70 Years Later, 'Temporary' Navy Annex Coming Down

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Washington's Navy Annex is coming down, more than 70 years after it was built as a temporary warehouse.

Crews have begun tearing down the walls of the annex, which later served for more than 50 years as Marine Corps headquarters. Demolition is expected to be completed by September and the 42-acre site will then be turned over to neighboring Arlington National Cemetery to provide additional grave sites.

William Brazis, director of the Pentagon's Washington Headquarters Service, told The Washington Post that the complex isn't architecturally pleasing. Brazis says it was built to be a warehouse and it showed.

Seven four-story wings at the Annex once were home to 6,000 workers. An eighth wing was torn down in 2004 to make room for the Air Force Memorial.

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