Evening star., 1923-11-22
PATTERSON TRACT
REzON|NG FOUGHT
Northeast Citizens and Own.
ers of Land Express 0ppos-
ing Views at Hearing.

Protest was registered before the
Zonins Commission at the District
building today against the proposal
to zone half OF the Patterson tract.
near 9Th street and Florida avenue
northeast. for Industrial purposes.
. Representatives OF civic oryaniza-
tions and individual property owners
OF the section urged the commission
not to mako the change. which. they
declared. would render impossible the
establishment OF = park there.
Joseph l. Weller, spokesman for the
owners Of the tract. told the commits
sion that It was only desired to make
forty-two OF the eighty acres indus
trial property. leaving the balance for
. park. ..s.. ...
The portion sought to be changed IL
the lower half nearest Florida avenue
and bounded as follows: On the
Tact north OF Florida avenue east;
south. BY Florida avenue; east. q line
perpendicular to Florida avenue and
100 feet from the west boundary OF
the land OF tho Columbia Institution
by 4th street east.
Mr.. Weller declared II was untrue
that the railroads wanted the prop
erty for freight yard purposes. He
explained that IL Is contemplated to
run tracks into the land merely to
serve warehouses which 1t is pro-
posed to erect there.
Owners Tire OF Delay.
Both Mr.. Weller and Charles J.
Boil. representing the trustees for
the property. said that they have
never opposed the purchase OF the
tract for park purposes, but that the
.oxtended consideration OF that prof.
oct without action has had the effect
of clouding the title and preventing
development of tho land.
The MCMILLAN park plan OF 1900.
Mr.. Weller stated, provided for park
on the Patterson tract. But he point
ed out that three years later the
Union station act was passed: which
for all time fixed upon that locality
railroad terminals. Since then, he
continued. much OF the territory TO
the north OF Eckington has been de-
veloped into a warehouse district
He argued that II the change asked
for is granted there would still re.
main about half of the tract, COM
prising the wooded highland, for park
purposes. The owners Of the land, he
said, feel that they are entitled to put
their property to the best possible
use.
Have Considerod Home.
Mr. Weller said the owners Of the
Patterson estate have always con-
stdered the interests of the Columbia
institute for Deaf and Dumb. and for
that reason. have left a space between
the western boundary OF that institu-
tion and the proposed Industrial set
tlement.
Those who opposed the change were
Prof. Percfvaf Hall. representing the
ia -
Henderso son. North Capitol and Eek
ington CitizenS Association: Evan H.
Tucker. Northeast Washington Citi-
zens' Azso ociation; Dr.. z. w IcCul-
Tough, Trinidad CitizenG Association.
and a number Of individuals
Mr.. Tucker stressed the point that
the Patterson tract is the only desirable
site left for q park In the northeast sec
ton. The opponents also laid emphasis
on the argument that Florida avenue N
a main artery between the northeast
and northwest "
Favess ResilentiaI PIsn.
DR.. Mccullough spoke on behalf Of
private home owners and urged that ths
owners Of the estate subdivide II for
residential purposes.
Mr. Weller told the commission the
owners Of the estate have paid moro
than 100000 in taxes on the land while
the agitation to make the property
park was under way. without receiving
much In return. The commission will
render its decision later.
The commission also took testimony
on the petition Of Benjamin Cdoff to
change from residential 70 first COM
mercial the rear forty feet Of the prop
erty at 400 Illinois avenue
Mr. UdofY already operates a store
there, but under the zoning law he can
not rebuild or remodel without having
the property zoned first commercial.
Representatives of the Petworth Citi-
zenG Association and the Petworth
Women's Club told the commission they
would oppose rezoning the property
ciasion said that X the commission
could permit Mr.. Udoff to repair his
store without making 1t commercial
property no objection would be offered