Evening star., 1927-10-22
ZONTNG COMMISSION PROPOSES
NEW SEMI-DETACEIED HOME AREA
Solution of Duplex House Problem Seen In
Plan-I1earing to be Held
on November

ments, flats and hotels, and, of course,
also, for the wholly detached and du-
plex type houses which are permitted
in the higher residential classifica-
tions.
Below these classifications then
! would come the following residential
areas:
B.restricted area-For row houses
and for all types of residential develop
ments permitted in the higher residen-
tial areas, with the exception of apart
ments, flats and hotels.
B area-For apartments, flats, no.
tells and, of course, any permitted in
the higher classifications: Detached.
duplex, community and row houses.
Need for Area Shown.
Early in 1926 the zoning regula-
tions provided for only A-restrfted
area, A areas, B-restricted areas and
3 areas. Semi-detached or duplex
houses thus were permitted to be built
in A-restricted areas.
Members of the commission, how
ever. saw the need Of preventing the
building of Semi-detached houses in
areas being developed as wholly de-
tached sections, which was then per-
mitted under the A-restricted Zoning.
They saw also the need of preventing
the building of apartments and no.
tells in areas being developed as semi
detached or duplex house sections,
which was possible in the A-residential
areas.
In May, 1926, the commission thus
adopted an amendment effective Janu-
ary /, 1927, providing that after that
date semi-detached or duplex houses
could not be built in A-restricted
areas. In the Fall of 1926, however,
the commission postponed this date
to January 81, 1928. 1t was understood
that the purpose of this delay was to
permit the completion of certain du-
plex house developments which then
were under way. It was believed that
the sudden halting Of such develop
ments on January l., 1927, would have
caused an unfair loss of investment
to the builders Of these duplex homes.
This postponement Of the restriction
against the building Of duplex houses
in A-restricted areas, however met
with vigorous objection by owners Of
wholly detached houses.
To clarity the problem, then, in Sep.
tember of this year the Zoning Com
mission decided to create a new Zon-
ing area which would make possible
the protection all classes of house
owners wished.
Double A" Area Proposed.
Selecting one of two possible ways
of accomplishing this, the commission
proposed creation Of a new wholly de-
tached house area-sometimes called
the double A" area-intO which
wholly detached sections were to be
transferred, leaving the present Are.
stricted area for the Semi-detached de-
velopments. This plan was rejected
following the hearing this month.
The other and alternative proposal,
according to present plans, will be
considered at public hearing before
the Zoning Commission on November
9. 1t proposes simply the creation of
a new area lower than the present A
restricted area be designed for the
semi-detached sections. Such sections
would be transferred from A-restricted
into the new A-duplex area at later
date, on the application of owners of
the duplex houses.
The question naturally arises, why
should the owners of such duplex or
semi-detached houses seek to be
transferred from the highest coming
| into the new area? The answer is
| that after January 21, 1928, under the
order of the Zoning Commission, such
property, located in A-restricted areas,
| would become "non-conforming" and
therefore they could not be repaired
or altered in any way, and when ulti-
mately torn down or destroyed could
| not be rebuilt.