Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-06-09
APARTMENT HOUSE FOLK
MAY Invoke COURTS AID
Will Demand Approval of Plans
Filed With Building Inspec-
tor on May %.
POWERS CoNvoKEs ALDERMEN
Calls Meeting of Board This After
noon to Consider Concurrence In
Ordinance Fixing Building Line at
Shafer and Grace Streets.

ViceyPresident Joseph e. Powers. OF
the Board Of Aldermen. issued a call
last night for special meeting OF the
board at o'clock this afternoon to
consider concurrence in the ordinance
passed by the Common Council, Mon
day night. establishing the building
line on the south side of Grace Street,
between Shafer and Harrison Streets
The call was issued at the request of
several members of the board who in
turn, acted upon the request of constit-
ucnts. These became alarmed yestcr-
day by the report that the Lafayette
Apartment Corporation was making
strenuous efforts to secure the approval
by the building inspector OF the plans
filed with him on May IS, for the pro-
posed apartment house at the south
west corner of Shafer and Grace Streets.
WILL MAKE LEGITIMATE
EFFORT TO IGNORE LINE
Officers OF the Lafayette Apartment
Corporation, upon failing to stop the
passage OF the ordinance by the Com
mon Council which proposes to fix the
building line on the block In question
twenty feet from the property line,
openly announced their intention to
make every legitimate effort to erect
their apartment house on their own
line. regardless OF the pending ordl-
nance.
In order to begin work, however, II
was necessary to secure the building
inspectors approval of the plans filed
with him on May IS Under the Build
ing Code he must either approve or re-
ject the plans within ten days after
they are filed. The ten-day period ex-
PRED yesterday. and the Lafayette au-
thorities called upon Building Inspec-
tor Butler twice to approve the plans.
BUTLER POINTS OUT
DEFICIENCY IN DRAWINGS
Mr.. Butler declined to give his APP
prevail to the plans, yesterday, morn
complete. When, later in the after
noon. the architect for the Lafayette
Apartment Corporation reported with
the drawings that were lacking, the
building inspectors office was closed
for the day.
According to those in touch with the
situation, to-day will witness some in
teresting developments. The ordinance
compels Mr. Butler either to approve
or reject the plans. the time limit for
consideration having expired. He is,
nevertheless, apprised OF the pending
ordinance, which, If passed, will have
the effect of preventing the erection OF
the apartment house except on the new
building line. to which the company
does not desire to GOT form. and 10 re-
luctant to assist In defeating the Coun-
ellis work.
MAY APPLY TO COURT
TO FORCE APPROVAL
1t was assorted, last night, that II
Mr.. Butler still refuses to-day to report
the plans. the Lafayette Apartment
Corporation will apply to one of tho
courts for mandamus forcing him to
approve them. To forestall the posi-
bility of construction work being start
ed before the pending ordinance be-
comes law, the meeting of the Board
of Aldermen has been called for this
afternoon to concur, If possible in the
building line ordinance in order that 1t
may go Tomorrow morning to the
Mayor for his signature.
Councilman Gilbert K. Pollock. chair
man of the Street Committee. an
nounced yesterday that he will, at the
meeting of the Common Council to-
morrow night Introduce an ordinance
amending the Building Code so as to
relieve the building inspector from the
compulsion OF making report on
building plans when petition is pend
ing In committee or Council for a
building line at Il location for which
plans are asked. In such cases. the
amendment will provide. the building
inspector shall withhold his approval
until the question of establishing the
building line has been definitely de-
termined, provided that such approval
shall not be withheld for more than
sixty days.