Acquisition of property in excess of needs

§ 16–1331. Acquisition of property in excess of needsIn order to promote the orderly and proper development of the seat of government of the United States, the Board of Commissioners of the District of Columbia, and agencies of the United States authorized by law to acquire real property, may acquire, in the public interest, by gift, dedication, exchange, purchase, or condemnation, fee simple title to land, or rights in or on land or easements or restrictions therein, within the District, for public uses, works, and improvements authorized by Congress, in excess of that actually needed for and essential to their usefulness, in order to preserve the view, appearance, light, and air and to enhance their usefulness to prevent the use of private property adjacent to them in such a manner as to impair the public benefit derived from the construction thereof, or to prevent inequities or hardship to the owners of adjacent private property by depriving them of the beneficial use of their property.