Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-02-09

Continued from First Page)
District committee on a bill introduced
by Senator ShipStead of Minnesota
proposing to regulate the height and
exterior design of public and private
buildings in Washington fronting on
or near Government building or pub
lie park. This proposed legislation,
1t was made known, is unreservedly
favored by the Commission of Fine
Arts.
In a statement issued today the
commission said it feels that the leg
islation proposed by Senator Ship
stead's bill is a necessity to protect
the parks and public building sites
of the National Capital"
Charles Moore. chairman of the Com
mission of Fine Arts, who is thor
oughlY in sympathy with the move
ment to protect the White House and
capitol surroundings from encroach-
ments of commercial buildings. is ex-
pected to appear before the District
committee tomorrow afternoon. II. p.
Caemnlerer, secretary of the commits.
sion, likewise is expected to state his
views on the Shipstead bill.
Provisions of Bill.
Although termed the Fine Arts Com.
mission bill, the Shipstead measure
originated in the office of the National
Capital Park and Planning Commits
sion after suggestion by Mr.. Caem-
merer had been the subject of discus
sion by both commissions. It provides
that no permit will be granted for the
erection or alteration of any building
in the District which is to be more than
40 feet above the street grade, any
NORTON &c 70 L.
located within 200 feet of any public
building or park, parkway or reserva.
ton, until the plans have been ap-
proved by the Commission of Fine
Arts.
President Coolidge is said to be en-
tirely in sympathy with the general
plan to limit the height and define the
character Of buildings fronting on the
parks. although it was explained at
the White House that he has not
given this any special thought. He
is particularly interested in the ques-
tons affecting Lafayette Park, a mat
ter that probably will be given special
attention at the hearing before the
District committee.
The real estate holdings of the Cos
mos Club, the most valuable club
property in Washington, comprises
22,236 square feet. The frontage on
Madison place, facing the square, is
203.6 feet, while the II street frontage
is 1915 feet. The average depth is
about 115 feet, the whole being APP
proximately twice as large as the land
of the University, Army and Navy
and Racquet clubs and worth much
more per square foot.
Old Mansions Passing.
On the III street side of Lafayette
Square only one of the many fine old
residences that once graced this dis
trict remains standing. Plans already
have been let for the construction of
a large apartment hotel on this side
facing the White House. This would
present, in the opinion of the Ameri-
can Institute of Architects, a hodge
podge" of buildings, with the further
danger of similar buildings being
erected on the west side of the square.
The historic Decatur mansion, on the
southwest corner of II street and the
square, also may pass unless this
block is acquired by the Government,
it was said.
The Bruce amendment to the pub
lie building bill, which prevents the
Government from purchasing land
north of Pennsylvania avenue. it was
pointed out by legislators, affects only
the expenditure of the $50,000,000 APP
propriated for the immediate build
ings authorized. There is nothing to
halt the Government from purchasing
land in the vicinity of Lafayette
Square north of the Avenue at some
future time, it was explained. This
would remove the fear that the Bruce
amendment stands as a bar to the
purchase of property on either the
east or west sides Of Lafayette
Square.