Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-10-13
Action Likely on Buildings Near
New Post Office.
ADVICE WILL BE ASKED
Hearing Hotel Is Going Up, Com
missioners Decide to Consult
Fine Arts Commission.

The advice of the fine arts commission
VIII be asked by the District Commits
sioners as to what limit should be placed
on the height of buildings to be erected in
the immediate vicinity of the Union sta
ton and the new Washington post office.
The heads of the local government are
fearful lest new structures nearby dwarf
or detract from the beauty of the two
buildings
The decision of the Commissioners was
reached today, when it became known
that a company is considering the erec-
ton of a hotel on the property at the
northwest corner of Massachusetts, ave.
nue. and North Capitol street, opposite
the site of the new post Office building.
Under ordinary circumstances hotel
on North Capitol street could be erected
to a height of 100 feet. that being the
width of the thoroughfare. The Commits
sioners, however, have followed a uniform
policy of not allowing buildings adjacent
to government structures exceed them in
height If they follow this rule in the
present case the proposed hotel can have
a height from the sidewalk to the roof OF
only I3 feet.
Regulations on Subject.
cent to the patent office. Treasury and
State War and Navy buildings from be-
ing higher than those structures have
been adopted and, if the Commissioners
should make an exception in the case of
the post office. it would be the nrst on
record, it is stated.
r. s. Downs, manager of the Stafford
Hotel, in Baltimore, in a letter to the
Commissioners, acquainted them with the
fact that the owners OF the property IN
tend erecting hotel on the Massachu-
sets avenue and North Capitol stree'
site Mr.. Downs, who is former Wash
ingtonians. indicated that he might be al
the head of the proposed new hosiery
Building Inspector Morris Hacker took
up the matter at the direction of the
Commissioners and I'm q report, submitted
today, recommended that the advice OF
the fine arts commission be secureed
Should the hotel be confined to height
of seventy-three feet 1t could not nave
more than six stories, 1t is stated, ana II
Is understood that the owners are desir'
GUS of constructing a much larger build
ing.
Contents Of Letter.
In a letter sent to the fine arts com.
mission this afternoon the Commission
ers state that. in their opinion. now IL
the proper time to regulate the height
of buildings to be erected adjacent to
the new post Office.
IAN examination of the plans OF the
building" states the letter. indicates
that the elevation of the sidewalk al
the northeast corner of North Capitol
street and Massachusetts avenue 10 Al
feet above District datum. and that the
elevation of the cornice will be s.;
feet and the highest point Of the rooi
111.3 feet. If buildings on the west
side of North Capitol street are linn.
tied to this height the height to the
roof which would be permissible above
the sidewalk at the northwest corner
of North Capitol street and Massa'
chusetts avenue would be 70 feet
Before taking any action in the mat
ter the Commissioners would appreciate
advice from the fine arts commission
as to what should be the permissible
height Of buildings adjacent to the
new post Office building"