An Act to establish the Pennsylvania Avenue Bicentennial Development Corporation, to provide for the preparation and carrying out of a development plan for certain areas between the White House and the Capitol, to, further the purposes for which the Pennsylvania Avenue National Historic Site was designated, and for other purposes
PL 92-578 (H.R.10751), enacted 10/27/1972

1266 
PUBLIC LAW 92-578-OCT. 27, 1972 
[86 STAT. 
Public Law 92-578 
> 
> 
... 
October 2 7, 1972 
A N A C T 
[H. R. 10751] 
To establish the Pennsylvania Avenue Development Corporation, to provide for 
the preparation and carrying out of a development plan for certain areas 
between the White House and the Capitol, to further the purposes for which 
the Pennsylvania Avenue National Historic Site was designated, and for other 
purposes. 
Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the 
Pennsylvania 
United States of America in Congress assembled, That this Act may 
ment"co^*orati'rn ^6 cited as the "Pennsylvania Avenue Development Corporation Act 
Act of 1972. 
of 1972". 
SEC. 2. The Congress finds and declares— 
(a) that it is in the national interest that the area adjacent to 
Pennsylvania Avenue between the Capitol and the White House, 
most of which was designated on September 30,1965, as a national 
historic site under the Historic Sites Act of August 21, 1935 (16 
49 Stat. 666. 
U.S.C. 461 et seq.), be developed, maintained, and used in a man-
ner suitable to its ceremonial, physical, and historic relationship 
to the legislative and executive branches of the Federal Govern-
ment and to the governmental buildings, monuments, memorials, 
^nd parks in or adjacent to the area; 
(b) that the area adjacent to Pennsylvania Avenue between 
the Capitol and the White House, because of its blighted char-
acter, imposes severe public, economic, and social liabilities upon 
the District of Columbia as the seat of the government of the 
United States, thereby impeding its sound growth and develop-
ment and constituting a serious and growing threat to the public 
health, safety, morals, and welfare of its inhabitants; 
(c) that to insure suitable development, maintenance, and use 
of the area and the elimination of blight, it is essential that there 
be developed and carried out as an entirety plans for this area 
which will specify the uses, both public and private, to which 
property is to be put, the programing and financing of necessary 
acquisitions, construction, reconstruction, and other activities; 
(d) that such duties and responsibilities can best be developed 
and carried out by vesting the requisite powers in a Federal 
corporation which can take maximum advantage of the private 
as well as the public resources which will be necessary; 
(e) that the powers conferred by this Act are for public uses 
and purposes for ivhich public powers may be employed, public 
funds may be expended, and the power of eminent domain and 
the police power may be exercised, and the granting of such 
powers is necessary in the public interest; and 
Development 
(f) that the area thus to be developed, maintained, and used 
in accordance with the provisions of this Act (hereinafter 
referred to as the development area) shall be the area bounded 
as follows: 
Beginning at a point on the southwest corner of the intersection 
of Fifteenth Street and E Street Northwest; 
thence proceeding easterly along the southerly side of E Street 
to the southwest corner of the intersection of Thirteenth Street 
and Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest; 
thence southeasterly along the southerly side of Pennsylvania 
Avenue to a point being the southeast corner of the intersection of 
Pennsylvania Avenue and Third Street Northwest; 
thence northerly along the east side of Third Street to the north-
east corner of the intersection of C Street and Third Street 
Northwest; 
area 
86 STAT. ] 
PUBLIC LAW 92-578-OCT. 27, 1972 
1267 
thence westerly along the north side of C Street to the north-
east corner of the intersection of C Street and Sixth Street 
Northwest; 
thence northerly along the east side of Sixth Street to the north-
east corner of the intersection of E Street and Sixth Street 
Northwest; 
thence westerly along the north side of E Street to the north-
east corner of the intersection of E Street and Seventh Street 
Northwest; 
thence northerly along the east side of Seventh Street to the 
northeast corner of the intersection of Seventh Street and F 
Street Northwest; 
thence westerly along the north side of F Street to the north-
west corner of the intersection of F Street and Ninth Street 
Northwest; 
thence southerly along the west side of Ninth Street to the north-
west corner of the intersection of Ninth Street and E Street 
Northwest; 
thence westerly along the north side of E Street to the north-
east corner of the intersection of E Street and Thirteenth Street 
.« 
Northwest; 
thence northerly along the east side of Thirteenth Street to the 
northeast corner of the intersection of F Street and Thirteenth 
Street Northwest; 
thence westerly along the north side of F Street to the north-
west corner of the intersection of F Street and Fifteenth Street 
Northwest; 
thence northerly along the west side of Fifteenth Street to the 
northwest comer of the intersection of Pennsylvania Avenue and 
Fifteenth Street Northwest; 
thence westerly along the southern side of Pennsylvania Avenue 
to the southeast corner of the intersection of Pennsylvania Avenue 
and East Executive Avenue Northwest; 
thence southerly along the east side of East Executive Avenue 
to the intersection of South Executive Place and E Street North-
west; 
• 
thence easterly along the south side of E Street to the point of 
beginning being the southwest corner of the intersection of Fif-
teenth Street and E Street Northwest. 
SEC. 3. (a) There is hereby created a body corporate to be known . Pennsylvania 
,-, 
T
-
» 
1 
• 
A 
T\ 
1 
/-^ 
• 
/I 
• 
!• 
Avenue Uevelop-
as the Pennsylvania Avenue Development Corporation (hereinafter ment corporation, 
referred to as the "Corporation"). 
establishment. 
(b) The Corporation shall be dissolved upon completion, as deter-
mined by the Board of Directors, of its implementation of the develop-
ment plan provided for in section 5 of this Act. Upon dissolution, 
assets remaining after all the obligations and indebtedness of the 
Corporation has been fulfilled and paid or satisfied shall be the assets 
of the United States. 
(c) The powers and management of the Corporation shall be vested 
^oard o
f DI-
in a Board of Directors consisting of fifteen members, as follows: '*'' °''^' 
(1) The Secretary of the Interior; 
(2) The Secretary of the Treasury; 
(3) The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development; 
(4) The Secretary o5 Transportation; 
(5) The Administrator of General Services; 
(6) The Commissioner of the District of Columbia; 
(7) The Chairman, District of Columbia Council; and 
1268 
PUBLIC LAW 92-578-OCT. 27, 1972 
[86 STAT. 
Term. 
Chairman. 
Compensation. 
5 u s e 5332 
note. 
80 Stat. 499; 
83 Stat. 190. 
Meetings, quo-
rum. 
Advisory Board. 
Executive Di-
rector. 
(8) Eight, at least four of whom shall be residents and who 
are registered voters of the District of Columbia, appointed by 
the President from private life, who shall have knowledge and 
experience in one or more fields of history, architecture, city 
planning, retailing, real estate, construction, or government. 
(d) Each member of the Board of Directors specified in para-
graphs (1) through (7) of subsection (c) may designate another offi-
cial to serve on the Board in his stead if unable to serve in person. 
(e) Each member of the Board of Directors appointed under para-
graph (8) of subsection (c) shall serve for a term of six years from the 
expiration of his predecessor's term; except that (1) any Director 
appointed to fill a vacancy occurring prior to the expiration of the term 
for which his predecessor was appointed shall be appointed for the 
remainder of such term, and (2) the terms of office of the Directors 
first taking office shall begin on the date of the enactment of this Act, 
and shall expire as designated at the time of appointment, two at the 
end of two years, two at the end of four years, and four at the end of 
six years. A Director may continue to serve until his successor has 
qualified. 
(f) The President shall designate a Chairman and a Vice Chairman 
from among the members of the Board of Directors, chosen from pri-
vate life. 
(g) The Chairman, upon his appointment, shall invite to serve on 
the Board of Directors as nonvoting members the following: 
(1) The Chairman of the Commission of Fine Arts; 
(2) The 
Chairman 
of 
the 
National 
Capital 
Planning 
Commission; 
(3) The Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution; 
(4) The Director of the National Gallery of Art; 
(5) The Architect of the Capitol; 
(6) The Archivist of the United States; 
'^i' 
(7) The Chairman of the District of Columbia, Commission on 
the Arts; and 
(8) The Chairman of the District of Columbia Redevelopment 
Land Agency. 
(h) Members of the Board of Directors who are officer's or employees 
of the Federal or District of Columbia government shall receive no 
additional compensation by virtue of their membership on the Board. 
Other members of the Board, when engaged in the activities of the 
Corporation, shall be entitled to receive compensation at the daily 
equivalent of the rate for GS-18 of the General Schedule, and travel 
expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, as authorized by 
law (5 U.S.C. 5703(b)-(d) and 5707) for persons in the Government 
service employed intermittently. 
(i) The Board of Directors shall meet at the call of the Chairman, 
who shall require it to meet not less often, than once each three months. 
A majority of the voting members of the Board of Directors (or their 
designated alternates) shall constitute a quorum. 
(j) There shall be established a nonvoting Advisory Board of 
seven members appointed by the Chairman from amonj? tenants and 
owners of real property within the development area. The Advisory 
Board shall meet at least twice annually with the Board of Directors, 
and shall otherwise offer such advice and assistance as may be of bene-
fit to the Board of Directors during preparation of the development 
plan. 
SEC. 4. (a) The Board of Directors shall have the power to appoint 
and fix the compensation and duties of the Executive Director and such 
86 
STAT.] 
PUBLIC LAW 92-578-OCT. 27, 1972 
1269 
other officei-s and employees of the Corporation as may be necessary 
for the efficient administration of the Corporation; the Executive 
Director and two other officers of the Corporation may be appointed 
and compensated without regard to the provisions of title 5 of the 
United States Code governing appointments in the competitive service 
and chapter 51 and subchapter 53 of title 5 of the United States Code. 
(b) Administrative services shall be provided by the General Serv-
ices Administration on a reimbursable basis. 
SEC. 5. (a) The development plan for the development area shall 
include, but not be limited to: (1) the types of uses, both public and 
private, to be permitted; (2) criteria for the design and appearance 
of buildings, facilities, open spaces, and other improvements; (3) an 
estimate of the current values of all properties to be acquired; (4) an 
estimate of the relocation costs which would be incurred in carrying 
out the provisions of section 8 of this Act; (5) an estimate of the cost 
of land preparation for all properties to be acquired; (6) an estimate 
of the reuse values of the properties to be acquired; (7) a program 
for the staging of a proposed development, including a detailed 
description of the portion of the program to be scheduled for comple-
tion by 1976; (8) a determination of the marketability of such devel-
opment; (9) an estimate of the development costs, both public and 
private; (10) a thorough study of the economic impact of such devel-
opment, including the impact on the local tax base, the metropolitan 
area as whole, and the existing business activities within the develop-
ment area; and (11) the procedures (including both interim and long-
term arrangements) to be used in carrying out and insuring continuing 
conformance to the development plan. 
(b) The development plan provided for in subsection (a) shall 
be prepared with the Cooperation of the Department of the Interior, 
the General Services Administration, and the District of Columbia 
government with the maximum feasible use of their staffs and other 
resources on a reimbursable basis by the Corporation. 
(c) After the development plan has been completed and approved 
by the Board of Directors of the Corporation, it shall be submitted to 
the Secretary of the Interior and the Commissioner of the District of 
Columbia. The Secretary of the Interior, within ninety days, shall 
notify the Corporation of his approval or recommended modifications 
from the standpoint of the compatibility of the plan with his respon-
sibilities for the administration, protection, and development of the 
areas within the Pennsylvania Avenue National Historic Site. The 
Commissioner of the District of Columbia, within ninety days, shall 
consult with the National Capital Planning Commission, shall hold 
public hearings on the plan, and shall notify the Corporation of his 
approval or recommended modifications: Provided, That in the event 
that the Secretary of the Interior or the Commissioner of the District 
of Columbia has not notified the Corporation of his approval or recom-
mended modifications of the plan within ninety days after the date of 
submission, he shall be deemed to have approved the plan. 
(d) In the event the Secretary of the Interior or the Commissioner 
of the District of Columbia has recommended modifications of the 
plan, the Corporation within one hundred and twenty days of the 
original submission of the plan shall consult with them regarding 
such modifications and shall prepare a development plan which shall 
be transmitted to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the 
House of Representatives. 
If the Secretary of the Interior or the Commissioner of the District 
of Columbia has not approved the development plan, the transmittal 
80 Stat. 378. 
5 u s e 101 et 
seq. 
5 u s e 5101, 
5331. 
GSA, adminis-
trative services. 
Development 
plan. 
•si 
'.dv'!^' 
Submittal to 
Secretary of In-
terior and D.C. 
Commissioner. 
Public hear-
ings. 
Transmittal to 
Congress. 
1270 
PUBLIC LAW 92-578-OCT. 27, 1972 
[86 STAT. 
"Substantial 
change." 
Other govern-
ment agencies, 
services. 
Corporation 
powers. 
C onde mna ti on 
proceedings. 
77 Stat. 577. 
D.C. Code 16-
1351. 
shall include a specification of the areas of difference, the modifica-
tions suggested by the Secretary of the Interior or the Commissioner 
of the District of Columbia and the views of the Corporation thereon. 
Following the expiration of sixty legislative days after the date of 
such transmittal, the Corporation may proceed with the execution 
and implementation of the plan unless between the date of transmittal 
and the end of the sixty legislative day period, either the Senate or 
the House of Representatives passes a resolution in opposition to the 
development plan. 
(e) Activities under the development plan shall be carried out in 
accordance with the approved development plan. The Corporation 
may alter, revise, or amend the plan, but any such alteration, revision, 
or amendment w^hich is a substantial change from the approved devel-
opment plan shall take effect only upon compliance with the procedures 
set forth in subsections (c) and (d) of this section. For the purposes of 
this subsection, the term "substantial change" shall mean one involv-
ing a major alteration in the character or intensity of an existing or 
proposed use in the development area which in the opinion of the 
Corporation causes an increase or decrease of 10 per centum or more of 
the dollar amount of the estimate prepared in accordance with sub-
section (a)(9) of this section, or one which, in the opinion of the Sec-
retary of the Interior, affects his responsibilities for the administration, 
protection, and development of the areas within the Pennsylvania 
Avenue National Historic Site. 
(f) To avoid duplication and unnecessary expense the Corporation 
shall, to the maximum feasible extent in conducting its operations, 
utilize the services and facilities of other agencies, including the 
Department of the Interior, General Services Administration, the 
National Capital Planning Commission, the District of Columbia gov-
ernment, and the District of Columbia Redevelopment Land Agency. 
SEC. 6. In carrying out its powers and duties, the Corporation— 
(1) shall have all necessary and proper powers for the exercise 
of the authorities vested in it; 
(2) shall have succession in its corporate name; 
(3) may adopt and use a corporate seal which shall be judi-
cially noticed; 
(4) may sue and be sued in its corporate name. All litigation 
arising out of the activities of the Corporation shall be conducted 
by the Attorney General; 
(5) may adopt, amend, and repeal bylaws, rules, and regula-
tions governing the manner in which its business may be con-
ducted and the powers vested in it may be exercised; 
(6) may acquire lands, improvements, and properties within 
the development area by purchase, lease, donation, or exchange; 
may hold, maintain, use, or operate such properties; may sell, 
lease, or otherwise dispose of such real and personal property and 
any interest therein as the Corporation deems necessary to carry 
out the development plan; or may lease, repurchase, or otherwise 
acquire and hold any property which the Corporation has there-
tofore sold, leased, conveyed, transferred, or otherwise disposed 
of: Provided^ That condemnation proceedings for the acquisition 
of real property (including interests therein), which may be nec-
essary or appropriate in order to carry out the development plan, 
shall be conducted in accordance with the procedural provisions 
of chapter 13, subchapter IV, of title 16 of the District of Colum-
bia Code: Provided 
further^ That prior to acquiring any resi-
dential property there shall be a finding of assurance of adequate 
86 STAT.] 
PUBLIC LAW 92-578-OCT. 27, 1972 
1271 
replacement housing consonant with the requirements of the Uni-
form Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition 
Policies Act of 1970 (84 Stat. 1894); 
(7) may enter into and perform such contracts, leases, coopera-
tive agreements, or other transactions with any agency or instru-
mentality of the United States, the several States, or the District 
of Columbia or with any person, firm, association, or corporation 
(including agreements with private utility companies with respect 
to the relocation of utility lines and other facilities in the develop-
ment area) as may be deemed necessary or appropriate to the 
conduct of activities authorized under this Act; 
(8) may establish (through covenants, regulations, agreements, 
or otherwise) such restrictions, standards, and requirements as 
are necessary to assure development, maintenance, and protection 
of the development area in accordance with the development 
plan; 
(9) shall seek authority from the Congress to borrow money by 
issuing marketable obligations, after obtaining proposals from at 
least three private financial analysts on the feasibility of private 
versus public financing of the Corporation, which proposals shall 
be transmitted to the Congress with the development plan as 
provided in section 5 of this Act. 
'(10) may borrow money from the Treasury of the United 
States in such amounts as may be authorized in appropriation 
Acts, but not to exceed $50,000,000. Such borrowings from the 
Treasury shall have such maturities, terms, and conditions as may 
be agreed upon by the Corporation and the Secretary of the Treas-
ury, but the maturities may not be in excess of forty years, and 
such borrowings may be re(ieemable at the option of the Corpora-
tion before maturity. Such borrowings shall bear interest at a rate 
determined by the Secretary of the Treasury taking into consider-
ation the average market yield on outstandmg marketable obliga-
tions of the United States of comparable maturities during the 
month preceding the issuance of the obligations of the Corpora-
tion. The interest pavments on such obligations may be deferred 
with the approval of the Secretary of the Treasury but any inter-
est payment so deferred shall bear interest. Said obligations shall 
be issued in amounts and at prices approved by the Secretary of 
the Treasury. The authority of the Corporation to issue obliga-
tions hereunder shall expire June 3, 1980, except that obligations 
may be issued at any time after the expiration of said period to 
provide funds necessary for the performance of any contract 
entered into by the Corporation, prior to the expiration of said 
period. The Secretary of the Treasury is authorized and directed 
to purchase any obligations of the Corporation to be issued under 
this paragraph and for such purpose the Secretary of the Treasury 
is authorized to use as a public debt transaction of the United 
States the proceeds from the sale of any securities issued under 
the Second Liberty Loan Bond Act, as amended, and the purposes 
for which securities may be issued under the Second Liberty Loan 
Bond Act, as amended, are extended to include any purchase of 
the Corporation's obligations under this paragraph; 
(11) may invest any funds held in reserve or sinking funds, or 
any moneys not required for immediate use or disbursement, with 
the approval of the Secretary of the Treasury, in obligations of 
the United States Government, or obligations the principal and 
42 use 4601 
note. 
Financing; 
proposals, trans-
mittal to Congress. 
Limitation. 
Obligations, 
issuance, au-
thority expiration. 
40 Stat. 288. 
31 use 774. 
1272 
PUBLIC LAW 92-578-OCT. 27, 1972 
[86 STAT. 
Restriction. 
Personnel. 
Information, 
availability. 
interest of which are guaranteed by the United States Govern-
ment : Provided^ Tliat this authority shall not extend to moneys 
obtained by borrowing from the Government or through appro-
priations to the Corporation; 
(12) may procure insurance against any loss in connection with 
its property and other assets and operations; 
(13) may contract for and accept any gifts or grants or prop-
erty or financial or other aid in any form from the Federal Gov-
ernment or any agency or instrumentality thereof, or from any 
State or any agency or instrumentality thereof, or from any source, 
and comply subject to the provisions of this Act, with the terms 
and conditions thereof; 
(14) may determine the character of and necessity for its obli-
gations and expenditures, and the manner in which they shall be 
incurred, allowed, and paid, subject to provisions and laws spe-
cifically applicable to wholly owned Government corporations; 
(15) may prepare or cause to be prepared plans, specifications, 
designs, and estimates of cost for the construction, reconstruction, 
rehabilitation, improvement, alteration, or repair of any project, 
and from time to time may modify such plans, specifications, 
designs, or estimates; 
(16) may acquire, construct, reconstruct, rehabilitate, improve, 
alter, or repair or provide for the construction, reconstruction, 
improvement, alteration, or repair of any project; 
(17) may grant options to purchase any project or may renew 
any leases entered into by it in connection with any of its projects, 
on such terms and conditions as it may deem advisable; 
(18) may manage any project, owned or leased by the Cor-
poration, and may enter into agreements with the District of 
Columbia government or any agency or instrumentality thereof, 
or with any person, firm, partnership, or corporation, either public 
or private, for the purpose of causing any such project to be 
managed; 
(19) may utilize or employ the services of personnel of any 
agency or instrumentality of the Federal Government or of the 
District of Columbia, with the consent of the agency or instru-
mentality concerned, upon a reimbursable basis, or utilize volun-
tary or uncompensated personnel; 
(20) shall publish and disseminate information and make 
known to potential usei's, by advertisement, solicitation, or other 
means, the availability for development of lands in the develop-
ment area; 
(21) may execute all instruments necessary or appropriate in 
the exercise of any of its functions under this Act, and may 
delegate to members of the Board or the Executive Director such 
of its powers and responsibilities as it deems appropriate and 
useful for the administration of the Corporation; and 
(22) shall be entitled to the use of the United States mails in 
the same manner as the executive departments of the Government, 
and shall have all the rights, privileges, and immunities of the 
United States with respect to debts due from insolvent, deceased, 
or bankrupt debtors. 
SEC. 7. (a) Nothing in this Act shall preclude other agencies or 
instrumentalities of the Federal Government or of the District of 
Columbia from exercising any lawful powers in the development area 
consistent with the development plan or the provisions and purposes 
of this Act; but no such agency or instrumentality shall release, mod-
86 STAT. ] 
PUBLIC LAW 92-578-OCT. 27, 1972 
1273 
ify, or depait from any feature or detail of the development plan with-
out the prior approval of the Corporation. 
(b) After the date of the enactment of this Act, no new construction 
(including? substantial remodeling, conversion, rebuilding, enlarge-
ment, extension, or major structural improvement of existing building, 
but not including ordinary maintenance or remodeling or changes nec-
essary to continue occupancy) shall be authorized or conducted within 
the development area except upon prior certification by the Corpora-
tion that the construction is, or may reasonably be expected to be, 
consistent with the carrying out of the development plan for the area: 
Prooided, That if the development plan for the area does not become 
effective under the provisions of section 5 within twelve months of the 
date of enactment of this Act, this subsection shall be of no further 
force and effect until such time as the development plan does become 
effective under that section. 
SEC. 8. (a) The title to any real property (or interest therein) 
acquired under the authority of this Act shall be taken by and in the 
,; 
name of the Corporation and proceedings for condemnation or other 
acquisition of property shall be brought by and in the name of the 
Corporation. 
(b) In the administration of a relocation program or programs pur-
suant to the Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acqui-
sition Policies Act of 1970, the Corporation may utilize the services of 
84 stat. i894. 
the District of Columbia Redevelopment Land Agency. Costs of such 
^ 2 use 4601 
services shall be reimbursed by the Corporation to the District of "°*^' 
(^olumbia Redevelopment Land Agency. 
-' 
(c) All relocation services performed by or on behalf of the Cor-
poration shall be coordinated with the District of (Columbia's central 
relocation programs. 
(d) Owners and tenants of real property whose residence, or retail, 
Displaced 
wholesale, service or other business is terminated as a result of acqui- ant""pre"ere*ntiai 
sitions made pursuant to this Act shall be granted a preferential right "ght. 
to lease or purchase from the Corporation or its agent such like real 
l)roperty as may become available for a similar use upon implementa-
tion of the development plan. Any such preferential right shall be lim-
ited to the parties in interest and shall not be transferable or 
tissignable. 
SEC. 9. (a) In effectuating the purposes of this Act, the Corpora- 
^°^^^ needs, 
, • 
c- 
1 
A 
i 
primary considera-
t i o n : 
tion. 
(1) shall consult and cooperate with District of (Wumbia 
officials and community leadei-s at the earliest practicable time; 
(2) shall give primary consideration to local needs and desires 
and to local and regional goals and policies as expressed in urban 
renewal, community renewal, and comprehensive land use plans 
and regional plans; and 
(3) shall foster local initiative and participation in connection 
with the planning and development of its projects. 
(b) The Corporation shall comply with all District of Columbia 
laws, ordinances, codes, and regulations in constructing, reconstruct-
ing, rehabilitating, altering, and improving any project: Provided^ 
That the provisions of section 428 of title 5 of the District of Columbia 
52 stat. 802. 
Code shall apply to all the constructing, reconstructing, rehabilitating, 
altering, and improving of all buildings by the Corporation. The con-
struction, reconstruction, rehabilitation, alteration, and improvement 
of any project by non-Government sources shall be subject to the pro-
\isions of the District of Columbia Code and zoning regulations. 
SEC. 10. (a) Since the exercise of the powers granted by this Act 
"^^^ exemption. 
1274 
PUBLIC LAW 92-578-OCT. 27, 1972 
[86 STAT. 
Payments to 
D.C. govern-
ment. 
Report to Presi-
dent and Con-
gress. 
83 Stat. 136. 
59 Stat. 597. 
Separability. 
will be in all respects for the benefit of the people, the Corporation is 
hereby declared to be devoted to an essential public and governmental 
function and purpose and shall be exempt from all taxes and special 
assessments of every kind of the United States and of the District 
of Columbia. 
(b) To the end that the District of Columbia may not suffer undue 
loss of tax revenue by reason of the provisions of subsection (a), the 
Corporation, in connection with any real property acquired and owned 
by the Corporation in carrying out the provisions of this Act shall 
pay to the District of Columbia government an amount equal to the 
amount of the real property tax which would have been payable to the 
District of Columbia government beginning on the date of acquisition 
of such real property by the Corporation if legal title to such property 
had been held by a private citizen on such date and during all periods 
to which such date relates. 
SEC. 11. The Corporation shall transmit to the President and the 
Congress, annually each January and at such other times as it deems 
desirable, a comprehensive and detailed report of its operations, activi-
ties, and accomplishments under this Act. 
SEC. 12. (a) The Corporation shall contribute to the civil service 
retirement and disability fund, on the basis of annual billings as deter-
mined by the Civil Service Commission for the excess, if any^ of the 
Government's share of the normal cost of the civil service retirement 
system applicable to the Corporation's employees and their beneficiar-
ies over the agency contributions required by section 8334(a) (1) of 
title 5, United States Code. 
(b) The Corporation shall include in the annual billings provided 
for under subsection (a) above, a statement of the fair portion of the 
cost of the administration of the fund, which shall be paid by the 
Corporation into the Treasury as miscellaneous receipts. 
SEC. 13. The Corporation is authorized to use in the conduct of its 
business all its funds and other assets and all funds and other assets 
which have been or may hereafter be transferred to, allocated to, bor-
rowed by, or otherwise acquired by it. 
SEC. 14. (a) All general penal statutes relating to the larceny, 
embezzlement, or conversion of public moneys or property of the 
United States shall apply to moneys and property of the Corporation. 
(b) Any person who, with intent to defraud the Corporation, or 
to deceive any director, officer, or employee of the Corporation or any 
officer or employee of the United States, (1) makes any false entry 
in any book of the Corporation, or (2) makes any false report or 
statement for the Corporation, shall, upon conviction thereof, be fined 
not more than $10,000 or imprisoned not more than five years, or both. 
(c) Any person who with intent to defraud the Corporation 
(1) receives any compensation, rebate, or reward, or (2) enters into 
any conspiracy, collusion, or agreement, express or implied, shall, on 
conviction thereof, be fined not more than $5,000 or imprisoned not 
more than five years, or both. 
SEC. 15. Section 101 of the Government Corporation Control Act 
(31 U.S.C. 846) is amended by inserting "Pennsylvania Avenue 
Development Corporation;" after "Farmers Home Corporation;". 
SEC. 16. If any provisions of this Act or the application thereof to 
any body, agency, situation, or circumstances is held invalid the 
remainder of the Act and the application of such provision to other 
bodies, agencies, situations, or circumstances shall not be affected 
thereby. 
86 STAT. ] 
PUBLIC LAW 92-579~OCT. 27,1972 
1275 
SEC. 17. There are hereby authorized to be appropriated not to 
Appropriation. 
exceed $1,000,000 for the development of the plan to be prepared 
pursuant to section 5 of this Act. No appropriations shall be made 
Prohibition. 
from the Land and Water Conservation Fund established by the Act 
of September 3, 1964 (78 Stat. 897, as amended, 16 U.S.C. 4601), to 
effectuate the purposes of this Act. 
Approved October 27, 1972. 
Public Law 92-579 
A N A C T 
October 2 7, 197:! 
To amend title 12, District of Columbia Code, to provide a limitation of actions 
[s. 1524] 
for actions arising out of death or injury caused by a defective or unsafe 
improvement to real property. 
D.C. 
Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled^ 
SECTION 1. (a) Chapter 3 of title 12 of the District of Columbia reaTp'r°opeTt^y'!*'° 
Code (relating to limitation of actions) is amended by adding at the 
Death or injury 
end the following new section: 
"'77°stat!ti"o""''"' 
"§12-310. Actions arising out of death or injury caused hy ^Q{^'^°^^ ^'^' 
defective or unsafe improvements to real property 
"(a) (1) Except as provided in subsection (b), any action— 
"(A) to recover damages for— 
"(i) personal injury, 
" (ii) injury to real or personal property, or 
"(iii) wrongful death, 
' 
resulting from the defective or unsafe condition of an improve-
ment to real property, and 
"(B) for contribution or indemnity which is brought as a 
result of such injury or death, 
shall be barred unless in the case where injury is the basis of such 
action, such injury occurs within the ten-year period beginning on the 
date the improvement was substantially completed, or in the case where 
death is the basis of such action, either such death or the injury result-
ing in such death occurs within such ten-year period. 
"(2) For purposes of this subsection, an improvement to real prop-
erty shall be considered substantially completed when— 
" (A) it is first used, or 
"(B) it is first available for use after having been completed in 
accordance with the contract or agreement covering the improve-
ment, including any agreed changes to the contract or agreement, 
whichever occurs first. 
"(b) The limitation of actions prescribed in subsection (a) shall 
not apply to— 
" (1) any action based on a contract, express or implied, or 
"(2) any action brousrht against the person who, at the time the 
defective or unsafe condition of the improvement to real property 
caused injury or death, was the owner of or in actual possession 
or control of such real property." 
(b) The table of sections for such chapter 3 is amended by adding 
at the end the following new item: 
"12-310. Actions arising out of death or injury caused by defective or unsafe 
improvements to real property."