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STATEMENT OF MISS DOROTHEA DE SCHWEINITZ, CHAIRMAN, FINE ARTS COMMITTEE, GEORGETOWN CITIZENS ASSOCIATION

Miss DE SCHWEINITZ. I would like to begin with a request that we be permitted to prepare a statement which could be included in the record. My committee, the Fine Arts and Historic Buildings Committee of the Citizens Association of Georgetown, heard of this hearing only yesterday, and we had another hearing this morning. We would like to prepare not a long statement but something that would be concrete for your record.

Mr. SISK. I might say, on behalf of the Chair, the committee would welcome such a statement, and without objection the statement upon its preparation and submission will be made a part of the record. Miss DE SCHWEINITZ. Thank you very much.

I think probably previous witnesses have mentioned that we have quite a little on the history of this building, but that no doubt previous witnesses have mentioned that it was deeded to the mayor and council, the town of Georgetown, in 1802 for the use of a market and for no other purpose. It was used as a market-this site was used as a market from 1802 to 1935, and since then it has been used for other purposes.

I think, from the members of my committee, I can judge that we have patrons who use the Western Market and express great pleasure at hearing that it might possibly be moved to Georgetown.

On hearing of this hearing yesterday, I called up the Georgetown Planning Council, which is a group of architects, city planners, and landscape architects, who have been meeting regularly, almost weekly, I believe, for some months, and have been before Secretary Udall and the Potomac River Task Force concerning this whole area along the riverfront. They gave me permission to quote a resolution or a motion. that they passed on September 29, 1965, which said that they move to retain and keep the Potomac Street and develop the Potomac Street access as a connecting access between M Street and K, which is right along the river, and as a small commercial mall centered around the old public market.

Mr. SISK. I might say, Miss de Schweinitz, if you would like to make that resolution available, without objection the resolution in its entirety will be made a part of the record.

Miss DE SCHWEINITZ. Yes; you would like to have it made available to you?

Mr. SISK. You will make that available to the clerk at a later time. Miss DE SCHWEINITZ. Yes.

Mr. SISK. It will become a part of the record at this point together with an additional statement you wish to submit.

Miss DE SCHWEINITZ. Yes.

(The documents referred to follow :)

THE GEORGETOWN PLANNING COUNCIL,
Washington, D.C., February 10, 1966.

Hon. JOHN L. MCMILLAN,

Chairman, Committee on the District of Columbia,
U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, D.C.

DEAR SIR: It is my understanding that at the recent hearing by Committee No. 4, held on February 8, 1966, on bill No. H.R. 11792, chaired by the Honorable B. F. Sisk, a request was made that the following be included in the record.

"Retain and develop the Potomac Street axis as a connecting link between M Street and K and as a small commercial mall centered around the old public market."

The above motion was made at the September 29, 1965, meeting of the Georgetown Planning Council and passed unanimously. Sincerely,

GROSVENOR CHAPMAN, AIA,

Secretary.

Hon. JOHN MCMILLAN,

THE CITIZENS ASSOCIATION OF GEORGETOWN,
February 11, 1966.

Chairman, Committee on the District of Columbia,
U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, D.C.

DEAR MR. MCMILLAN: Enclosed is the statement of the Citizens Association of Georgetown which we request be made part of the record of the hearing conducted by Committee No. 4 on H.R. 11792 on February 8, 1966.

The chairman, the Honorable B. F. Sisk, granted us permission to submit this statement in supplement to my brief testimony and to that of the chairman of our committee on fine arts and historic buildings, Miss Dorothea de Schweinitz. We hope that your committee and the Congress of the United States will give every favorable consideration to the preservation and rehabilitation of the Market House at 3276 M Street NW., for use as a market.

Very truly yours,

PETER BELIN, President.

STATEMENT OF THE CITIZENS ASSOCIATION OF GEORGETOWN

The Citizens Association of Georgetown favors H.R. 11792 and four other identical bills concerning the old Market House situated at Potomac and M Streets in Georgetown. A detailed resolution concerning this matter was passed by the association on January 10, 1966, a copy of which has already been entered into the record of the hearing.

The association favors the rehabilitation of this old Market House from the point of view of historic preservation and of the desirability of moving the market activities (currently at the Western Market on 22d Street) to the Georgetown location. Interest in this project is evidenced in the minutes and correspondence of the association over the past 4 years, culminating in the resolution of January 10, 1966.

According to the minutes and ordinances of the council of Georgetown in the early years, the site of the old Market House was used as a market as early as 1791. There is mentioned an old Market House as well as a new one in the records of 1796. In the latter part of 1802 (as recorded on January 5, 1803) Adam King deeded the property to the mayor, recorder, aldermen, and Common Council of Georgetown (for a financial consideration) for the use of a market, "forever, and for no other use, interest, or purpose whatsoever." The Citizens Association of Georgetown has a copy of this deed. The property was used as a market from 1802 until 1935. (In the 1930's, Georgetown had not yet become the thriving community which it now is, with its many potential users of a market at this location.)

The present structure was presumably under construction from 1863 to 1865, being erected on the foundation of the previous Market House. The ordinances of the Corporation of Georgetown show that an issue of shares of stock was authorized for financing the construction in August of 1863. In 1864 (January 9), additional funds were authorized to increase the structure to two stories at its northern end. On May 27, 1865. regulations were issued for rentals in the building, apparently it was in full use by July 1, 1865. (On February 22, 1866, the Potomac Hose Company gave a ball, free of charge, in the Market House.) The above historical information was provided to this association by the Columbia Historical Society and by the Peabody Library Association of Georgetown. In November 1964 the Landmarks Committee of the National Capital Planning Commission and of the committee on fine arts designated the old market in Georgetown as a landmark. In February 1965, the fine arts and historic

buildings committee of this association requested the National Capital Planning Commission to make a study of the market, especially as to the feasibility of its operation as a market. Portions of the study have been completed and the association has been assured that the final report will include inquiry and recommendations of the problem of parking for the merchants and farmers as well as for the prospective customers.

The Georgetown Planning Council composed of architects, city planners, and landscape architects has recommended that a Potomac Street axis be retained and developed as a north-south link between M and K Streets, and as a small commercial mall centered around the old public market. This council has made extensive recommendations to the Secretary of Interior, the Honorable Stewart Udall, and to the Potomac River Task Force concerning the Georgetown waterfront in the general area from M Street to the Potomac River.

In view of the above information and actions, the Citizens Association of Georgetown requests that the House District Committee of the 89th Congress give every favorable consideration to the intention of H.R. 11792 concerning the rehabilitation of the Georgetown Market House as a market, as well as to the integration of these plans with other Government action affecting this area of Georgetown and the District of Columbia.

Miss DE SCHWEINITZ. Well, as I say, we are interested in historie preservation, but I think you can be assured that many of the customers of the 22d and K Street market are in Georgetown, and will welcome its presence here.

Mr. Sisk. Thank you. Before we proceed now to the witnesses for the District, the Chair would like to inquire if Miss Mary Small is in the room.

Miss SMALL. Yes.

Mr. SISK. The Chair has no desire, Miss Small, to put you on the spot, but I believe you might have information as to the study underway by the National Capital Planning Commission. I was wondering if you had any comments as to when that study would be completed. We understand such a study has been mentioned and might be underway. Do you have any comment on that?

STATEMENT OF MISS MARY SMALL, SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO THE DIRECTOR, NATIONAL CAPITAL PLANNING COMMISSION

Miss SMALL. We hope to have the results of that study in about 2 months.

Mr. SISK. About 2 months?

Miss SMALL. And that study will include a recommendation from structural engineers concerning the condition of the building and what will be needed to put it in shape for a market.

Mr. SISK. Thank you, Miss Small.

We have from the District of Columbia government Mr. Thomas F. Moyer, Mr. William Dripps, Mr. Pierce, and Mr. McCallister. Do you gentlemen all wish to appear together? If so, you may take your place at the witness table. We would like to hear from you now.

STATEMENT OF THOMAS F. MOYER, ASSISTANT CORPORATION COUNSEL; WILLIAM DRIPPS, SUPERINTENDENT, INSPECTION DIVISION, DEPARTMENT OF LICENSES AND INSPECTION; GEORGE PIERCE, DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH; AND JAMES L. MCCALLISTER, ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES OFFICER, DEPARTMENT OF GENERAL ADMINISTRATION, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA GOVERNMENT

Mr. MOYER. My name, Mr. Chairman, is Thomas F. Moyer, assistant corporation counsel. I hope to present the Commissioners' report. I am accompanied by three representatives of the District government who are familiar with this site and who will be available for any questions that the committee might have as to the conditions here. Mr. SISK. Please have them come up and take their places. Without objection a report dated February 8, 1966, addressed to the Honorable John L. McMillan, chairman of the Committee on the District of Columbia, and signed by Mr. Walter N. Tobriner, president of the Board of Commissioners of the District of Columbia, will be made a part of the record at this time.

(The report referred to is as follows:)

GOVERNMENT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA,

EXECUTIVE OFFICE, Washington, February 8, 1966.

Hon. JOHN L. MCMILLAN,

Chairman, Committee on the District of Columbia,
U.S. House of Representatives,
Washington, D.C.

DEAR MR. MCMILLAN: The Commissioners of the District of Columbia have for report H.R. 11774, H.R. 11792, H.R. 11810, H.R. 11813, and H.R. 11824, identical bills to require the Board of Commissioners of the District of Columbia to use certain property for public market purposes.

Any of these bills, if enacted, would require the Commissioners of the District of Columbia to construct, operate, and maintain a public market on lot 800, square 1186, presently owned by the District of Columbia at Potomac and M Streets NW. There is on the lot, a 1-story and basement building of undetermined but considerable age, familiarly known as the Old Georgetown Market, although not used for market purposes for many years. It occupies almost the entire lot, which is 40 feet wide by 248 feet long, with an area of 9,920 square feet.

The building is constructed of field stone foundation and basement walls, with a wood joist main floor, brick first-story walls, and wooden roof structure. There is evidence of structural failure in various portions of the foundation walls, ranging from slight cracking to complete collapse. The first-floor joists and auxiliary posts installed at some past time to increase the load-carrying capacity are thoroughly infested with termites. The flooring is badly worn and holed in many places. The brick exterior walls are in need of repointing generally, and require rebuilding in two areas. The wooden roof structure appears generally sound, but much leakage of the roof has caused extensive rotting in the trim and eave boards of the roof. Gutters and downspouts are almost entirely missing. The standing seam tin roof is obviously in need of repair or replacement.

The building is currently in use by a wholesale and retail auto parts concern. This tenant leases the entire building but actually occupies only a portion of the main floor; the basement or cellar is entirely unoccupied.

The work required in order to make the building usable for a public market and to bring it into compliance with minimum building and health standards would be extensive. Structural repairs needed are the repair or replacing of foundation walls, and the removal and replacement of the entire main floor joists and flooring. This replacement should be with noncombustible materials and

with an impervious concrete floor to meet health standards. Brick walls should be patched, repointed, and rebuilt as necessary. All windows and doors should be replaced. And the roof, the rotted outlookers, eave boards, and sheathing must be replaced, and the entire roof patched or repaired. New guttering and downspouts are required. Since plumbing is practically nonexistent in the building, complete toilet and washing facilities will have to be provided for all tenants. A new water and sewer service will be required. In order to meet health standards, hot and cold potable water will have to be supplied to each tenant in a sink at his stand. Also no heating system, except for a boiler, now exists in the building. A system capable of maintaining a reasonable temperature would have to be installed. The existing electrical system is entirely antiquated and overloaded, and the entire system should be replaced and reinstalled to meet acceptable standards for lighting and power. It would be necessary to install a complete commercial refrigeration system for the use of the market tenants. This involves installation of walkin refrigerators, chillers, liquid coolers, necessary compressors, and power for their operation.

Health requirements for the building will consist, at the very minimum, or an impervious concrete or terrazzo main floor, a rat-proofing slab for the cellar, running hot and cold water sinks for each tenant, and adequate refrigeration for each tenant's food products.

There are no offstreet parking and loading facilities available for either tenants or customers. Although the building is surrounded by public streets and alleys, only one street, in front, has any substantial width, and it is extremely heavily traveled.

It is estimated that the alterations and repairs to the building required to meet the minimum standards of District regulations for a market would cost $185,000. The lot is appraised at $300,000 exclusive of the building which is considered to be a burden on the land.

The Commissioners are informed that this legislation was intrduced at the request of the tenants of the Western Market, among other. Western Market was recently sold by the Commissioner for approximately $3 million ($72.42 per square foot). It is occupied by nine tenants, plus a Safeway Store. These tenants brough in a total gross income of $17,571 for fiscal year 1965, of which $5,952 was from the Safeway Store rental. When this is set against the direct costs involved in the market operation, with no consideration of debt, retirement, maintenance, or amortization, there resulted a very small profit to the District. In truth, the District operated the Western Market at a heavy loss for the benefit of nine tenants, of the Safeway Store, and of such number of custimers as used the facility.

If this operation were to be transferred to the Georgetown location, the Commissioners understand that the Safeway Stores would not follow. The maximum income to be expected then would be that from the rest of the present tenants of Western Market, or $11,619. This will not pay the salaries of the District employees required to operate the market, let alone pay for materials. repairs, other costs, and amortization of the District's investment. There is no prospect of any additional tenants to help spread the costs. If rentals were set near a break-even point, the Commissioners do not believe that any of these tenants could afford such rents.

Space on the outside of Western Market was used as a "farmers line." This line was open to any farmer who desired to sell products raised by him, at a charge of 20 cents for each 32 square feet of space occupied. During fiscal year 1965, the District deceived $487 for rentals of this space. The average tenancy of this space amounted to 13 occupants for 1 day, Saturday, of each week. Ample space is available at the farmers line in the Eastern Market at 7th and C Streeets SE., for any farmers displaced by the closing of Western Market.

It is evident from the above that there can be no justification, in the economic sense, for supporting any of these bills. It is also evident that the benefits to be derived by the few tenants and by the relatively small number of expected customers would have to be weighed against the very large investment required. The Commissioners believe that such as investment is entirely unwarranted. They are informed that reports of the Agricultural Marketing Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture indicate that 22 markets were erected from the end of World War II until 1958. Each such market was a wholesale market or transfer point market. That is, the market was erected, usually by the State government, for the use of farmers who were selling their products to wholesalers or to truckers or transfer companies who purchase in wholesale lots. In

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