Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-06-04
ARCHITECTS URGE
INCREASED HEIGHT
FOR APARTMENTS
Little Opposition Presented
to Petition Before
Zoning Body.
MOST PROPOSALS EVER
! TO APPEAR PRESENTED
Hearings Postponed to Tomorrow
Because of Unusual Number of
! Demands for Changes.

Organized builders and architects ap-
heared today before the zoning Com
mission urging approval of a proposed
amendment to the coming code under
which eight-story apartment buildings
could be erected where five-story struc-
lures now are permitted in return Tor
greatly reducing the amount of a lot
that could be occupied, and waving
other existing concessions.
Little opposition was presented to the
petition, which headed one of the long
est lists of coming changes ever brought
before the commission at one hearing
and in which were a number of pro-
Rosals calculated to create vigorous con-
tests.
1t was the first public hearing in
which the new District Commissioners,
Gen. Herbert B. Crosby and DR.. Luther
II. Reichelderfer. participated.
Because of the unusual length Of the
list, consisting of two proposed amend
ments and "a requested property
changes, Col. William B. Ladue, chair
man, announced that cases 81 to "a
would be postponed to tomorrow. The
length of the list apparently bears out
the contention made some time back
by various coming committees that the
decision to hold but three hearings 3
year would bring an overwhelming
number of cases at the reduced num-
Der Of hearings.
Methodists Appear.
Prominent on the list for today's
consideration Is an old case which has
proved troublesome, involving a pro-
posal to change from residential to
first commercial use on Connecticut
avenue near Calvert street, just of the
north end Of the Million Dollar Bridge.
This, in part, has been twice before
presented to the commission, precipi-
tating lively contests, with opponents
victorious.
The Board of Temperance, Prohibition
and Public Morals of the Methodist
Church also viii come before the COM
mission today asking for a change from
so to 90 foot height limit on property
on Maryland avenue northeast, adjoin-
ing the Methodist Building, where 1t
IS proposed to erect a large addition
to the church Office and apartment
structure.
The case of the Union Terminal Mar
ket Co., which seeks to change from
residential to second commercial CLASH
flcation about IS acres of its site at
east, to complete its $l,000,000 market
development there, was postponed to
tomorrow. A proposal and counter pro-
posal affecting the use of land on
Forty-fourth street in the FoXa sec
ton will be heard this afternoon, there
being evidences of an impending con-
AAat
Louis Justement, past president, and
Gilbert L. Rodier, secretary of the local
chapter Of the American Institute Of
Architects, with Monroe Warren, pres
adent, and Rufus S. Lusk, secretary of
the Operative Builders Association, ap-
peared this morning to strongly sup
port q proposed amendment which
would increase the maximum height
of buildings in the existing 60-foot
area. They argued that the taller
buildings would be better, because un-
der the plan smaller per cent of the
lot would be used by the building, thus
assuring more light and air for tenants
and owners of adjoining properties
They commended also that the taller
buildings would come under more strin-
gent building code provisions, requiring
them to be of more f1reproof construc-
ton.
Uniform SkyIines.
! Another point was that an apartment
vacancy survey made by the builders
organization showed that 8-story build
11gs were more popular with tenants
than 3, or story buildings. The two
architects also declared that the taller
buildings would make for a more
uniform skyline and otherwise would
enhance the appearance of street.
The proposed amendment would affect
only areas abutting on streets 10 feet
or more in width. Under the plan
an 8-story building could occupy but
81 per cent of the lot area, whereas
under the present 60-foot limit, such
apartments may occupy rs per cent of
the area. The bulk of the taller build
ing, under the plan, would be no greater
than the shorter and wider building.
Demsrest Lloyd, president of the Du
Pont Circle Citizens Association, in
registering objection to the amendment,
said he was not opposed to the eight
story building plan, under the restric-
tons imposed in the amendment, but
that he feared this was step for fur
Gher changes allowing increased height
end said each case should be considered
individually, rather than to give blanket
authority in the code to all such build
ing propositions.
Opposition also was registered by
Grover w. Ayres, representing the Ten
Mile Square Club