Evening star., 1961-04-04
District Orders Sale
Market
Sd Precinct
Police Stution
To Be Moved
By SAM EASTMAN
Star Staff Writer

The District Commissioners
today decided to close down the
Western Market and move the
third precinct police station in
order to sell the 1-acre tract
at Twenty-firSt and K streets
NV.
The market tenants will not
be moved out until the station
house is relocated. The moves
probably will not take place
before early 1868, officials said.
Market stalls along the side
walk will be moved earlier,
however.
The Commissioners today
were told by their aides that
the market and precinct site,
at the southeast corner of the
intersection, would sell for
about 50 million.
81 Booths in Building
The city now leases space in
the Western Market Building to
Safeway Stores and has 80
farm produce booths. At pres
ent, % are leased and nine va
cant, officials said. In addition,
the District also rents out space
to farmers on the sidewalk be-
tween the building and the
street.
These stalls outside will have
to go within a few months to
make way for a K street WIDEN
ing project, it was explained.
The Commissioners decision
to sell the land is subject to
approval of the National Capt.
tai Planning Commission.
The Districts plan for NOV
ing the third precinct station
house also will have to be
cleared through Congress on
the question of funds for the
new location.
Under today's action, the old
flrehouSe at 1888 New Hamp-
shire avenue NV. will be torn
down and seven adjacent lots
will be purchased for the site
for the third precincts new
quarters at Twenty-third and
M streets NV.
The Commissioners were told
by James L. McCallister, ad-
miniStrative services officer, !
that the move will cost the
District about $245,O00. This
amount covers the building
construction and site acquisi-'
ton costs plus what the cityt
would have received in selling
the fire house site. minus the
S375.000 estimated value for
the land at Twenty-first and K
streets occupied by the pre-
cinct house.
Ilgenfritz Approves .
In addition to Mr.. McCallis-,
ter. today's action also was rec
commended by Joseph j. Ilgen-
fritz, head Of the Department
of Licenses and Inspections.
Mr.. ngenfritz explained that
he is opposed to having the city
government engage in any ac-
tivity that can be handled by
private enterprise. In addition,
Mr.. Ilgenfritz explained, the
market operation has a seesaw
financial history, with the Dis
trict often losing money.
The cost to the city comes
from providing maintenance,
utilities and janitor service.
Under today's decision, the
market tenants will be put on
a month -to-month lease begin
ming July /.
Commissioner Robert E. Nc
Laughlin indicated that he was
voting for the market shut
down with great reluctance. "It
is one of the old unique things
in Washington and I hate to
see them all banished," he said.
The District government owns
the site of only one other mar
ket, the Eastern Market, at
Seventh street and North Car
olina avenue Sc.
According to Mr.. McCallister,
a number of developers are in
terested in the Twenty-first
and K property. One man, he
said, is talking of putting up
a 350-room hotel there. This
development would bring in
about 100000 a year in real
estate taxes alone, he said,