Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1936-04-26
THEATER REQUEST
.MAYA[TERSTREET.
Glover Park Citizens See
Possibility of Benefit
Not Expected.

The extension of Benton street from
Tunlaw road to Wisconsin avenue, q
distance of about 200 feet, may grow
out of a request made by the Glover
Park Citizens Association for movie
theater In their neIghborhood.
The request for the theater and a
subsequent proposal that it be built
IN the 1900 block of Wisconsin avenue
called attention to situation which
exists whereby persons living in
Glover Park west of Wisconsin avenue,
between Calvert street on the north
and W street on the south, have no
direct access to the avenue. So many
complaints have been made of the diff
Aculty Of finding streets in that neigh
borhood that it has almost become a
joke in the association. There have
even been proposals that members be
furnished with detailed maps to give
to their friends to assist them in find
ing their way.
Plans Under Way.
Since the association asked for the
theater, a large motion picture corpo-
ration has made plans to erect one on
lot 869 of square 1900. which would be
about 1924 Wisconsin avenue. They
have petitioned the Zoning Commits
sion for rezoning and a date for the
hearing has been set. The property in
question is already zoned first COM
mercial for depth of 100 feet, but this
coming would have to be extended for
about rs feet more to permit the cree
ton Of the type Of theater desired.
An inquiry made by Myron r.
Walker, president of the association,
disclosed that the lot is almost in a
direct line with Benton street extend
ed. He proposed, therefore, that if
Benton street Is cut through that it
be given a turn of about 20 degrees to
the north so that it will enter Wiscon-
sin avenue at right angle. This
would do away with the possible traffic
hazard of having vehicles enter the
avenue at more acute angle, and by
placing the theater at or near the
corner would supply more parking
space for patrons.
The question of extending Benton
street was advanced as long ago as
1910, but nothing was done about it
at that time. When an inquiry was
made at the District Building for the
records of the case it was discovered
that they had been considered dead
material and had been stored away
in the basement and would take pos
sibly weeks to locate.
Opposition Develops.
Some opposition to the rezoning to
permit the theater construction has
developed among members of the asso-
citation. Several have expressed the
fear that the rezoning will be extended
back as far as Thirty-Seventh street,
a small section of which is already
zoned first commercial at the corner
Of Calvert street. This property is &C.
cupied by gas station and the rear
Of a drug store facing Wisconsin
avenue
At the last meeting DR.. Ralph Bar
nett pointed out that if the rezoning
IS extended back to Thirty-seventh
street property between the rear of the
theater and Calvert street would be
useless for residential purposes and
would have to be rezoned also in fair
ness to the owners. His suggestion
that the association take no stand be-
fore the zoning Commission in regard
to the petition but leave it in the
hands of those property owners af-
fected was adopted, although one
member, Irwin Chilcoat, declared that
as the association had originally asked
for the theater it should support the
petitioner.