Evening star., 1925-04-16
"ESTHET|C zON|NG"
ASKED BY CITIZENS
Dupont Circle Residents 0p-
pose Erection of Apart
ment Buildings.


character and appearan of buildings
as well rs their use. height and area
was advocated by speakers before the
Zoning Commission at the District
Building today in the course Of spir-
tied debate as TO whether apartment
houses should be barred from or per
united on Massa chusetts avenue be
yond Fifteenth street
Advocates of the ban on apartment
houses were led by the Dupont Circle
CltlZens Association and based their
case on the ground that Massachu-
setts avenue is one Of the beautiful
highways OF the city and would be
marred by apartment structures.
Opponents of the restriction con-
tended that the lower part of Massa-
chusetts avenue is already losing it's
position as "A place for fine residences
and that boarding houses are begin
nlng TO make an appear ara nee on the
street. These speakers took the posi-
ton that we'll designed apartments
would tend TO improve the avenue
more than boarding houses would.
Opposes "Esthetic Zoning."
Several property owners empha-
sized the point that they would not
object to tractivelv designed apart.
ments if so-called tenemenIs could he
kept out.
This prompted Engineer Commits
sloner Bell. chairman of the commits
sion, TO state that the commission is
without authority in law 10 zone for
esthetic purposes or to pass upon the
appearance Of buildings He said
that some good had been accompIish.
ed in that direction by having an ar
chitects advisory council. which
passes on the plans for proposed
buildings in cooperation with Mai.
Wheeler of the commission Col Bell
explained, however. that this was a
voluntary procedure and expressed
the belief that Zoning the appearance
of buildings by law would be un-
constitutional.
Mai. Clayton Emig declared he be
leNed esthetic zoning would be legal.
and said he would be glad to file a
brief with the commission citing
court decisions on which he based his
belief
Benjamin Minor. speaking for Hen
rN b. spencer, owner of property on
Massachusetts avenue. urged the
commission not to place the avenue
IN the no-apartment house zone. de
claring that boarding houses are be
ing established on certain parts OF
the avenue and that apartment
houses would be less Objectionable.
Extension of Zone Asked.
Waddy r. Wood. an architect. also
opposed prohibiting apartments. as
serting that Washington has failed to
realize ii has outgrown its swaddIinc
clothes. Massachusetts avenue he
said, should not be Zoned so as to DrA-
serve it for a few people having large
residences there. Five-story apart
ments, such as are erected in Paris.
would not be detrimental on Massa-
chusetts avenue. he said.
Rufus Lusk, secretary of the Opera
tive Builders Association. urged The
commission to permit apartments on
massachusetts, avenue as far out as
IWenty-second street. He said his as
sociation had not gone into the stu.
alton beyond Twenty second street
where conditions might be different,
But" Mr. Lusk declared. IF YOU
come down as far a s Fifteenth street
and prohibit apartment houses. it
VIII not be long before the people
on Rhode Island avenue. New Hamp-
shlre avenue and similar thorough
fares will say, We don't want apart
ments'"
Admiral Strauss. speaking for the
Dupont Circle Citizens Association.
told the commission that those who
want apartment houses kept off
Massachusetts avenue have no selfish
interest. but are actuated only by a
CIVIC pride in keeping the avenue
| beautiful. He cited the fact that the
/, Episcopal Cathedral is at one end of
Massachusetts avenue and that there
are several attractive circles with
statues in them along the thorough
fare.
Others Oppose Plan.
He was followed by Very Rev. G..
{. F. Bratenahl, d. D.. of the Episco.
pal Cathedral. who said he spoke
also as long time resident OF Wash
lngton in advocating the preserva-
ton or Massachusetts avenue as one
OF the attra active boulevards of the
city.
If it We're possible to control the
architecture of buildings it would be
most desirable said DR.. Bratehahl
II 1t is all apartments, that is one
thing, DIR. Bratenahl continued But
if you permit here and there an apart
ment 1t Will be an eyeSore"
Archibald Hopkins said he was au-
thorized to speak for Chief Justice
William II. Taft and for Col Henry
A du Pont in opposing more apart
ment houses on Massachusetts, ave-
nue.. Coleman Jennings argued in IA
vor of prohibiting apartments.
Among those who registered strong
opposition to the proposal to keep out
apartments was Mrs. w. B. Lamar,
1915 Massachusetts, avenue
The commission will continue
throughout the day to hear testimony
on other proposed zoning changes in
different parts of the city and viii
render its decisions later.