Evening star., 1896-02-22
Some Changes in the Regulations
Relating to Subdivisions.
DECREASE IN ALLEY HOUSE BUILDING
Various Building Enterprises That
Are Now Being Considered.
HANDS SOME HON Es

|
property holders, whose land, or a portion
| at least, would be rendered practically val
| ueless, became apparent to the Commission
ers by reason of the many protests received
| from interested citizens. So they once more
| amended the general orders
| According to the first amendment all
| property subdivded must have sixteen feet
| front to each lot, with the regular provision
| for light and ventilation in the rear, as re-
| qu!red by building regulation. 1t was
! pointed out that an owner whose property
| fronted thirty-cne feet could only get one
| lot out of the ground, the remaining fifteen
| feet not being cf necessary width. When
| this amendment was published the Com
missioners were deluged with protests ana
complaints. They listened to arguments ad-
vanced by counsel, and finally concluded
that the amendment was hardship in GER
tain cases. and the number of such cases
was sufficient to call for a further amend
mcnt.
SO they agreed to limit the minimum width
of lots to sixteen feet, but allowed the des-
ignation Of any remaining land not less than
twelve feet front as a lot. This disposed of
many knotty problems. But they vert fur
ther, and provided that where an owner
Fad piece of ground not less than twenty
four feet front he could subdivide 1t into
two lots.
To offset these concessions however. the
Commissioners ordered that no land should
he subdivded in the future less than fifty
feet deep, except where such lot abutted on
two streets. The object of this amendment
is manifest in view of the regula ton paSsed
by the Commissioners some time ago re-
quirng suitable provision in the rear Of all
lots for light and'ventilation 1t is believed
now that the object sought will be attain
ed. namely, that of requiring owners 10 build
houses of an average width, and not DOT the
city with narrow houses.
Houses in Aueys
1t has been considerably over year now
| since the regulation was passed limiting the
building Of houses in alleys. and from that
time the records of the building inspectors
Office show not over dozen permits issued
for alley houses. The regulation, 1t will be
recalled. provided ;hat no house should be
built in any alley unless the latter was a
least 30 feet wide, and had direct outlet
On a street. New. there are any number of
alleys in the city 30 feet wide, but. strange
to say, there are comparatively few that
have direct communication with a street.
Fire Escapes ON Buildings.
There is great rejoicing in the office of the
building inspector over the promptness with
which the owners of buildings are com
plying with the regulations governing the
erection Of fire escapes. A short time ago
the Commissioners repealed that section of
the regulation which required a stand pipe
to be erected alongside the fire escape. Chief
Paris pointed out its useiesSness, and eX-
planned how much time was lost in making
connections with it in case of fire. The
change made quite difference in the eX-
pense of the construction of fire escape,
and it was thought the owners would at
once stop the fight against the law and put
up the fire escapes. But they did nothing of
the sort. Then it occurred to the Commits
sicners that a good way to compel an OBJ
servance of the law, which was acknowl-
d1 on6 Tn oil sid
was to withhold licenses from all places not
provided with fire escape. Then the own
ers scrambled over each other to comply
with the law.
The New Regulations.
1t was found that meeting once a week
was not productive of much speed in COM
pleting the new building regulations, and
the building commission is meeting every
other day now. and hope to have the regu-
lations ready to submit to the Commission
ers in about a fortnight. It may be said that
thus far there have been no material
changes IN the regulations recommended by
the building inspector, and heretofore print
ed in The Star.
Some Building Plans.
Inquiries are now being made every day
at the building inspectors Office for in
formation concerning new houses. Perhaps
the most important feature of the week at
the inspectors office was the visit of a
prominent architect from Brooklyn, N. Y,
who is also big speculator. He came to
l-the Office incoSnito, and spent considerable
time discussing the building regulations. He
finally stated that he was from the city of
churches, and his inquiries were based upon
desire to inform himself as to the condi-
tlon or af1a'rs preparatory to building three
apartment houses in the northwest each
one to be 40 feet front by 70 feet deep and
| six stories high. He took a great many
Eotes, and departed with the remark that
the once would hear from him shortly.
An inquiry has been received from Mr.
w. w. Thomas of Athens, Ca. who Is un-
derstood to be enc of the wealthy men of
| the south. in which he expressed desire
Tor all Information concerning the erection
| OF handsome dwelling which he contem-
plates erecting OH 18th street near U street.
| According to his present plans, the house
will front forty-seyen feet on 17rh street.
| Business improvement.
| A business improvement of impor lance is
to be made shortly by Mr.. Seaton Perry.
He has leased the building adjoining, on
| the east, his establishment at the corner of
pennsylvania avenue and 9th street, and is
having plans prepared by Robert Stead, ar
| ch1tect for the remodeling Of that build
Ing, SO as to make it part of the present
establishment. The floors and front will
| q.
and the new floors will be on a level with
those IN the main building. When the al
terations are completed the floor space of
this large establishment will be more in
proportion to the business transacted than
has been the case
Col. Siebcrt's Residence.
A commodious lot has been purchased by
Coz. Siebert on the east side of 18th street
between and Massachusetts avenue. It
Is the intention of the purchaser to erect a
| residence on this site during the coming
| season, and it will be an addition to the
neighborhcod, which is already adorned by
| a number of handsome homes.
Said to BE senator Elxins.
1t is understood that since the auction sale
during the past week Of the property at the
| northwest corner of nth and streets, for
merly occupied by the University Club, a
| proposition, has been made on the part of a
syndicate looking to the acquisition of the
site for the erection Of an. apartment house.
| It is also said that wealthy man contem-
plates buying the property and building
there handsome home for his own USE