The Washington times., 1903-02-24
STATEHOOD BILL
MAY YET BE PASSED
NEW REGULATION FOR
HEIGHT OF BUILDINGS
Senate Adopts Conference
Report on Bill.

Senator Gallinger today reported the
adoption of the conference report on the
bill to amend the act to regulate the
height Of buildings in the District OF Co
lumbia The House adopted the report
yesterday
The bill as originally introduced in the
House exempted churches erected out
side OF the fire limits as now or here
after established. The Senate added that
in case Of existing structures the re-
| strictions shall apply only 20 additions.
The act is further amended, at the
recommendation of the District Com
missiOners. providing that no building
shall be erected or altered on any street,
avenue. or highway above the sidewalk
the width Of the street in front.
Section of the act is amended 70 read
as follows:
That no building shall be erected or
altered on any street or avenue or high
way in the District of Columbia to ex-
ceed in height above the sidewalk the
width Of the street in its front.
Where a building is TO be erected re-
moved from all points within the bound
/ ing lines OF its own lots as recorded by
a distance at least equal to its proposed
height above grade, the extreme limits
of height permitted for freproof or non
/ fireproot buildings in residence sections
may be allowed, the measurements 10 be
taken from the natural grades at the
/ building as determined by the Commis-
sioners.
"On business streets and avenues. as
the same are now or may hereafter be
designated by the Commissioners Of said
/ District no building shall be erected or
altered TO exceed the height OF 110 feet,
except on business streets or avenues $50
feet wide. where a height not exceeding
/ 130 feet may be allowed On residence
streets and avenues no building shall be
erected or altered so as TO be over eighty
/ feet IN height. nor shall il exceed ten
feet less than the width OF the street or
avenue upon which II abuts, except on
strsstsrssixty---tS. sixty-dve feet wide
! where height OF sivty feet will be al
lowed. and on streets sixty feet wide
and less. where a height equal to tn,
full width OF the street will be allowed
''The height OF buildings on corner lots
will be regulated by the width OF the
wider streets. provided that II said
buildings have projections. such as bay
windows. oriels, covered porches. etc.
extending over two stories. the height
OF the building shall be diminished by
the amount Of the greatest projection
provided. further. that spires. towers.
and domes may be erected to a greater
height than the limits herein prescribed
when approved by the Commissioners
Of the District Of Columbia And pro
vided also. that on streets less than
ninety feet wide. where building lines
have been established so as to be a
matter Of public record in the Office
of the Surveyor OF the District. and so
as 10 prevent the lawful erection OF any
building in advance OF said lines. the
width of the street, in so far as II con
trolls the height OF buildings under this
law, may be held 10 be the distance be-
tween said building lines. on blocks i'm
mediately adjacent to public buildings
or to the site OF any public buildings for
which plans have been prepared and
money appropriated at the time OF ap-
plication for the permit. the height shall
be regulated by a schedule adopted by
the Commissioners OF the District OF
Columbia"
other amendments prescribe that no
wooden or frame building intended 1or
human habitation shall exceed three sto-
ries. or forty feet TO the roof.
The height OF all buildings shall be
measured from the level of the sidewalk
opposite the middle OF the front OF the
building to the highest point Of the
roof II the building has more than one
| ha k,f
the mean elevation of the sidewalk al
the street corners. No parapet walls
shall extend above the limit OF height