Evening star., 1929-12-11
STORAGE GARAGES
! FOR APARTMENTS
F.. URGED AT HEARING
Amendment to Eliminate Con-
sent Restriction Gains
Support.
LUSK CITES BENEFITS
TO TENANTS AND PUBLIC
Reduction of Traffic Problem Caused
by All-Night Parking in
Streets Is Advanced.

Overwhelming support for a proposed
amendment to the District zoning code,
which would encourage rather than
make dif6cult the provision of storage
garages in apartment houses, developed
today at public hearing on the matter
before the zoning Commission.
The amendment, drafted by the eX-
ecutive Office of the Zoning Commission
for public consideration, would elimi-
nate from the regulations the present
restriction that consents for such apart
ment garages must be obtained from
owners of rs per cent of the property
in the square or within 200 feet of a
structure where it is proposed to install
such storage garages.
Such garages, under the proposed
new plan, must have the approval how
ever. of the District Commissioners, in
District building regulations.
Petitions for Changes.
The Zoning Commission also had be-
fore it today petitions for changing in
the coming classification of IL parcels of
property in various parts of the city,
most Of the petitions being for change
from residential to commercial classifi-
cations.
Rufus S. Lusk, representing the Op-
erative Builders Association, which has
been campaigning for the change re-
garding garages since September, 1928,
presented comprehensive and vigorous
arguments for the amendment, declar-
ing it would work to the advantage of
the public at large as we'll as to apart
ment tenants and apartment owners, by
reducing the number of cars now parked
all night in the streets.
He was supported by statement in
favor of the amendment from the zon-
ing committee of the washington Board
of Trade; by Percy H. Russell, repre-
senting the Washington Real Estate
Board; Louis Justement, representing
the zoning committee of the local chap
ter of the American Institute of Archi-
tectS; Waddy B. Wood, fellow of the
American Institute of Architects. and
Thomas P. Bories, representing the
Wardman Corporation. Maj. Donald
A. DAWSON Assistant Engineer Commits
sioner in charge of building and coming,
declared at the outset that the building
inspectors Office long had seen the need
Of allowing garages in apartment houses
without consents.
Brown FavOrs Move.
Mr.. Lusk told the commission he had
been authorized ., by Inspector E. w.
Brown of the Traffic Bureau. to quote
that official as being in favor of the
change as a means of reducing traffic
congestion, and Lusk also quoted from
a statement made before a congress
sional committee by Trafic Director
W. H. Harland, who said: "It appears
that some move should be made to en-
courage the building of public and
private garages. It Is believed
that if such accommodations were pro-
vided the public could be educated to
make use of them .. In some
sections of the District having large
apartment houses there is no vacant
space within a reasonable distance for
garages. Those interested in the con-
struction of apartment houses should
be encouraged to provide auto parking
space within the buildings"
Mr.. Lusk buttressed his arguments
for the amendment by presenting pho
tographic evidence of traffic congestion
caused by the all-night parking OF
cars in streets, which he had taken
December 4 and after midnight in
the then freezing weather, when, he
asserted all who could had their auto
mobiles under cover. The photographs
showed solid lines Of cars parked in
front Of numerous apartment houses.
Lusk argued that the present regu-
lation is unfair because it allows ga
RACES in some apartments whose own
ers can get consents from abutting
owners and prohibits garages in other
buildings whose owners cannot get the
consent. He argued also that tenants
have right to expect provision of
garages and finally contended that the
amendment would prove a boon to the
city by eliminating congestion in streets
Problem Grows Yearly.
He pointed out that IT'S, 900 residents
OF the District now are living in apart
ment houses a large majority of them
owning automobiles and that the prob
lem OF taking care of these cars is
becoming increasingly serious each wear
Opposition to the change came from
Herbert Wilson, representing the zon-
ing committee Of the Manor Park Citi-
ZenS Association; Edwin S. Hege, rep
resenting the Chevy Chase Citizens
Association, and M. w. Lewis, repre-
senting the Mount Pleasant Citizens
Association
Both Mr. Hege and Mr.. Lewis spoke
In favor of the general idea of apart
ment garages, but were recorded as op-
posed TO the amendment because they
felt the change should not be adopted
without amendments. Mr.. Hege said
his association felt that adjoining prop
erty owners should have a right to be
heard before permits are issued for such
garages. He pointed out, however, that
his association had approved such a
project in its own territory.
Commissioner Dougherty in answer ia
question by Mr.. Wilson, who opposed
removal of the restriction provided by
the consent regulation, pointed out that
such garages could not be erected with
out approval by the District Commits
sioners
Mr.. Lewis. for the Mount Pleasant
group, urged that the amendment be
changed to provide that onlv Measure
cars be permitted in such apartment
garages, and that tenants only be al
lowed to use such garages. but Mr.. Lusk
in rebuttal, contended that apartment,
owners would not want commercial
vehicles parked in their buildings, anc
that a regulation against use Of such
garages by any but tenants could not be