Evening star., 1940-02-26
Says Zonine Low
Works Hordships
Alexundriu Rule
Held HurtfuI to
Property Owners
70 the Editor Of Ths Star:

70 the Editor Of Ths star:
The growth and expansion Of the city
Of Alexandria along many lines during
the past year has been noted with graft
flcation, but recent activities Of those in
authority In regard to zoning matters
appear to be Of doubtful Justification or
propriety. In upholding . provision Of
the zoning law denying the right Of
property owners In "A" zone to have
apartments in their homes, hardships
have been inflicted upon q class Of the
city's most worthy citizens. widows
whose main source of income is the
revenue from apartments in their homes
are being notified to dismantle their
apartments and get rid Of their tenants
or be subjected to heavy penalty. Ell
derly couples who BY thrift and FORE
sight have provided this means Of secur-
Ing comforts In their declining years are
receiving like notices. Young couples
who are striving on small income to
pay for their homes and at the same
time raise family are among those
being notified.
Such procedure appears especially un-
justifiable at time when there is q
great demand for apartments, the in
flux Of newcomers to the city having
taxed the citys housing facilities to
the limit and caused both corporations
and private investors to undertake the
building of apartment houses on large
scale. Such inconsistency on the part
Of those regulating city affairs should
be investigated. It would appear only
fair that the city's unprecedented pros
perity should be shared by those in the
small income group as well as by those
whose bank accounts run into five and
six figures.
The property owners against whom
such drastic measures are being taken
maintain apartments in homes that are
In no way detrimental to other proper
ties In their respective neighborhoods
Most Of them are in two-story, detached
houses or semi mi-bungalows, and the ex-
terror Of the houses has not in any way
been changed. The houses are clean
and well kept inside and out, with four
or five people living in six or seven room
houses, with separate kitchen and
bath for each group Of two or three
people. These people are quiet, orderly
and intelligent, and live their busy lives
in way that in no respect infringes on
the rights or comforts Of their neighbors
They represent very dependable and
desirable class In the community, and
the fact that they are being deprived of
large part of their income and are
being Inundated by warrants, summons
to court and threats of Jail sentences or
lines Is matter that should receive
serious consideration by every thoughtful
citizen.
Some regulation Is necessary in every
well-ordered city and coming laws seem
to be the established means for such
regulation, but where 1t is found that
law interferes with the welfare and
happiness of those for whose benefit It
was made, 1t should be amended. Ac-
cording to Justice Holmes, the law
should not be fixed, immovable thing.
but should be elastic and capable of
adjustment to the needs of the people
living under that law. In other words,
the law should conform to the needs of
the people and not the people to an ILL
fitting, iron-clad law. Certainly human
welfare and happiness should have par
amount consideration If a community is
to be true to the democratic principles
upon which America was founded and
to which she owes her greatness and
Alexandria, perhaps more than any other
city of the Nation, because of her long
list OF iuustrious sons, owes allegiance
to such principles.
A CITIZEN OF ALEXANDRIA
Alexandria, Va,
February %.