Evening star., 1941-12-10
Rezoning 10 Permit
Opposed
In Takoma Park
Residents Contend
Buildings Would Clash
With Present Homes

Vigorous opposition to two re-
quests for the rezoning from resi-
dental A to c of property in Ia
koma Park. Md, marked hearing
Yesterday before the Montgomery
County Commissioners at the Silver
Spring Dispensary Building.
Most heated protest was expressed
against the proposed Redistribution
of land located on both sides, OF
Cedar avenue Immediately adjoin-
ing Eastern avenue in Washington.
James w. Gill, attorney for the
owners, who presented the rezoning
petition, said that the property Is
now occupied principally by old
houses and that it is intended to
replace them with apartment dwell
ings.
Would Depreciate Value.
Pointing out that the land ada
cent to the property in question Is
either zoned for commercial or for
apartment house construction. Mr..
Gill said that SIS per cent of the
lots surrounding the property con-
tain multi-family dwellings under
the non-conforming use provision
of the county coming ordinance.
Among home owners in the area
who joined with Mr.. Gill in asking
that the petition be granted were
D. A. Siegler, Ira Whitacre. Mrs.
B. B. jenkins and Mrs. c. F. Creath.
E. L. Green, spokesman for those
appearing in opposition to the re-
zoning request, contended that the
area has majority of single-family
dwellings and that the proposed re-
zoning would mean complete de-
parture from the present type Of
residence there"
He added that private homes in
the area which have been converted
into duplex apartments still look
like single-family homes ION the
exterior" and that construction of
apartment houses would depreciate
the value of the entire community.
Rehabilitate Area.
Others who protested against the
proposed rezoning included Mrs.
Clarence A. Ross, H. A. Axtell, A. F.
Fischer, T. c. Brooks, Mrs. Albert
Brodell and Mrs. Harry S. Thomas.
Judge Ralph 6. Shure presented
a petition for the rezoning of prop
erty on both sides of the intersec-
ton of Maple and Lee avenues.
In declaring that the land is 10
Gated "in the worst section of Ia
koma Park from a private residen-
tial viewpoint" Judge Shure said
his client intended to build four
family apartment house there,
which would rehabilitate the entire
neighborhood."
He explained that a stagnant
stream now on one side of the prop
arty would be covered and the apart
ment house grounds would be at
tractively Handicapped. He was sup
ported in his request by Mrs. Her.
bert A. Anderson, owner of a home
in the vicinity of the property and
by Byrne Austin, county Zoning ad-
ministrator.
Traffic Tangle Feared.
w. Il. Lyme, anOtner nome owner
in the area, however, declared that
construction of the proposed apart
ment house would increase the tax
load on individual home owners in
the neighborhood.
+ He added that the stream "is not
so bad" and should be preserved for
future park development due to its
proximity to Sligo Creek Parkway.
He also presented petition by IS
owners. of single family dwellings in
the area opposing the granting of
the petition.
L. L. Moody, who also appeared
in opposition to the petition, said
that any apartment house in the
area would cause traffic congestion.
The Commissioners took both Zon-
ing requests under consideration.