B. Hall and Curt C.
Mack appraised the two blocks
of homes. Charles c. Koones
and J. A. Weinberg, jr., ap-
praised the commercial prop
erty. All are private appraisers
in the Washington area. 1t
was not required that their
appraisals total less than the
S. million appropriated by
Congress last June.
A real estate woman special
izing in Capitol Hill property
said today that higher ap-
praisals might have come from
appraisers who specialize in
Capitol Hill property.
Men working primarily in
Northwest property tend to
look on Hill property as slum
property" she said.
Much of the Hill property
previously taken by Congress
was poor. she pointed out. But
these last two blocks include
pre-Civil War homes restored
by some of the first citizens to
see the Hill as a second George
town, she added.
On the other hand, she said,
Hill residents should not ex-
pect to get as much in a cash
settlement-such as they will
get from the Government-as
in a long-term settlement with
only a few thousand dollars or
less as down payment.
In acquiring the property on
Capitol Hill, Mr.. Stewart is
directed by the House Office
Building Commission, headed
by House Speaker Rayburn
The other two members of the
commission are Representative
Auchincloss. Republican of New
Jersey and Penresentative