Evening star., 1925-11-19
6-|N-A-ROW HOUSE
PLAN IS DROPPED
Zoning Commission Aban-.
dons Scheme for Time-May
Come Up Later.

The Zoning Commission decided in
executive session this afternoon 10
abandon consideration of the proposed
amendment to the Zoning regula tion
which would have permitted erection
of community houses in groups of six
in "A areas"
When the public hearing adjourned
earlier in the day there was a pos.
sibility that the amendment might
be taken up later in "a modified form
but the commission decided To drop
the question for the time being.
Plan Is Opposed.
Citizen association leaders united in
protesting against the proposed regu-
lation when that amendment came up.
AT the present time builders are al
lowed TO put up detached. semi de.
tached homes and community houses
in groups of three in any "A area -
The proposal under consideration to-
day was a recommendation of the
Washington Chapter of American In.
stitute Of Architects that groups of six
in a row instead of three be permitted.
During the discussion a number of
new suggestions were made as to
how community or group houses
could be kept apart from detached
homes. and IL was agreed TO defer ac-
ton on the six in-a-row regulation for
consideration al later date.
Urge New Zone Class.
Those who appeared in opposition
TO allowing groups of six row houses
to be built in an "A area" were Will
liam Mex. Clayton, Jesse c. Suter,
president of the Federation Of Citi-
zens' Associations; Herbert A. Wilson
of the Manor Park Association. Hugh
Frampton of Cathedral Heights and
Mrs. A. b. Wright.
One new suggestion made was that
the commission have one class of
homes could be built. and that a sep
arate class of zone be created for
.semi-detached and other groups of
houses in whatever number the com
mission may finally decide upon.
Louis Justement. who appeared as
representative of the architects chap
ter in support Of the amendment, told
the commission the organization is
not backing n drive for row houses as
such, but was of the opinion that If
groups OF six in a row We're permitted
IN "A areas" architects would have
more freedom in designing develop
ments of better appearance.
More Than Six "NOt Group."
Mr.. Clayton asked Mr.. Justement
If groups Of II in a row would give
the architects still more freedom in
designing plans. and the speaker an
swered that 1t would. theoretically
He added. however, that the archi-
tects felt that more than six in a
row would cease to be a group.
Mr.. Justement also declared his be
lief that the commission has the right
to consider the appearance of build
fngs in making zoning decisions. al
though there is no specific clause in
the law covering the appearance or
architectural attractiveness of build.
ings.
The architect said he based this be.
lief on the section of the law which
refers to Zoning the city for the pro-
lection of property. There are two fac
tors, he said. that affect property
values, namely, use and appearance.
The commission, he went on, does zone
property as to fits use, and he said il
was his opinion it could also con-
slider appearan nee.
Mr.. Clayton not only opposed the
proposal to allow six houses in row
in an "A area" but said the fedora
ton OF citizens had been opposed to
the present rule allowing groups of
three in a row.
President Suter contended the ap-
plicants had failed to make an ad-
equate showing in favor of the new
regulation. and vigorous opposition
also was expressed by Mr.. Wilson and
Mr.. Frampton.
The commission also heard testi-
mony today on a number of proposed
changes in the designation of individ-
ual pieces of property in various sec
tions of the city, which will be decided
later in the day.