Demolition threat Belmont-Paul Women's Equality National Monument

sewall-belmont house, hart senate office building behind it.

in 1966, senate began deliberations led construction of hart senate office building. dirksen senate office building occupied western half of block bounded 1st street ne, constitution avenue ne, 2nd street ne, , c street ne. architect of capitol , senators sought condemn entire eastern half of block. belmont-paul house sat on southeast corner of area. stand-alone legislation authorizing condemnation of buildings on site exempted belmont-paul (then sewall-belmont) house demolition, not 2 adjacent buildings used apartments members when visiting washington on many decades organize , lobby on behalf of aspects of women s equality. architects wanted land entrance planned underground parking garage. legislation cleared senate committee on public works in october 1967. full senate approved bill on april 30, 1968.

the house committee on public works approved bill on may 22, 1968. full house of representatives balked @ passing bill. architectural historian l. morris leisenring had studied belmont-paul house architect of capitol, , concluded 2 adjacent structures had once been slave quarters , tobacco barn, , warranted preservation. leisenring had overseen restoration of arlington house, robert e. lee memorial, , opinion persuaded many house members entire nwp complex should saved. other historians disputed leisenring s conclusions. opponents of bill angered cost of senate building , actions taken senate year. house refused act on bill, , died when 90th congress ended on january 3, 1969.

changes architectural design of building moved parking garage entrance northern side of proposed structure, left government seeking condemn nwp s 2 outbuildings use greenspace. overcome house resistance authorization legislation, senate attached language authorizing land condemnation bill had passed house. during conference committee meetings, house members unable have offending amendment removed bill. passed house , senate, , became law.