Evening star., 1940-12-04
Dupont Circle
zoning Plan
|sArgued
Residents Divided
On Approval Of
l0-Story Apartments

Groups of residents and property
owners along Massachusetts avenue
NV, between Twenty and Twenty
second streets, were arrayed against
one another today at public hear
ing before the Zoning Commission
on a proposal to change the Zoning
classification so as to permit erec-
ton of 10-story apartment build
ings.
Proponents of the change, includ-
Ing Mrs. Alice Roosevelt LongWorth
and Walter BaStian, who spoke for
Mrs. Sumner Welles, argued that the
encroachment of boarding and ROOM
ing houses in the area near Du-
pont Circle already had lessened
residential values. Opponents, in
Guiding Mrs. David M. Lea and rep
resentatives of the Dupont Circle
Citizens Association, insisted that
the residential character of the ave-
nue. should be preserved, and pro-
tested against further extension of
apartment house zoning.
Later in the session. Chairman
Frederic A. Delano of the National
Capital Park and Planning Commits
sion urged the Zoning Commission
to limit the height of all buildings
here in the future to ITO feet. He
argued that the increase of from 80
to 110 feet, authorized by Congress
was a mistake. and an even greater
mistake was the zoning body's rule
permitting certain buildings to go
up to 130 feet.
Delay Sought on Decision.
On the other hand, James G.
Wilkes, appearing as counsel for
owners of land at Connecticut and
Florida avenues NV, asked the
commission to defer a decision until
after hearing December 26 on a
proposal by promoters of the SIS
100000 Crystal City development,
for which height increases are
sought.
Gen. c. L. Corbin, who represented
Miss Mary and Miss Nellie Patten,
owners of the old mansion at
Twenty-second and @ streets and
Massachusetts, avenue, declared the
section once had been one of the
best residential districts in Wash
ington, but that it had been going
down-hill' and that eventually it
would all be used by boarding houses.
He argued that it would be better
to permit erection of good apart
ments and she sooner the better"
Mrs. Longwortn, who resides at
2009 Massachusetts, avenue, said she
not only favored apartment zoning.
but also would not mind business"
She said she would not object to
''living among shops"
Others Speaking at Hearing.
Others who spoke for the change
included Miss Nellie Patten and
Mrs. Ffoulke Dewey of POLL Massa-
chusetts avenue. Opposition was
registered by Mrs. Lea of PIP
Massachusetts avenue; Newell W.
Ellison, 2232 Massachusetts, avenue;
Rowland S. Marshall. secretary of
the Dupont Circle Citizens Associa-
ton, and Stanley Peele, jr., repre-
senting Miss Bessie J. Kibbey of 2O25
Massachusetts, avenue, who said
that his client had lived in the Sec
ton for As years.
Mrs. Lea said she enjoyed living
In the section, that her home was
not for sale and that she wished to
protest against degeneration" to
apartment use.
Mr.. Ellison protested that the
issue over apartment zoning for the
section near Dupont Circle had been
brought up time and again, and that
the proponents apparently felt that
If they persisted long enough they
will break down our opposition He
characterized the present proposal
as an entering wedge to further
apartment zoning along the avenue