The evening times., 1897-04-15
PROTEST AGAINST A FLAT
Columbia Heights Citizens Object
to the Carry Structure.
HEARD BY TIE COMMISSIONERS
The Case Presented by President
Ballfnger-Carry' Attorney States
IL Work Is Stepped LabOring Men
VIII Lose 100000 Representa-
tives of Labor Unions Present.

President NJ. A. Ballinger, Of the Co.
lumbia Heights Citizens Associ alton. an
peared before the Commissioners this morn
Ing, for heariug that developed sundry
| personalities, TO argue against the issu-
ance OF a permit to Albert Carry, for the
construction of a flat at the corner OF
Fourteenth and Birney streets, his priu-
cipal objection being TO the height OF the
structure, which, It was argued. was in
excess of that prescribed by the building
regulations.
The dimensions of the building, as given
in the application, were 1916 by 90 feet,
and the height was stated as Il feet.
The main entrance is TO be on Bfrney street,
which is sixty feet wide and residence
street Mr.. BaIlinger made the point
that under the building regulations no
construction is admissible which exceeds
in height the width OF the street upon
which 1t s placed This provision he said,
was made co avoid the erection of tall
buildings adjoining others more modest
whereby the humber buildings would be
deprived of light and ventilation.
The structure contemplated VIII include
a drug store, with entrance on Fourteenth
street, but that, Mr.. Ballinger said, was not
sufficient TO give Mr.. Garry the benefit Of
the width OF Fourteenth street. Birney
street is sixty feet wide only, and under the
regulations the building should not exceed
sixty feet in height.
Mr.. WilliaIn B. Turpin represented Mr..
Carry. and in reply said that the fact that
the apartment house. has its principal en-
trance on RiTBey street should not deprive
him Of any advantage which might be de-
rived from the frontage on Fourteenth
street.
After arguing from his standpoint at
some length, Mr.. Turpie said the denial of
the permit for the const Tuction OF the House
would deprive wotkin gnen OF some $780,
600 in wages alone, at a time when they
werein need OF work. The time is coming,
headed, when there will be a largenumhsr
OF flats on Fourteenth street, and it is the
desire OF Mr.. Garry to put up one which
will he a credit to the city
Mr.. BaIlinger said in response that his
contention was in behalf of the citizens of
Columbia Heights; that there is no at
tack upon Mr.. Garry personally, but it is
the desire to have him conform to the
building regulations.
AT this iuncture Mr.. Milford Spohn arose
and addressed the Commissioners, stating
that in anticipation of the protest against
the permit, the Building Trades Council
had appointed committee, Of which ne
was one, and Mr. william Silver, prest-
dent OF the council, was the other, to appear
and represent the laboring men of the Dis
trict.
He attacked Mr.. BaIiinger's protest,
and said the Citizens Association had
adopted q narrow-minded and selfish
policy In opposing the construction. He
referred to the distress among the working
people, and said that in order to prevent
members of the laboring organizations
from becoming pubic charges. the asso-
Citations had paid cut over 81 ,ooo, 900 for
their relief He charged that the objec-
tions came from speculasof who had
unimproved boI6iings-men whodo not want
to invest in buildings, and who o not con-
tribute to the support of labor. lie char
acterized the objectoEs as obstructionists
to improvement
MIR. BaHinger repelled the iDsfnuations,
and said Columbia Heights had given more
employment to labor than any other sub
division OF its area in the District The
citizens wanted to improve that section OF
the city. but they wanted the improvements
to conform to the building regulations
which the Commissioners themselves had
adopted and promulgated.
The Commissioners promised to care
fully consider the whole question, and to
give an early decision.