Evening star., 1941-12-03
Citizens Oppose
Rooning Houses
In Home Areas
Zoning Officials
Hold Up Decision
On Lifting Bon

Fears that to permit, even during
the national emergency, operation
of boarding and rooming houses in
restricted or residential zones would
blight or destroy the character Of
single-family dwelling areas were
spread before members of the Dis
trict Zoning Commission today as it
considered an amendment designed
to lessen the national defense hous-
ing problem here.
While the Commissioners had in
dicated they believed emergency
steps must be taken to afford de-
cent housing for the great influx Of
Government workers. they gave at
the hearing no indication of what
final action they will take, although
they constitute the majority on the
zoning agency.
At the conclusion of a morning
hearing on the proposal. the COM
mission went at once into executive
session.
Witnesses Questioned.
As numerous speakers voiced OBJ
jections to the emergency plan to
permit boarding and rooming houses
in "a restricted and "A" semi
restricted districts, members of the
commission asked:
What are We going to do with all
OF these new people?'
The agency had before it formal
statement from the National Capital
Park and Planning Commission de-
clarlng that that agency felt it
would be unwiSe to adopt the propo-
sal unless a. great majority of
owners of residential property in
restricted districts want the change
made and unless the change would
materially improve the housing sit
uation" and provide living quar-
tiers for considerable number OF
persons
Frederic A. Delano, Planning Com
mission chairman. said the Federal
agency at its November meeting con-
CURED generally with the views OF
Harland Bartholomew, zoning con-
Sultant. who said:
Certainly there are many. many
dwelling structures in other districts
that could we'll be used for board
ing and lodging houses with benefit
to the owners of those structures
as we'll as to the city as a whole.
Passage OF this amendment would
greatly hasten the creation of
blighted districts in Washington"
Hart Backs Proposal.
Only four witnesses appeared to
champion the change, although
many letters have been filed with
the Zoning Commission, both for
and against the change.
Ringgold Hart. former assistant
corporation counsel. appearing as
an individual, urged adoption OF
the rule. citing the case of a widow
who has been deprived OF income
from large dwelling since 1888
because she cannot rent it or sell
it as a singe-family dwelling and
cannot now rent it for a boarding
and rooming house because of its
coming. although two nearby houses
are used for boarding and rooming
purposes.
Albert Hamilton, who said he
spoke for the Socialist party OF
Washington and for group OF
100 who met recently, urged adop-
! ton, arguing neW-houSe construc-
ton would not meet the housing
problem. He protested against a
time limit of December 81. 1943
which had been written into the
proposed rule.
Lawrence Koenigsberger. an at.
torney who lives in Chevy Chase
said he believed Washington resis-
dents should be willing to make 8
sacrifice in the interest of housins
defense workers. that he did not be-
! lleve nelghborhood would be par
ticularly damaged" by permitting
use of larger houses by respectable
roomers, but he urged no structural
changes be permitted in such dwell.
ings which would permanently lesser
their value.
Harold Clum. youthful Govern
ment worker. approving the plan
stressed the need of new Govern
/ ment workers for housing in gooc
neighborhoods.
Opponents of Plan.
Citizen opposition to the proposal
was led by Joseph Sanders, chair
man of Zoning Committee of the
Forest Hills Citizens Association
who said he had been asked to speak
also for the Federation of Citizens
Associations: J. NJ Heiser. speaking
for the Citizens Association o1
Chevy Chase, D. c.: Frank P. Leetch
representing the Georgetown Citi.
Zens' Association; M r. Wilkes
president of the American University
Park Citizens Association, speaking
also for the Wesley Heights Com
munity Club, and Edward Springer
vice president of the Forest Hills
Citizens Association.
They argued there were relatively
few houses in the "A" restricted
and "A" semi-restricted districts
that temporary changes likely woulo
become permanent, thus destroying
single-family area character anc
values; that an influx of roomer!
into such areas would create in
creased traffic, fire and safety anc
police problems and that the risl
involved was not justified by ths
practical housing results which
might be obtained.
While fears were voiced by som.
speakers too many roomers may bt
housed in one dwelling or one room
Commissioner Guy Mason said latel
the District Health Department
would prepare regulations governing
this health angle.
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