Evening star., 1934-06-06
CHANGE IN z0N|NG
TQPERM|T LIQUOR
SALES IS FOUGHT
Resident of 900 Block on
M Street Opposes Com
merciaI Status.
JUSTICE BUTLER JOINS
IN ANOTHER PROTEST
Two N Street Places and One on
Seventeenth Street Are
Involved.

The question of whether the Dis
trict Zoning Commission should
change the classification Of a property
so as to permit the granting of an
alcoholic beverage permit was debated
during a hearing before the commits
sion today, when the coming status Of
property at 932 NJ street was consid-
cred.
1nsistent argument against chang
ing the classification from residential
to first commercial on the ground that
it would permit sale of alcoholic drink
there was made by E. E. Overholt, a
resident of 922 M street. He said he
was spokesman for group of proper
ty owners in the section.
The change was sought by Alfred
M. Schwartz. speaking for Robert N
Harper, owner, who is prominent in
Washington financial and business
circles. Schwartz said the delicates-
sen at 932 M street had been selling
80 beer under permit which recent
ly expired. Because the property now
has non-conforming status the Al
coholic Beverage Control Board can
not grant permit to sell beer under
the liquor law.
Conditions Protested.
Overholt declared conditions in the
neighborhood now were horrible"
that there were already too many
liquor selling places in the vicinity.
and that some of the consumers of
alcoholic drink each night were carry
ing on "in a disgraceful manner"
Ove1holt said if the owrer planned
TO establish A different type of busi-
ness, not engaging in sale of alcoholic
beverage, he would not be opposing
the change Of zoning.
Maj. John C. Gotwals, Engineer
Commissioner, who presided, explained
that the District Commissioners were
opposed to permitting non-conforming
stores to obtain liquor permits, but
explained the House had passed and
the Senate was considering an amend
ment to the liquor law which would
enable non-conforming stores to sell
beer.
Another Change Opposed.
A proposal to change from resi-
dental to first commercial the classi-
fication of property at 1900 and 1902
N street and 1903 Seventeenth street
was opposed by Horace w. Peaslee,
1894 Nineteenth street, who said he
was speaking for Justice Pierce But
Ter of the United Stotes Supreme
Court, who resides at 1929 Nineteenth
street; Ruth c. Marthinson, 1240
Nineteenth street; George Bond Coch-
ran, 1915 Nineteenth street, and
Laura Harlan. 1907 Nineteenth street,
as well as himself and Frances M.
Peaslee, 1884 Nineteenth street. Peas
lee argued the change in zoning would
be inconsistent with the present zon-
ing and argued that there already is
an over supply of commercial prop
erty in the vicinity.
The petitioner, represented by
spokesman for Shannon & Luchs,
realty firm, agents for the property,
argued there is a filling station
diagonally across the street on the
site of the old British embassy, and
that on the property in question a
building was erected so years ago as
store.
Cites Property Losses.
Hugh A. Thrift and others urged
the commission to change the zoning
of property from 1902 to 1908, inclu-
sive, Seventeenth street, from resi-
Dental to first commercial, claiming
the change in the character of the
neighborhood had ruined the property
for residential purposes. Thrift said
that more than $1,000 had been lost
since 1926 on the property at 1902
Seventeenth street. He argued that
nearby properties are zoned CONNER
cial and said he proposed to remodel
the building for store use.
No objection was raised at the hear
ing to proposal to increase the height
limit from 80 to ITO feet for the prop
erty at 1917 I street, just east of the
Army-Navy Club. The proposal was
offered by William c. Sullivan, at
torney for the National Savings e.
Trust Co., a trustee for the estate Of
Jane A. Riggs.
The commission today was making
unprecedented speed in acting upon
the pending petitions. BY noon, more
than half Of the II proposals had been
heard.