Evening star., 1902-02-04
WILL AWAIT CONGRESS
PERMITS FOR TALL BUILDINGS TO
BE HELD UP.
District Commissioners So Decide
After q Conference With Senate
District Committee.

Pending action by Congress in regard to
the proposed further limitations to be
placed upon the height of buildings in the
District, the District Commissioners have
decided to issue no permits for tall struc-
lures that might come within the scope Of
the new law. There are a number Of such
applications now on file in the building
office or about to be submitted to that de-
partment. It Is said that the Senate Dis
trict committee will urge speedy action by
Congress.
The result Of the conference held yester-
day afternoon between a subcommittee Of
the Senate District committee and the Dis
trict Commissioners was to the effect that
the District Commissioners shall make
some inquiry on the subject of height of
buildings in Washington in various locaH-
ties, including private and public struc-
tures and present their views further and
formally to the entire District committee.
1t was the consensus Of opinion at the con-
ference, 1t is understood that something
should be done toward limiting the height
of buildings in the vicinity of public build
ings, SO that the latter might not be over
shadowed or detracted from. 1t is pro-
posed that within the public building zones,
in the vicinity of the White House, the
Capitol, the Congressional Library, ETC.,
private buildings shall be limited to the
height of the public building in closest
proximity.
The conference was called at this time
because of the reported proposed construc-
ton of building ITO feet high at 18th
street and Pennsylvania avenue. The Com
missioners have been instructed by the Sen
ate committee to ascertain the height of
the State, War and Navy Department
building, and also the height of the pro-
posed new office building. which, 1t Is said,
will be erected the square Immediately
north of the State, War and Navy depart
ments.
ID
1t is said that on wide business streets
like lower Pennsylvania avenue, the maxi
mum height of 100 feet now prescribed may
or may not be allowed under the new
building law. Some of the members of the
committee are in favor of reducing the
height even in this locality, and others SIM
liar thereto, to 100 feet. The Commission
ers may acq- csce in this view of the mat
ter.
In the residence sections of the city the
Senate subcommittee thinks the Maximum
height of ninety feet Is too great. The
Commissioners are understood to have
agreed to this proposition also, and are
contemplating recommending reduction to
sfxty-five seventy feet. This would do
away with the tall apartment houses, many
of which have already been constructed,
with others projected.
The present law in regard to building
heights was adopted by Congress March 1,
1899. Commissioner Macfarland said today
that the Commissioners realize now that it
is desirable to reduce the prescribed heights
in many instances. The matter has as yet
only reached to the stage of discussion.
The Commissioners will prepare drafts of
amendments to the present law and submit
them to the Senate District committee
These, of course, may be altered as the
committee deems fit.
1t Is not only from an aesthetic point of
view that the height of structures about
public buildings is to be limited, but the
fact that such high buildings would shut
off both light and air from public build
ings Is regarded as sufficient reason why
they should not be permitted.