Evening star., 1933-12-09
DOWNTOWN AREAS
RESTORATION SEEN
IN REz0N|NG STEP
Engineers Study Shows Sec
tion Has Many Advantages
as Residential.
FINDS CAPITAL FREE
FROM SLUM DISTRICT
Government Aid for Large-Scale
Rebuilding Is Proposed to
Restore Values.
BY VINCENT TUTCHING.

The question of whether a rezoning
OF the downtown section of Washington
Is necessary to safeguard property
values and save "blighted" residential
areas is discussed in a report made
public today by S. G. Lindholm, en-
gineer of the District Zoning Commits
sion.
The conclusion that most of down.
town has passed the peak OF high
values, but can in part be restored
as residential section" Is reached in
population, property values and coming
in that section of Washington west of
the AnacoStia River.
For the purpose of the survey, this
area was divided into three parts: "A''
area, bounded by North Capitol street
the Mall, Rock Greek and Florida
avenue; "B" area, surrounding "a,
including Georgetown, a part of the
northwest south of Spring road, be-
tween Rock Creek Park and the Sol
diers' Home, part of northeast Wash
ington, south of Florida avenue and
Benning road, and all of the southeast
and southwest sections; &C" area, north
of the foregoing boundaries and west of
the Anacostia River.
"a" Area Shows Big Gain.
Lindholm's report cites that during
the 10 years between 1920 and 1890
"a" area lost $4,000 residents; "B''
area remained status quo, and "C''
area gained more than $1,000 persons
The loss in population not only has
affected property values in the central
section, but also has changed materially
the character of the residents.
With the increase IN population in
&C. area, the number of retail stores
increased by $50. the report says. The
demand for Office space, however, con-
tinues in the downtown section. Build
ing sites are seen as being in demand.
Two other important uses are gasoline
service stations and public garages.
with demand for space for the latter
increasing as the parking problem
continues to become more acute. The
downtown section now has 205 filling
stations, "B" area has 214, and "C'
area, 143. Increase in the number of
filling stations in the downtown area is
not possible, Lindholm observes.
Apartment Gain Noted.
I'm spite of the loss in population" :"
the report says, "the downtown section
has seen great increase in apartment
houses, with 2,357,000 square feet of
land absorbed as apartment house
sites during the decade-more than
one-half of the total taken for all
downtown purposes in the PERIOD
Neglect on the part of builders has
created "blighted" residential and
building sections in the central area,
the report says. 1t continues:
"a large part of Washington's popu-
1ation has to come downtown to work
Many desire to live within walking dis
tance If accommodations could be found
= within their means. The demand for
downtown homes exists, but present
building operations do not meet the de-
Ynand. As consequence there are
blighted residential sections and
blighted business sections.
"Slums, in the real sense of the word,
Washington has escaped. except in a
few alley dwellings. But the frightening
process is going on and transportation
Is growing worse.
New Methods Needed.
'New methods of housing are neces-
sary and new devices have been
planned and in some cities tested. The
downtown area can be restored as a
residential section, provided that large
scale operations can have the help of
Government and private investment" >"
Lndholm, in his report, opposes what
he describes as "piecemeal' rezoning.
This procedure, he contends, would put
the Zoning Commission in a position
of being party. by rezoning, to specu-
lation deals to dispose of individual
parcels Of property. Instead, he said, it
should order a rezoning of all. or at
least whole streets, of downtown prop
erty.