Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-06-03
HEIGHT OF A BUILDING
Objections Made by Residents to the Issu-
ance of Permit.
Proposed Fnrragut Building ON Cor
ner of 18th and 1 Streets Sub
jcct of Contention.

The question of granting permit for the
erection of the proposed Farragut building
at the northwest corner of 18th and I
streets, at a height of 10 feet, was set
down by the District Commissioners today
for determination at hearing to be held at
II O'Clock next Wednesday morning, the
Sth instant
This building, which is to be erected by a
company, of which Mr.. Walter V. r. Berry
is president, is proposed to be raised by the
company to a height of 10 feet, although
lith street is but ninety feet in width I
street being of the same width. Section 40
OF building regulations provides that mo
building shall be erected or altered on any
street in the District of Columbia to exceed
in height above the sidewalk the width of
the street in Its front: and in no case shall a
building exceed ninety feet in height on a
resident street. nor 10 feet on a business
street as defined in these regulations. ex-
cept on avenues 1tO feet WIDE where a
height not exceeding 1870 feet may be al
loWed wnen the lot is of sufficient frontage
ana depth, In the judgment of the Commits
sioners. to justify the same Provided.
however, that the height of buildings on
corner lots. in all cases. shall be regulated
by the limitations governing the broader
street.
A protest was recently filed with the
commissioners by residents in the neigh
Dofhood of the proposed building against
the contemplated height of ITO feet, and a
. nearihs IN the matter was requested by
those interested. The Commissioners de-
cided to hear the parties interested TODAY.
and this morning Mr.. Berry and his archi-
tecf. Mr.. Rosenheim, of Boston, appeared
on penalt OF the company, Mr.. Nathaniel
bison and one or two other residents in
the neighborhood of the proposed building
also being present
Mr. Berry explained that last March he
mad after making the usual inquiries. been
informed by the Sc cretary of the board of
Commissioners ard by Captain Burr then
assistant to the Engineer Commissioner.
that, IN view of the fact that the space in
front of the proposed building Farragut
square, is more than 300 feet wide the con-
tcmplated height of the building 10 feat
would meet the approval of the Commits
SiOners.
Mr. Berry said that he then directed the
archltect to go ahead and prepare the
plans of the building, and they were SUBJ
matted To the inspector of buildings with
an application for building permit, about
ten days ago, company having meantime
been Incorporated to erect the building.
men IL was that the residents in the
neighborhood flied their protest action on
the application for the permit having been
deferred by The Commissioners in order to
permit the protestants to submit the
grounds of their objections
Mr. Wilson was invited by the Commits
stated that ne appeared not as an attor-
ney, but as one of the residents in the
helSnporhood. he said at the proper time
after the proteStants had given an oppor-
tunity to inspect the plans of the building
they would appear and through counsel
present their reasons why the permit
should not be granted. These people who
INCLUDE residents on both 18th and /
streets, Will also resist, said Mr.. Wilson
in every possible way TIE granting of per-
init for the erection of the building to a
height of no feet. In view of the fact that
they nave had no opportunity to inspect
the plans, Mr.. Wilson asked that the hear
ing be postponed until next week. a request
which Mr.. Berry stoutly opposed. he con-
tending that as the only question to be de-
termlned is the height of the building, there
existed no necessity for any delay for the
purpose of examining the plans. The Com
missioners, however, thought that a short
postponement of the matter would be only
fair to those Directing, and they set the
matter down for final determination Wed
nesday morning next.