Evening star., 1927-04-20
PYRAMID BUILDINGS.
!. PROPOSAL STUDIED
Erection in Capital Urged at
r Hearing Before Zoninu
Commission.

Careful study of the effects Of the
proposed amendment to the coming
regulations which would permit the
erection of buildings of the pyramid
type 100 feet high in the business Sec
ton of Washington was urged by
John Ihlder Of the Georgetown Citi-
Zens' Association at a public hearing
today Of the Zoning Commission.
The proposed amendment, which
would provide setbacks every few
floors, like the style of architecture
adopted in New York, was one of the
four questions considered by the COM
mission at its morning session. Three
other proposed changes in coming are
being considered at the afternoon
session, which began at 1:30 O'Clock.
Little public interest was manifest
in the change that would permit the
pyramid type buildings. Mr.. Ihlder
and Rufus S. Lusk of the Operative
Builders Association were the only
speakers.
Would Provide Height Limit.
AIR. Lusk explained that the adop.
tiOn Of the amendment would make a
uniform height limitation in the busi-
ness area and also would remove any
opportunity on the part of the COM
tain property owners.
Aside from being ugly from an
esthetic standpoint, unless viewed
from a proper angle, the tower build.
ings, Mr.. Ihlder warned the commits
sion, have a tendency to reduce light
and ventilation and increase traffic
congestion.
He suggested that the commission
study the subject with reference to
these two factors as well as the con-
tinuing value of the property One
of the important questions confront
ing builders today he said, is whether
high buildings produce value.
The amendment which would per
init the construction of the pyramid
type building follows:
"In the 110 foot height district,
buildings may be erected to a height
not exceeding 130 feet or II stories,
provided such buildings face or abut
a. street or streets not less than 1l0
feet wide between building lines, and
provided, further, that above the 110
foot level. all outside walls are set
back six inches for each foot of height
above this level"
Height Change Unopposed.
No opposition was registered to the
application of the trustees of the
Estate Of John r. Mclean to raise the
height restriction from 10 to 130 feet
bn the entire square bounded by III
and I streets and Vermont avenue and
Fifteenth street. Wilton j. Lambert,
who represented the applicant, ex-
blamed that the change was desired
for the purpose Of erecting a high
bffice building with stores and possibly
b theater. The commission several
months ago denied petition of Harry
Wardnan, owner of the site on the
northwest corner of Fifteenth and H
streets, on which stands the Shoreham
Hotel, for an increase in the height
limitation.
Officials of Walter Reed Hospital
and Is property owners in the vicinity
objected to a proposal to rezone
property at the northeast corner of
Georgia. avenue and Butternut street
from residential to first commercial
area. Robert T. Miller, representing
the applicant for the change, sub.
mitted a petition which he said was
signed by 20 per cent of the property
owners within three squares Of
Georgia avenue and Butternut street
who favor the change.
There was no opposition to a pro-
posaI to rezone property on the north
side of p street between Kingman
place and the first commercial prop-
srty on the east side of Fourteenth
street from residential to first com.
mercial.