Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-02-04
APARTMENT coming
MOVE TO Be TAKEN
UP BY COMMISSION
Petition for Public Hearing
Is Filed With Group by
Operative Builders.
S-ST0RY STRUCTURES
FOR FIVE ARE SOUGHT
Taller Buildings Cubic Content
Would Not Exceed That Per-
mitted Others.

A petition for public hearing on {
proposed major change in the ZoninG
code of the District which would make
possible the construction of eight-story
apartment buildings in areas where
flve-Story structures now are permitted
with the proviSo that the taller build.
ings have a cubic content not in eXces.
OF what is now permitted in the FIVE
story building. was filed today with the
zoning Commission by the Operative
Builders Association.
Mai Donald A. Dawson, executive OF
the commission, to whom the petition
was addressed said the coming body
would consider the proposal in an eX-
ecutive session, following a public zon-
ing hearing scheduled for tomorrow
morning.
Second Petition on Subject.
The petition today is a second on this
subject made by the builders, and is a
compromise in that in its original pro-
poSal the association sought permission
to erect eight-story buildings in 60-foot
height areas, having a cubic bulk not
to exceed by 10 per cent the volume now
permitted tive-story buildings. The
original proposal was disapproved by
the National Capital Park and Plan
ming Commission.
OIle IedSOIl given Dy bI16 pld1lIl1Ite
commission was that it would tend 20
bring suburban apartment buildings into
competition with eight-story apartments
in the downtown section, which location,
it held, was more desirable for the
taller buildings. The builders today,
however, commended that the increased
height in more suburban apartments
would not affect conditions in the down.
town area, since there has been def
mite trend already established to the
suburban areas and since five-Story
buildings can now be built there.
Larger Building Held Cheaper.
In petitioning for a hearing on the
subject, the builders commended that IAN
eight-story building is more desirable
than a five-Story structure, that it is
cheaper to build the taller one because
the foundation and the roof are the
same, that it is cheaper to operate be-
cause it costs little more to run eleva-
tors the additional three stories, that it
is more desirable to live in the taller
building because there is more light and
air and that it permits more light and
air for surrounding buildings, since the
taller building would occupy less ground
area than structure OF the same VOL
ume Of lesser height.
These statements, we think, cannot
be controverted,' the petition continues,
land, indeed, the Planning Commission
in its statement to the press after It
had decided not to recommend this type
of structure admitted there were many
desirable features to recommend such
buildings" The petition contained a
statement of facts gathered by the
builders organization in vacancy sur
veys Of apartment houses, showing
lesser per cent Of vacancy in eight-story
buildings than in five-story apartments.
This was in spite of the fact, the
builders pointed out, that the rental
prices in the eight-story buildings were
somewhat greater than in the five-Story
structures. 1t was brought out also that
at the present time, the major number
OF eight-story apartment buildings are
in the downtown area, where the apart
ments are in smaller size as to num-
Der of rooms than in the suburban
buildings.