Evening star., 1927-11-05
BN D0\ S. WARREN,

LegiSla ton TO be sought at the
approaching session of Congress which
would place in the hands of the Fine
Arts Commission, or perhaps some
other body of experts. regulation over
the height and exterior character uf
all private buildings erected within
gao feet of any public building or
reservation is being studied by the
National Capital Park and Planning
COMMISSION. and has aroused wide
spread interest among property hold.
ers and builders of Washington.
A similar bill. introduced at the pa st
session of Congress by Senator Ship
stead of Minnesota. failed to come up
Tor nnai action, and it is expected he
may be asked to father the revised
draft OF the measure now being pre.
pared. The bill is similar in purpose
to the statute in effect in Philadel-
phia providing for a review by fine
arts experts over private building
projects.
Designed as a means primarily of
protecting the beauty of the monu.
mental Federal buildings to be erected
IN the great triangle south of Penn
sfiVanla avenue and other outstanding
Government structures and parks. the
proposal is one of unusual imDor-
tance tn property holders here and of
interest to city planning experts and
other observers throughout the couu.
try. In providing for control over the
outward appearance of buildings pri.
Vately huilt the proposed act would
extend Zonlng regulation powers into
. new field in the interest of the pub.
lio good.
Woulpd Maintain Esthetics.
whereas present Zoning regula tions
IN vogue here and generally through
out the country are limited to build
ing uses and to the establishment of
areas for the various classes of build.
ings under the police powers of gov.
eminent, the proposed legislation
would provide regulation as to the
exterior design and height of build
lngs and seek to establish and main
tain esthetic values. The need for
such regulation over private construc.
tlon enterprises has been felt here
especially because of the starting of
the huge Federal building program.
Briefly. the proposal is that as
prerequisite to the issuance of build.
ing permits by the District govern
meut .plans for private buildings with.
in 200 feet of Government buildings
or park areas would have to he an.
proved by the Fine Arts Commission
=" anu dtp0O Inc color
and texture of the materials of ex- |
terror construction
Proponents of the measure hold that /
such regulation. besides providing pro. |
lection Of classic Government build /
lngs from private structures of undulv |
cheap or heterogeneous design which /
might be erected nearby. would prove
of benefit 10 private property owners
as well. II would be protection to
those who choose 10 erect beautiful or
costly private buildings from the dam.
aging effect of buildings entirely out
or harmony with other private build.
ings in such areas which might possj.
nfy be erected there by builders who
wished to capitalize on the ioca ton
at the least cost to themselves, adyo.
Gates of the measure say.
Increased Cost Not Certain.
Proponents of the suggested regula
non also point out, on the other hand. |
that such supervision need not neces
ssriy mean that the cost of private
pdlidings erected nearby the Govern.
ment developments or parks always
wouid be greater than under present
regulations. They believe that the
suggestions by the controlling authori.