40 U.S.C. § 3309: Buildings and sites in the…

Summary

Federal buildings and sites in Washington, D.C. must fit as closely as possible with the L’Enfant plan for the city. New or changed public buildings should look attractive and be useful. If the Administrator of General Services needs several neighboring city squares for a building, the streets between those squares and alleys that cross them can be closed and added to the site, but only if the Administrator, the Council of the District of Columbia, and the National Capital Planning Commission all agree. The Administrator must talk with the House Office Building Commission before buying land south of Independence Avenue between Third Street SW and Eleventh Street SE. The Administrator must talk with the Architect of the Capitol before buying land from the U.S. Capitol grounds to Eleventh Street NE and SE, bounded by Independence Avenue on the south and G Street NE on the north. Despite other laws, the Armory Board may make contracts to hold events at Robert F. Kennedy Stadium.

Title 40, §3309

Public Buildings, Property, and Works, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)In General.—

The purposes of this chapter shall be carried out in the District of Columbia as nearly as may be practicable in harmony with the plan of Peter Charles L’Enfant. Public buildings shall be constructed or altered to combine architectural beauty with practical utility.

(b)Closing of Streets and Alleys.—

When the Administrator of General Services decides that constructing or altering a public building under this chapter in the District of Columbia requires using contiguous squares as a site for the building, parts of streets that lie between the squares, and alleys that intersect the squares, may be closed and vacated if agreed to by the Administrator, the Council of the District of Columbia, and the National Capital Planning Commission. Those streets and alleys become part of the site.

(c)Consultations Prior to Acquisitions.—

(1)With house office building commission.—

The Administrator must consult with the House Office Building Commission created by the Act of March 4, 1907 (ch. 2918, 34 Stat. 1365), before the Administrator may acquire land located south of Independence Avenue, between Third Street SW and Eleventh Street SE, in the District of Columbia, for use as a site or an addition to a site.

(2)With architect of capitol.—

The Administrator must consult with the Architect of the Capitol before the Administrator may acquire land located in the area extending from the United States Capitol Grounds to Eleventh Street NE and SE and bounded by Independence Avenue on the south and G Street NE on the north, in the District of Columbia, for use as a site or an addition to a site.

(d)Contracts for Events in Stadium.—

Notwithstanding the District of Columbia Stadium Act of 1957 (Public Law 85–300, 71 Stat. 619) or any other provision of law, the Armory Board may make contracts to conduct events in Robert F. Kennedy Stadium.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised SectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 3309(a)40:607(a).Pub. L. 86–249, § 8(a), (b), Sept. 9, 1959, 73 Stat. 481; Pub. L. 87–476, §§ 1, 2, June 8, 1962, 76 Stat. 92. 3309(b)40:607(b). 3309(c)40:607(c).Pub. L. 86–249, § 8(c), Sept. 9, 1959, as added Pub. L. 87–476, § 3, June 8, 1962, 76 Stat. 92. 3309(d)40:607(d).Pub. L. 86–249, § 8(d), Sept. 9, 1959, as added Pub. L. 93–72, July 10, 1973, 87 Stat. 169. In subsection (b), the words “Council of the District of Columbia” are substituted for “Board of Commissioners of the District of Columbia” [subsequently changed to “District of Columbia Council” because of section 402(431) of Reorganization Plan No. 3 of 1967 (eff. Aug. 11, 1967, 81 Stat. 951)] in section 8(b) of the Public Buildings Act of 1959 (Public Law 86–249, 73 Stat. 481) because of section 401 and 404(a) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act (Public Law 93–198, 87 Stat. 785, 787). Subsection (d) is substituted for 40:607(d) to eliminate obsolete words.

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The Act of March 4, 1907, referred to in subsec. (c)(1), is act Mar. 4, 1907, ch. 2918, 34 Stat. 1365, which is classified to section 2001 of Title 2, The Congress. The District of Columbia Stadium Act of 1957, referred to in subsec. (d), is Pub. L. 85–300, Sept. 7, 1957, 71 Stat. 619, which is not classified to the Code.

§3309 Buildings and Sites in the District of Columbia