Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-10-01
Professional Structure at
Connecticut Avenue and
N Street Sought.
PROPOSED APARTMENT
CONSTRUCTIONS FOUGHT
Commercial Use of Rhode Island
Avenue Property Is Holly
Contested.

Plans for construction of an History
professional building, designed partic-
ularly for physicians and dentists, to be
erected on the site Of the old British
embassy at Connecticut avenue and N
street, were placed before the Zoning
Commission today in support of peti-
ton for change in coming restrictions
on part of the site.
Petition without Opposition.
No opposition was voiced to the pro-
oosal to change the coming of the north
east corner of Nineteenth and N streets
from residential 90-foot G area to no.
loot ID area, which would make this
portlon OF the site econform to that
of the Connecticut avenue frontage.
The petition was presented by Thomas
+. Bones, representing Harry Wardman,
owner
Approval of the coming petition and
completion of plans for the new deyel-
opment would signalize the passing Of
mark.
Debate developed this morning over .
petition for the change of coming Of
property bounded by Harvard and
Eighteenth streets, Quarry and Adams
Mill roads and Summit place from resi-
dental A restricted and B restricted
areas to residential B area, which wtioId
permit construction of an apartment
house.
Seek to Build Apartment.
Horace w. Peaslee, architect, app
peared for owners of the property Pc
titioning for the change. He was siip-
ported by e. S. Kennedy, washington
builder and owner of a nearby prop
erty; L. p: McLachleh, representing the
owners of the Ontario Apartments,
nearby, and Louis Justement, former
president OF the local chapter of the
American Institute of Architects.
Proponents of the petition argued that
the property in question was no longer
suitable for private residences, and con-
tended that construction of an appro-
pirate apartment house would in no
wise be detriment to the square.
Residents Voice Protest.
Opposition to the plan came, how
ever, from number Of owners Of PRE-
vate dwellings in or near the square,
who protested that erection of an apart
ment house in the square would bring
smoke nuisance, alley traffic, further
general traffic congestion and other
Objectionable features to the square and
thereby damage the value of the prop
erty as private homes. A M. Agelasto,
appearing as one of the protesting
property owners, declared that more
than 80 per cent of the owners of pri-
vate homes in the section were opposed
to the change.
Another old case was brought before
the commission in the petition for
change of property on both sides Of
Rhode Island avenue from Iowa Circle
to Fourteenth street, from its present
residential classification to first COM
mercial.
Business Use Asked.
Vincent L. Toomy, representing petit
tioning property owners, contended
that traffic on Rhode Island avenue has
so increased in recent years that the
old houses in the section no longer are
suitable as private residences. He con-
tended that the only solution was TO
permit use of the block for business,
for which he declared there was a de-
mand. He was supported by A. j. Dris-
coll, president of the Midcity Citizens
Association, and Bates Warren, repre-
Senting an owner of one of the prop
critics in question.
Mai. Donald A. Dawson, executive
officer of the commission, reported that
bAlC EAOlAllB AuVASuiy OOuIlCn Alhu BOAC
on record as opposed to the change.
This afternoon the commission was
to hear a holly contested case. in which
home owners on Sixteenth street were
prepared to voice vigorous protest to .
proposed change from residential A and
B restricted classification to residential
A area for the property bounded by
Sixteenth street, Arkansas avenue ex-
tended and UpShur street. The pro-
posed change would permit construction
of an apartment house.