Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-03-07
HEIGHT OF BUILDINGS
Effect of the New Law is
Already Being Felt.
FROM 90 TO 80 FEET
MAXIMUM IN RESIDENCE
STREETS IS REDUCED.
Owner Of Proposed Apartment House
One Of First to Be Disappointed
by Provisions Of Law.
STREETS IS REDUCED.

The effect of the new law on the subject
of the height Of buildings, as passed by
Congress and approved by the PRESIDENT
March g. has already been felt In the build
ing department of the District government.
The new law reduces the maximum height
on residence streets from 80 to 10 feet.
There were recently filed with the building
office plans for an apartment house on
residence street. The maximum height OF
the building was to be 90 feet. The depart
ment was ready to issue the permit LOT
the construction of the building, but the
owner did not apply for it until March o.
This was two days after the new law had
become effective and the plans had to be
Withdrawn for modification.
Width of Wider Street.
The new law contains the provision.
which the Commissioners recommended, to
the effect that where a building Is to be
constructed at a point where streets merge,
the maximum height shall be governed by
the width of the wider street.
The advisability of this amendment was
brought out in the recent application for
permit to construct hotel $50 feet IN
height at the intersection of E street and
Pennsylvania avenue, adjoining the Ma
tional Theater.
which is 80 feet wide. The owners claimed
that they were entitled to the Pennsyl-
vania avenue width. The Commissioners
felt that they could not grant this conces-
sion under the old law, but recommended
the amendment which has now been
adopted.
The new law is an act to amend the act
regulating the height Of buildings In the
the systems of measurements for high
buildings, and lbs important provisions are
as follows:
Provisions of New Law.
THAT no building shall be erected or al
tered on any street or avenue or highway
in the District of Columbia to exceed in
height above the sidewalk the width Of the
street in it's front; but where the site Of a
proposed building confronts a public space
or reservation formed at the intersection Of
two or more streets or avenues and the
course Of said streets or avenues Is not in
terrupted by said public space or reserva-
ton, the allowable height of the building
will be determined by the width of the
widest street avenue.
Where a building is to be erected re-
moved from all points within the bounding
lines of it's own lots as recorded by dis
lance at least equal to its proposed height
above grade, the extreme limits Of height
permitted for freproof or non-fireproof
buildings in residence sections may be al
lowed, the measurements to be taken from
the natural grades at the building as de-
termined by the Commissioners.
"On business streets or avenues, as the
same are now or may hereafter be deslg-
mated by the Commissioners of said Dis
trict, no building shall be erected or altered
to exceed the height Of 10 feet, except on
business streets or avenues 160 feet wide,
where a height not exceeding 100 feet may
be allowed.
Residence Streets and Avenues.
ION residence streets and avenues no
building shall be erected or altered so as to
be over eighty feet in height, nor shall it
exceed ten feet less than the width Of the
street or avenue upon which it adults, ex-
cept on streets sixty to sixty five feet wide,
where a height of sixty feet will be al
lowed, and on streets sixty feet wide and
less, where a height equal to the full width
of the street will be allowed. The height
Of buildings on corner lots will be regulated
by the width Of the wider street.
Provided, that if said buildings have pro-
jections such bay windows, oriels, COW
cred porches. and so forth, extending over
two stories, the height Of the building shall
be diminished by the amount Of the great
est 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.
Anu PROVIDED also, tnat 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 sur
veyor Of the District and 80 as to prevent
the lawful erection of any building in ad-
vance Of said lines, the width Of the street,
in SO far as 1t controls the height of build
ings under this law, may be held to be the
distance between said building lines.
"On blocks Immediately adjacent to pub
lie buildings or to the site of any public
building for which plans have been prepar-
ed and money appropriated at the time Of
application for the permit, the height shall
be regulated by schedule adopted by the
Commissioners Of the District Of Columbia.
Wooden or Frame Buildings.
THAT no wooden or frame building, as
authorized by existing law. hereafter erect
ed or altered, and intended to be used for
human habitation, shall exceed in height
three stories. or forty feet to the roof
THAT 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 front, the
height shall be measured from the mean
elevation Of the sidewalk at the street
corners"
TrHrEr nvrrnru,u 49,