Evening star., 1928-01-29
FUTURE OF 10th STREET RAISED.
BY FIRE HOUSE CONTROVERSY

out for two years on their properties
The example Of Fifth avenue In New
York and of Connecticut avenue in
Washing on were pointed out TO show
that buSiness will spread out" and de-
YOUR even such exclusive residential sec
tons as these once were. and that the
time has come when Sixteenth street,
or portion Of 1t. must also be de-
voured. One active builder testified
that at present the prices on Sixteenth
street are too high 20 warrant the cree
ton OF apartment houses and he pre-
dicted that the territory must face the
inevitable and allow business 10 come In.
But when the time came for hearing
opponents of the change In zonina.
there was an altogether different story
They alleged that those who would
make the change had in view their
personal aggrandizement and we're self
tsh m their motives that 10 destroy
Sixteenth street as a residential street
would be TO destroy one of the greatest
assets OF the city and one that could
not be replaced: that If Sixteenth street
were changed, 1t would look ike Con-
necticut avenue: that TO favor q
change In zoning on Sixteenth street ID
TO favor q short-sighted policy. and
that 70 bring about a change In zoninz
on the strength Of the fact that prop
erty holders could not get what they
wanted for their property would be q
radical proceeding indeed. Frederic A.
Delano. representing the National Cap
ital Park and Planning Commission, put
that body On record as opposing the
zoning change. and the upshot OF the
matter was that the Zoning Cornrnis-
SION declined TO grant the petition.
One Of the results Of this onsIarzh.
against Sixteenth street as il is trdav
was that Col Ben, then the Chairman
OF the Zoning Commission, wrote a let
ter 70 Col. U. 8. Grant, 3rd, executive
omcer OF the National Capital Park and
Planning Commission, suggesting that
the commission might discuss the feasl-
ointy OF q special zoning ordinance for
sixteenth street in order definitely to
determine the character and type of
buildings 70 De erected thereon. The
matter has been before the commission
ever since, and has come I'D for discus
sion more than once One Suggestion
mas been that the principle of the
Snipstead bill, which would place under
the Fine Arts Commission the approval
OF plans Tor structures fronting or ad-
Iacent 70 Goyernment-owned buildings,
might De extended TO Sixteenth street
Coupled with some such sIInArv4sorv
power would be the determtnatior of
the nature of enterprises TO be allowed
On SHteenen street. The present resi-
oentiai coming permits hotels. apart
nents, schools, churches. fraterotte
houses. clubs and fraternities, hosoitaIs
sanatoriums. educational, phiIanthrooic
ana eleeSmoSynary institutions On Sly
teenth street, as well as residences
and. according to the ComrisSion-
ers, fire engine houses. But ever
within this category il Is possible
70 visualize some establishments which
would outrageousiy detract from the
appearance as well as the intended
character OF Sixteenth street.
Inere seems no doubt now thar the
Lontng Commission and the PARK ard
flaming Commission are determines
70 prevent the encroachment Of shoos
and other such establishments uermtf-
teo unoer change 70 commercial non-
ING. One consideration Is the benef
on the part Of oficials. that Washing
ton already has four times too nuch
commercially aoned territory. with the
result that, instead of censer!ng This
type OF business. It has been SPREAD
SEo0no Apart from other factors H.
nuencing their decision. It is pointed
oos oy some OF these officials that mr.
ing Stxteerth street as conmerrisI
WOULD begin q long-drawn-out process.
sien business seeping, instead OF eov-
ng, INTO the new territory and thar i
Wouio Eesaro the development OF other
commercial zones.
Ine pressure FOR commercial Sorirx
still exists. however. and win tend n
increase. Nov seems as rood \ t,-,a
as any for some action which would
definitely decide what the future Of
Sixteenth street IS 20 be. There r
Sttn some vacant spaces near The En-
hASsy group that might be picked fer 9
mike station