Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-01-10
Liberalizing Height Restrictions.


tenth and K streets Is now the tallest
building in Washington, the tip of the
tower rising to height of 157 feet
above Fourteenth street. The cornice
of the building is ITO feet above the
sidewalk, with setbacks bringing the
| tenantable portion of the building to
100 feet The Munsey Building, with
the cornice 100 feet above the sidewalk,
is the next highest building. The Press
Building, with the cornice lao feet
above the sidewalk, and the New Will
| lard Hotel, with the cornice 100 feet
above F street, are, respectively, the
third and fourth highest buildings in
Washington.
With these comparisons in mind, one
is able to picture the commanding ap-
pearance of a tower 100 feet high, built
on the Dean tract, or Masonic Heights.
The Commissioners have reported ad-
versely on proposed amendment to
the coming regulations which would per-
NIT the construction of this 18o-foot
structure on this site.
1t Is true that the 180-foot height
sought would apply only to tower, and
the objections that usually apply to high
office buildings in congested districts
would not apply to it. And the senti-
mental reasons behind the project, in
addition to the fact that it could be
made intellectually attractive, are also
to be borne in mind.
But the Commissioners have practical
reasons for turning thumbs down.
Their stand is based on fundamental
principles and these should be upheld.
In the first place, the Commissioners
should do in all cases as they have done
in this case and consistently oppose the
expedient of obtaining special legisla-
ton from Congress to break the coming
regulations. The maximum height limit
under these regulations has been, up to
now, ITO feet, with setbacks from the
cornice that bring the tenantable por-
tions of the building to 100 feet. The
Munsey Building and the New Willard
Hotel were built before the coming
regulations became effective. In the
case Of the Press Building special legis-
lation was obtained from Congress on
the ground that the Willard Hotel
would otherwise tend to dwarf 1t. The
building, however, does violate the in
tent of the coming regulations.
In the case of the Tower Building, the
tower was permitted under the
authority of the Commissioners to
regulate the height and appearance Of
superstructures on roofs of buildings.
In this case the pent houses, smoke
stacks. ETC., were placed within the
tower, giving 1t a more pleasing ap-
pearance. Even then there was contro-
versy over the height of the tower, the
builders seeking to increase the height
above the 157 feet finally permitted.
But the Tower Building conforms to
the coming regulations. The proposed
structure on Temple Heights would not.
The only method of obtaining special
dispensation under the coming act Is
to overthrow the coming regulations by
act of Congress, and that method is
dangerous. The Press building Of
course, set a precedent. But 1t is a
dangerous precedent none the less. It
should not be followed.
Writing on the height problem in
Washington, Frederic A. Delano, in
1928, emphasized the fact that the zon-
ing policy in Washington, Since the
adoption of the original regulations, has
been one of continual liberalization of
height limitation" He devoted space
to an intelligent discussion Of the dan
gers inherent in policy of liberaliza-
ton, concluding his remarks with the
statement that while spires and tow
ers Of moderate proportions are often
uncbjectionable, it seems apparent in
Washington that the dominance of the
Nations Capitol must be preserved"
Zoning regulations undoubtedly cramp
individual aspirations. But the harm
done is more than balanced by the
blanket protection to the community
as a whole, and the principle of this
protection must be preserved.