Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-19
zON|NC BODY HEARS
Of SWIMMING POOL
Opposing interests Place
Case Before Commission
Regarding Public Project.

The first public opposition to the
plans of the Washington Swimming
Club to construct large public swim
ming pool on the Lightfoot tract at
the intersection of Reservoir and
Ridge roads developed today at a
hearing before the coming commission,
on the application of the club for a
rezoning of the property from resi-
dental A restricted to first CONNER
cial c area.
While a group of residents in Fox
hall Village and vicinity protested the
location of the pool on the tract under
any conditions, on the ground that IT
would be detrimental to property
values. a number of others gave
hearty Endorsement to the plan be-
cause of the pressing need for bathing
facilities in Washington, but at the
same time objected to q rezoning OF
the property.
Plan Is Supported.
r. f. Adams. president of the Con-
duit Road Citizens Association, pointed
ont that the establishment of a com
mercial zone around the Lightfoot
tract probably would ultimately result
in the destruction of the residential
status of the community. He declared
that if the pool could be constructed,
however, without any change in the
present zonlng he would not object
to it. Supporting him were Mrs. f.
w. Burr OF the Conduit Road School
Parent-Teacher Association and Rev.
DIR. Atkinson, for five years rector
of Grace Church in Georgetown, who
said it had been his tragic duty" TO
bury number of the boys of his
parish who had drowned in the Poto-
mac because Of the lack of proper
swimming places.
The most vigorous opponent of the
location of the pool on the Lightfoot
tract was Randolph S. Collins OF FOX.
hall Village, who said his home would
be close enough to it to enable him
to inhale the pungent odor of hot
dogs" that undoubtedly would blow
from the place.
Walter johnson Speaks.
Plans for the pool were outlined
to the commission by Merritt 0.
Chance, former city postmaster; Wal
ter johnson, veteran pitching ace of
the Washington base ball team, and
J. Harry Cunningham, members of
the board of directors of the club,
and Frank Hall, architect. Mr. John
son impressed on the commission that
the pool would be constructed in the
interest of clean sports" and would
be operated in "a high-class way"
Protection of the residential sec
ton of New Hampshire avenue, be
tween Dupont Circle and S street,
from invasion by commercial estab-
lishments and apartment houses was
urged by Reginald S. Huidekoper,
Rear Admiral William l.. Rodgers,
Perry Belmont, Thomas B. Sweeney
and a representative of Senator Guy
D. Golf of West Virginia, and others.
While the commission had under con-
sideration a proposal Of it's own to
change the Zoning from residential G.,
90,foot height area. to residential A,
restricted, 40-foot height, there was
an almost unanimity of sentiment in
favoring to coming this area E re-
stricted.
Several Changes Up.
No opposition was voiced to a pro-
posal to rezene from residential c to
first commercial c the frontage on
the east side of Eighteenth street be-
tween New York avenue and T.
street. The change was urged by the
Girl Scouts of America, who plan to
operate a cafeteria in connection with
it's model house in that vicinity.
Several other changes in coming
were considered by the commission at
the morning session and there are four
more on the calendar for the after
noon session, which started at 100
o'clock.