Evening star., 1935-10-22
D. c. LINE HOUSING
PROJECT SCORED
Citizens, at Rezoning Hear
ing, Bitterly Attack "Cheap
Proposition"
BY JACK ALLEN.
STAFF Correspondent of The Star


BETHESDA, Md, October 22-
Prospects for development of the
S5,000,000 community housing pro-
ject, which is proposed at Wis
consin avenue and the District of
Columbia line, were clouded with
doubt today.
A delegation of nearly $50 resi-
dents Of Friendship Heights, Somer-
set. Drummond, Chevy Chase and
Bethesda appeared in almost unani-
nous opposition to the development
at coming hearing last night and
bitterly assailed the application for
the rezoning Necessary to clear the
way tor the project.
Fear Lowered Standards.
Branding the proposal as a cheap
proposition" that would lower the
standards of housing in the neighbor-
hood, spokeSmen for the opponents
appealed to the Montgomery County
commissioners and the Maryland
National Capital Park and Planning
Commission to disapprove the re-
zoning request
Owners of the 60-acre tract on
which the project would be located,
a spokesman for the would-be devel-
oper and representatives of the Be-
thesda Chamber of Commerce and
the Chevy Chase Gardens and
Friendship Heights Citizens Associa-
tions appeared in favor of the pro-
posal.
The data offered at the hearing will
be taken under consideration by the
Planning Commission and it is ex-
pected that a formal recommendation
regarding the rezoning plea will be
presented to the Board of Montgomery
County Commissioners within the
next two weeks.
Cheap Proposition"
Hugh M. Framton, who character
ized the project as cheap PROPOSE
ton" that would lower housing
standards" and Frederick w. Stohl-
man delivered fiery TRADES against the
change of coming that is sought for
the project.
Others who joined them in their at
tack included Edward l.. Hillyer. presi-
dent of the Chevy Chase Land Co.;
Galen L. TAFT, r. C. Littleton. George
M. Ferris, A. S. Magee. William B.
Horne, Dudley T. Holcomb, Wilson
Townsend, Ralph S. Fowler and John
Shepherd.
Their charges were vigorously denied
by John w. Gaskins. who appeared in
behalf of P. F. Gormley of Washing
ton, described by Gaskins as the pro-
posed developer of the tract, which is
located at the northwest corner OF
Western and Wisconsin avenues, ad-
joining Friendship Heights.
Gaskins said that plans call for ap-
proximately 500 homes. costing about
S5 500 to construct and selling from
$500 to $4,000. The homes, he said.
would contain six rooms and two
baths and would be modelled along
Norman, Norman-English, Norman
French and early American lines.
Would Also Build Stores.
Stores which the developer proposes
w ColdDlASIl IAlC w PAN
vide for the needs of the residents
would be Of corresponding types, Cas-
kins declared.
Representatives of the Chevy Chase
Gardens Citizens Association and the
Friendship Heights Citizens ASsocia-
ton informed the county officials that
their organizations had gone on rec
ord approving the application provid-
ing the developer would agree to GER
tain reservations.
One of these. they said. would be
to reduce the depth of the comme--
cial development from 800 to $50 feet
and the other would be to specify
minimum cost restrictions in the deeG.i
of the houses. Gaskins said the de-
veloper would agree to both reserva-
tions.
j. Harry WEIGH spoke in behalf CT
the Bethesda Chamber of Commences
resolution approving the project, while
others who addressed the hearing in
favor of the coming change were Den-
aid woodward and B. w. Parker,
whose wife and Woodward are CO.
owners Of the tract.