Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-03-24
18TH ST. REzON|NG
PROJECT HALTED.
Commission Denies Petition
of 81 Property Owners After
/ Spirited Contest.


with commercial establishments wa
halted by the Zoning Commission iat'
Yesterday following a spirited cohtes
at a public hearing in which SOM
of Washington's most prominent citi
zens clashed.
The fight developed over petitiol
signed by the owners of 81 pieces %
property between II street ana ocoe
Circle asking that this section DE re
zoned from residential to nrst com
mercial. Despite the most conndeh
prediction of some of its supporters
that the march of progress would IN
evitably turn the street from one OF
costly homes to white way -and
Fifth Avenue in New York was useC
as an analogy-the commission turn
ed deaf ears to such a proposition ane
rejected the petition.
Mrs. Henderson Leads Fight.
The opponents of the change were
led by Mrs. John Il. Henderson, own
or of the famous and picturesque
Henderson Castle" which overlooks
sixteenth street at Florida avenue
and two former members OF the House
of Representatives. Frank W. Mon
dell and John Phillip Hill. who also
live on the thoroughfare. supporting
them were Frederic A. Delano, Reai
Admiral John Strauss, John JOY Ed
son. Beale r. Howard and representa-
tives of the National Education Asso
citation, the National Geographic 30
ciety, the American Tree Association
the Dupont and Thomas Iowa Citizens
Associations.
Daniel Thew Wright, representing
Senator Dale of Vermont and other
property owners, champloned tht
cause of the advocates of the rezonlne
proposal. Those who Joined him IN
cluded Mrs. Eugene Hale. DIR. A. X
Stands, Eldridge Jordan, Judge j. II
l.. Norton Of Alexandria. a trustee FOL
some Sixteenth street property. and
Harry Wardman. Washington builder
Mrs. Henderson opened the fight tt
prevent a change in coming and incl
dentally attacked Mr.. Wardman. A
change in coming, she contended
would not be sanctioned by Congress
flaw or no law
Sees Residential Chaos.
us the builder of private home ir
the future to have no place of assured
permanence anywhere in our National
Capital" Mrs. Henderson asked
Can it be possible that any man
from a foreign country, with no feel
ing of patriotism and with but a sole
idea of personal speculation, can turn
the whole residential town into chaos:
"Can some such imaginary person
purchase three-fourths of the value
of section of street and then pro
claim it first commercial? Is there
some sort of law which allows that
sort Of thing?
"If so, who made it and why has ii
not been repealed long ago? The frs;
of the Sixteenth street triangles was
built by Mr.. Wardman in the form
of an eight-story structure immediate
" fronting the Woman's Congressional
Clubhouse. Who gave Mr.. Wardman
or any one else the privilege of build.
ing on any of our triangles anywhere?
''Mr. Wardman has since leveled to
the ground the especially handsome
homes of John Hay and Henry Adams
for the purpose of erecting thereon
another eight-story apartment house
to front the White House. Who has
made it possible for him to carry out
such a purpose? Protests have fol.
lowed, and now, if Mr.. Wardman can
make Sixteenth street from ii street
TO Scott Circle first commercial a new
building can be erected on that most
important John Hay Corner which
may reach an unimaginable height"
Hill Opposes Plan.
Mr.. Hill declared that the opening
of Sixteenth street to commercial de
ve1opment would destroy one of tho
greatest assets of the Capital.
Sixteenth street Is the key street
running to the White House" he said
IF developed commercially ii would
look like a jay street in a jay town
lust like Connecticut avenue looks now
and that, in my opinion. is one Of the
most frightful looking streets ! have
ever seen
Mr.. Monden said he doubted
whether there is any demand for com
mercial enterprises on Sixteenth stree
and that the change of coming is de
sired by certain property owners wht
cannot rent their houses profitably fol-
residential purposes.
The chief arguments OF those wht
favor the change in coming were tina
Sixteenth street south OF Scott Circl.
IL no longer a residential street ane
that there is no markst whatever fol-
the property for residential purposes
Mr.. Wright declared that the nois.
from automobiles and the intolerabl.
lzed sixteenth street and that il |,
no longer desirable for residential use
Mrs. Steerman's Plea Rejected.
The commission also rejected foI
the NTH time petition of Mrs. Annie
sherman for permission 10 rent stores
IN the first floor Of an apartment
building erected by her five years ago
in D.
teenth street and Mozart place. De
eision was deferred on an application
for permission TO add stories up t,
80 feet on the Earle Building al
Thirteenth and f. streets
The following changes in zonins
were granted, however:
Rear of lots in Connecticut avenue
between Albemarle and Davenport
streets from residential 4 restricted
30 foot height. 10 residential &. 81
foot height. to match the fronts o.
The same lots.
Both sides Of Gault place and Have.
iueet northeast between For
txsecond and Forty fourth streets
from residential A, TO residential T.
restricted.
Residential b. area on the wes
tide of Tenth street northeast, between
Rhode Island avenue and the allie,
north, from a height limit Of 30 fee
To so feet.
Nassachusetts avenue and A stree
northeast, from residential A. 10 resi-
ientlal ID.
North side Of NJ street between
dHenty-f1fth and Twenty-siKth streets
from first to second commercial
presidential 10 commercial area
B9th sides of O Sti eet, between Fourth
and Fifth streets; 92S If street:
Rhode Island avenue: lot sol. sduar,
3197. and the east side of Eight
street. between Barry place and Eucli,
street.
NOnk1n AU