Evening star., 1914-08-08
EXTENSION Of STREET
IS BLOCKED BY STORE
Property Owners Fail in Efforts to
Prevent Issuance of
Permit.

with the issuance by the inspector Of
buildings several dals ago of per-
init allowing Z. f. Clements TO buiid
a onC-StoTy store at goo tonneclcnt
avenue. another chapter was added TO
the history of Il fight which las been
waged by owners of property lying
between Connecticut and Massachusetts
avenues to bring about the extension OIL
Calvert street from its present termi-
nus to a point several squares west
ward. The store to be erected by Mr.
Clements will occupy lot on the west
side of Connecticut avenue, which is
almost in the center of the line OF
the proposed extension. Excavations for
the foundation for the store already
have been completed and the building
of the walls has been started. The
building is to be erected by A. ii.
Taylor from plans by W. 5. PLACER at
an estimated cost OF $4,000.
BY reason of the erection of the store
on property which would be occupied
by Calvert street should it be extend
ed westward to connect with Cleveland
avenue those who are i'll favor OF the
proposed extension now believe il IS
II remote possibility. They feel con-
fident however. that some day Calvert
street will be extended in order to form
q northern boundary for the park CON
Meeting Rock Creek and Potomac Parks
The act of Congress providing Tor the
connecting of the two parks speclhes
that the northern boundary OF the con-
meeting park at that point shall be
Calvert street
Approved by Former Board.
The proposed extension of Calvert
street was approved by the former
board Of District Commissioners COM
posed of Messrs. Rudolph, Johnston and
Judson. The extension of the street
is necessary in order to carry out a
plan for the continuation of the new
Massachusetts Venue electric line to
the American University from its pres
ent terminus eastward so as TO con-
meet with the Mt. Pleasant line. Ih1s
plan calls for the continuation OF the
tracks along Massachusetts avenue
from the point where they now turn
eastward at the intersection of Macomb
street to Garfield street This street is
to be followed until Cleveland avenue
IS reached and thence IN a Southerly dl-
rection to its intersection with the pro-
posed extension of Calvert street The
tracks would then extend eastward and
cross Rock creek on either the Con-
necticut avenue or Calvert street
bridges.
Last March. following a public hear
ing, the District Commissioners ap-
proved a plan for changing the line of
the proposed extension of Calvert
street so as to have it intersect Con
necticut avenue at point between
90 and 100 feet north of the point
designated in the permanent highway
plan. This slight change was deemed
advisable by reason of the topography
of the land lying west of Connecticut
avenue.
Would Bear Expenses. .-..
of the property through which the con-
tinuation- OF Calvert street would pass
are said to have agreed TO bear all the
expenses of the condemnation proceed
iugs in connection with the desired
extension. They realized the extension
of the street would make their hold
ings more desirable and are reported
to have stood ready to have paid any
assessments levied against their prop
critics The Commissioners refused,
however to order the institution of
condemnation proceedings preparatory
10 the extension of the street. on the
ground that the proposed extension
was not needed at the time. and that
il would benefit only a few persons.
Following the refusal of the Commits
sioners to take the preliminary steps
to bring about the extension of Cal
Vert street ID. J. Howell. owner of
the property on the west side of Con-
The proposed extension. sold TO Mr..
Clements tine north twenty feet of lot
% of square :2o3. The new owner made
application for permit to erect
store on the property.
Owners Register Protest.
As soon as property owners in the
neighborhood heard of this they reg
istered u protest with the Commission
ers. They declared that by reason of
restrictions on the property located in
what form erly was known as Woodley
no buildings could be erected for busi-
ness purposes. An investigation is said
TO have developed the fact, however,
property in the locality contained :,
such restriction on the ground ac-
quired by Mr.. Clements.
Again the property owners urged the
Commissioners 10 provide for the eX-
tension of Calvert street and thereby
prevent the erection of the store. They
pointed out to the Commissioners that
should the street be extended after the
store is erected the cost of the con-
demnation proceedings would be much
greater. but were unsuccessful in their
efforts to block the granting OF the
building permit
Among the property owners who op-
posed the issuance of the permit was
Senator Smoot of Utah, who lives at
the southeast corner of the intersec-
tion Of Calvert street and Connecticut
avenue. almost directly across the
street from the site of the proposed
,r,oiS Sin ri