Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-02-04
Defense Homes
Project Drawn
For Southeast
200 Residents File
Protests Against
Zonine Change

Plans for q large-scale defense
housing project in the Hillcrest sec
ton of Southeast Washington, said
to be planned to accommodate TOO
families, were disclosed today when
the Defense Homes Corp, Govern
ment- housing agency,
sought a change In coming for the
project.
There was but minor debate over
this new project at a hearing be-
fore the District Zoning Commits
sion, but the commissions record
revealed protests have been filed by
some 200 residents of the area who
oppose lowering Of the coming CLASH
fication to permit apartments.
Later In the public hearing Louis
Bean Of the Federal corporation
discussed plans for the defense
worker apartments which are plan
ned for the Mclean estate, Friend
ship, on Wisconsin avenue NV. 1t
was said this development would
accommodate about 100 persons.
Two citizens appeared to protest
against permitting apartments IN
that neighborhood.
50-Acre Site Planned.
But little information could be OBJ
tanned on the details Of the South
east project, which would be called
Woodland and which Is planned for
q 5O-acre site near Thirtieth street
and Naylor road Sc. Offlcials Of
the Defense Homes Corp. told re-
porters no publicity release on the
project had yet been approved.
However, maps which had been
filed with the Zoning Commission
showed 81 buildings planned for the
site. They would be Of two or three
stories.
Asked in the petition is change
in coming from A-restricted to
Residential A. The present coming
bans apartments or fats and the
A coming permits them.
Two of the protestants in the
Hillcrest case, Karl E. and Elenore
D. Baetzner, wrote the commission
they opposed the coming change
principally because when they
bought their property six years ago
the area was zoned A-restricted and
apartments and fats were banned.
They added that if there were no
emergency q change in zoning for
this property would not have been
sought or granted.
Project Hinges on Change.
The commission also had before
1t a letter from M. J. McGrath. vice
president of the Defense Homes
Corp, dated December 10. stating
that it did not wish to proceed with
the Hillcrest project unless the site
could be zoned for apartment houses
and that the rezoning was urged
because this was the only tract
of sufficient size which the corpora
ton had found available.
Defense Housing Corp. officials, in
urging speedy change in zoning to
permit apartments for Friendship,
stressed the housing emergency and
said work on that project. to be
kllUWll do MI6Cdll Sul dClIoy NOuio W
started in a week after approval was
given.
Development In Southwest.
Another development of 278 houses
and apartments at Canal and M
streets S.W. for colored defense
workers was announced today by the
Federal Works Agency.
The development originally was
planned by the District Alley Dwell
ing Authority as strictly a slum-
clearance project. In view of the
housing emergency, however, it was
stated, occupancy preference will be
given to defense workers. 1t will be
built with A. D. A. funds.
Contract for the job. to cost ST.
129, 900, has been let to the c. B.
Ross Co., New York City, and work
will be started Immediately. Known
as James Creek Dwellings, the de-
velopment will include two-story
group houses and apartments. The
site has been cleared and the con-
tract calls for completion Of con-
struction within 200 days.