Evening star., 1934-05-27
GROUP ORGANIZED
TO PROTECT LAND
VALUE IN |TSAREA
Aims and Accomplishments
of Six.Year.0Id Unit
Are Reviewed.

Organized TO combat deteriorating
tendencies which served to lower prop
erty values in its section, the Citizens
Forum of Columbia Heights, founded
In September. 1928, is one Of the
youngest in the Districts family Of
citizens associations.
Postwar conditions and overbuilding
had made the home territory of the
forum attractive to interests and ele-
ments that tended to lower property
values in that conspicuously home
owning community For some years,
such deteriorating tendencies had been
combated by home owners through a
local home owners association. When
thai body became dormant anc prop
erty values were increasingly threat
ened, the Citizens Forum was organ
lied with protection of property
values" specifically written into its con-
stitution along with more general aims
of promoting home, school and recrea-
tional interests.
Recognition DELAYED.
Because its natural field of operation
was dictated by property needs rather
than by regulation boundaries, and
duplicated territory served in a more
general way by other associations. the
forum was delayed in being recognized
by the Federation of Citizens Associa-
tions until technical boundaries had
been adjusted 1t become a member
of the federation officially in June,
1929.
One of its first official acts was to
order the creation of a special COM
mittee, still in existence, for protection
of home and property values. That
committee has been continuously active
since 1929, working through it's more
than 100 member representatives in
the different city blocks In Columbia
Heights. It has aided home owners to
conserve the normal value of their
property mainly by executing covenants
aiming to make permanent the living
conditions under which the high-clasS
residential section was built up.
Protection of home owners also has
been furthered through the forums
standing committee on taxation, which
has been active in requesting more
frequent and more accurate tax assess
ments of real property.
Campaign for Fairgrounds.
A militant advocate of public recrea-
ton and Fairgrounds. the forum has
waged an unceasing fight to retain for
recreational purposes all possible re-
| naming open spaces in its overbuilt
community. 1t has opposed un-
| quallfiedly any use of the old Sixteenth
Street Reservoir site for a sunken
garden or other public park use, in
| sisting that it become part of modern
recreational center or be used for like
recreational purposes. That position
1t reaffirmed at its February meeting.
Separation of District of Columbia
estimates and funds from the scrutiny
! or approval of the Federal Bureau of
the Budget was strongly urged and
reiterated by the forum until recently
its position was Endorsed by the Fed
Grafton Of Citizens Associations in that
body's request that District estimates
90 to congressional committees directly
from the District Commissioners.
The Citizens Forum was the first
to respond to the published appeal of
Gen. John J. Pershing that citizen
| bodies unite in a chain OF local
vigilance committees to aid in sup
| pressing the wave of graft and rack
eteering. The forums Vigilance Com
mittee in 1882 charged that the then
| Ty,it CAat TOIV p1oiNo
of Wisconsin had sought to divert Dis
trict taxpayers money for support and
relief of the so-called bonus army"
and sustained its charges by the Con-
gressional Record. The Vigilance Com
mittee became inactive when other as
sociations failed to provide correspond
ing units in the proposed city-wide
| chain.
Sought School Gymnasium.
Particular public school matters re-
ceiving special attention of the forum
have been the completion of the
gymnasium building at Powell Junior
High School. the acquisition and de-
velcpment of more land near that
school and the repair and reopening
Vi lIlt WI 4cdCllcIS
the forum vigorously urged instead Of
the proposed condemnation and razing
! Of the building.
Conspicuously democratic, the forum
co-operates with many community
movements, including the Columbia
Heights Business Mems Association.
parent-teacher bodies and the local
branch of the American Legion.
The forum has had but three presi-
dents. Charles S. Easterl!ng, the orig
NAL incumbent. declined reelection
and was succeeded in 1929 by Burd W.
Payne, who was twice reelected. w. W.
Coulliette became president in 1882 and
! is now serving his second term. The
first secretary H. C. Phillips, resigned
shortly to head the special committee
on protection of homes and property
values. Miss Alice G. Woodward then
became secretary and was succeeded in
1880 by Harold " Maybee. The
present secretary, o. E. Foulk, was
first elected in 1882. Other present
officers are Russell G. Merryman, first
vice president; J. Harry Jones, second
vice president; Mrs. H. C. Phillips,
treasurer; Rev. Cove G. johnson,
chaplain, and C. E. LaVigne and MI.
Phillips. delegates to the Federation