Evening star., 1934-04-22
american University Park Group Formed
To Oppose Zoning Change in Its Section
Garden Club Organized
to Further Beautify
Community.
Streets, Transportation
and Gas Service
Improved.

erS from the District municipal
government the American Uni
versity Park Citizens Association
is carrying forward its historic
ideals for closer cooperation with
governing officials to the end that
the real purpose of the organization
may better be achieved.
This purpose, as officially set down
in a statement by the association it
self, is improvement, development,
and Identification of community, and
representation Of its citizens in civic
affairs"
The Identification part Of its pro-
gram has been intensified by the or
ganization this year Of garden club,
of which William T. Belts is president,
as an auxiliary of the association it
self. This club will go forward with
the annual garden contest, which has
done much each year to stir interest
throughout the community and bring
color and beauty to gardens and
lawns.
Area Represented.
The association represents the area
bounded by Western avenue, River
road, Forty-third street, Nebraska
avenue, Loughborough road to Dele
carlia Reservoir
The association, according to its
own records, grew out of what was
termed an emergency in which the
community generally accepted as need
for united action"
In the Fall Of 1925 a movement
was launched by a certain corpora
ton controlling considerable acreage
along Massachusetts, avenue and at
tempted to change zoning to permit
erection of community houses" This
started an organization Of people in
the American University Park in op-
position to the proposed coming change.
The first meeting was held at the
residence Of r. L. Thomas, 5036
Massachusetts, avenue, and from that
beginning a group was organized to
go to the District Building and regis
ter their determined opposition The
force Of this successful effort was
recognized, and from it organization
Of the permanent association resulted.
Organized in 1926.
The organization meeting was held
at the home Of w. r. Manning, 470l
Fessenden street. June 90, 1926, and
elected as its first president, Thomas
E. Lodge, who served for four ccn-
Secutive terms. The records Of the
association show the success of the
association was largely due to the
enthusiasm and untiring effort" of
Mr.. Lodge. He is now a delegate
from the ASSOCIATION to the Fedora
ton OF Citizens Associations, in which
he takes prominent role. He is
chairman of the federation's impor-
tant Committee on Law and Legisla-
ton.
One of the first handicaps of the
community which the association sue
ceeded in overcoming was the lack
of gas service. Yet the rule of the
gas company, approved by the Dis
trict Government, whereby the COM
pany was not required to extend its
mains free Of charge beyond l25
feet, was not considered by the asso-
tion TO be unfair. The association
thereupon entered on a long and
persistent campaign which finally
brought gas to the community. This
was accomplished by an acceptance
by the company and the District
authorities of the fairness CT the
proposition of Jumping all the resi-
dences requiring gas service against
the total distance for which the main
would have to be laid, in this way
overcoming the obstacle of the rather
long distance between the end of
the old main and the nearest houses
without service. This obviated any
hardship on individual property own
ers desiring gas service.
Bus Extension Secured.
Extension of bus service for the
community has been accomplished by
the association, after a demonstration
Of It's necessity.
The matter of proper coming, char
acterized as "the very cornerstone of
our association" has continued to
claim the vigilant attention of the
group. The associations earliest ef-
forts assured highest zoning for the
greater part Of the neighborhood lying
north of Massachusetts, avenue. Later
proposed change to row-house zoning
in the northeastern section of the
park was prevented. But the most
difficult task was accomplished when
the proposal to put up apartment
houses along Massachusetts, avenue
was defeated.
Improvement Of streets and road
ways was an early objective of the as
sociation, and succeeded in opening up
Forty-sixth street from Massachu-
sets avenue to River road and i'm
provement of Massachusetts, avenue
But still further progress is desired
in the park by the association in
road improvement.
Many Improvements Noted.
Since organization of the associa-
ton there has been a general i'm
provement, largely through its efforts,
in trash and garbage collections,
street lighting, mail delivery and col
lection, and in many other services
on which the comfort and well being
of the community are dependent.
From the time of the establishment
of the Community Chest the associa-
ton has represented the Chest in
the community and has given gener-
GUS support.
American University Park was
laid out in the late COS. ITO the
early residents of the park we owe
much" says statement on behalf
of the association. "for they de-
veloped an atmosphere of friendly
neighborliness of unusual charm in