Evening star., 1926-09-22
Hotels on 10th Street.
Mrs. Henderson Deplores Their
Effect on Residential Values.
To the Editor of The Star

To the Editor OF The star:
When breezy opposition arose at
first publication Of Mr.. Wardman's s
scheme to erect an eight.story hotel
at the entrance to Sixteenth street on
the John Hay site. Mr.. Wardman gal
lantly came to the rescue, saying he
had given up all idea Of that hotel
building owing to manifest opposition.
Such was fully appreciated. AS 1t
turns out. when the powers that be
left town, plans for that building ma
terialized in haste.
Let us be thankful that President
Coolidge is taking more interest in
the Identification of our National
Capital than have all other Presi.
dents since George Washington.
Lord Bryce truly said that for nat.
ural advantages Washington out
ranked all other capitals Of the world.
May Calvin Coolidge prove to be an
other Louis Napoleon for the redemp-
ton of a Capital. Let him take in
firm hand our suburbs, parks and
parklets, and the symmetry and con-
formity Of our buildings in general,
not forgetting to save our residential
avenues.
The present entrance to Sixteenth
street is an impressive one. AS
heading stands the White House,
looking for 2 miles up it's straight
broad 7-mile length. Lafayette
Park is fit setting. On one Six
teenth street corner stands our his
toric little st. Johns Church. On the
opposite corner stands a beautiful ex-
ample for private residence, planned
by our great American artist, Richard
son, and which our revered John Hay
built and occupied during his lifetime.
Now as another example of private
exploitation is planned an eight-story
hotel with a hundred eyes to scan the
privacy Of the White House.
This reminds one that some years
ago, with some help. the wives of the
members Of Congress erected a beauti-
full building at the corner of Sixteenth
street and New Hampshire avenue for
their one and only social headquar-
ters. This building was enhanced in
beauty by the frontage Of a triangle,
situated Immediately opposite a park.
let which in all reason would one day
contain a fitting decoration.
What happened was that Mr.. Ward.
man purchased this triangle and with
out delay (as requested by members
of the Congressional Club put up an
eight-story building completely cover
| ing the triangle, which degraded not
only the value of the Congressional
Club Building but also the desirability
| of the adjoining Sixteenth street site
( for private residential purpose. This
| paved the way for a second eight and
nine story building which reached all
the way to the front Of the Meridian
Hill Park.
Such is the effect Of values on resi-.
| Dental thOroughfares when tall build
ings Of any kind are allowed. The
residential values are materially
diminished. The street is no longer
| either residential or commercial. II
being taken for granted that CONNER
, cial buildings will never be allowed
on residential streets. II large public
hotels are not commercial, thew are
the next thing to 1t.
| Thus we have in view two similar
condolences. namely. a wardman
! eight-story building in front of the
Congressional Club building and a
second Wardman eight-story building
In front Of the White House.
One should repeat that there could
be no possible objection to apartment
houses within the height OF o5 or 20
feet. The beauty OF u town consists
largely IN :hc uniformity OF building
heights. Only such conditions are al.
lowed at al! other capitals Of the
world.
| How civic beauty Is universally ap-
preciatcd may bo realized by the fact
that American tourists spcnd two hum
dred and fifty million dollars ANNUALLY
when visiting the most beautiful
Capital in the world.
MRS. JOHN 3. HENpERsosk