Evening star., 1942-10-26
Conversion Plan
For Homes 10
zoneLaw
NoIen Says FHA
Studied Restrictions
In Setting Up Areas

Assurance that existing zoning
regulations in the District and near
by areas would not be violated in
carrying out the recently-an-
nounced housing conversion pro-
gram was given today by John
Nolen, jr., director of planning of
the National Capital Parks and
Planning Commission.
The question of whether the lease
and-remodel program in certain
areas specified by the National
Housing Agency Saturday would
interfere with zoning laws in those
areas had been raised by Rufus S.
Lusk, president of the District Tax
payers Association. Mr.. Lusk made
particular reference to the Mount
Pleasant and the Burleith- Glover
Park areas, listed by the MIA as
communities in which conversion
would be feasible.
Will Comply With Law.
Mr.. Nolen' 'pointed out that the
entire program was carefully worked
out between the MIA and the
planning commission and that zon-
ing ordinances were kept in mind
when the conversion areas were
set up.
Our policy will be not to violate
any zoning regulations. Mr. Nolen
declared. ut is intended to include
only those areas where conversions
can be made legally"
At the same time. an official of the
MIA pointed out that this attitude
was officially the policy of the
housing agency. He indicated, how
ever, that the need for housing in
the District was so great that if it
becomes necessary to expand the
conversion program, authorities in
the District and nearby communities
might be asked to relax zoning laws.
1t was made clear, though. that such
action, if necessary, would be Initiated
by the governing bodies of the areas
concerned rather than by the MIA
The Mount Pleasant, Glover Park
and Burleith areas are classified on
the zoning map AS 'B" areas, in
which houses built after June 30,
1924, may not be converted into
multiple family dwellings. MIA
authorizes pointed out, however. that
the program did not contemplate re-
modelling comparatively new houses,
but was designed rather to renovate
older places. Under this arrange
ment, no conflict with zoning regu-
lations was anticipated.
Some Homes Converted.
In the Glover Park area. it Is
known. a large number of homes
have already been converted from
ne-family dwellings. Whether OF
not such conversions were contrary
to zoning restrictions. citizens of the
community have raised no objec-
tions.
M. j. Wright. secretary of the
Glover Park Citizens Association
said he did not think there would
be any great objection to convert
ing homes in his area to accom-
modate more persons. He pointed
out that many of the houses in his
community were so constructed that
conversion would be possible with a
minimum of inconvenience and ex-
pense.
Meanwhile, MIA officials had not
yet set up yardstick of payments
which would determine the amount
of rent the owner would be paio
by the Government under the
lease plan. 1t is known that a
scale of payments ranging from S;
to 81 room per month, using the
public housing definition of a room
is under consideration. 1t was
pointed out, however, that many
individual problems would have to
be considered, and owners of homes
which they were willing to Offer
to the Government under the
lease-and-remodel plan would be
in a position to negotiate to assure
them fair deal
Tentative applications, which dc
not bind the applicants to accept
the Governments terms, are al
ready being taken at the Wal
Housing Center at Fourteenth
street and Pennsylvania avenue
NV.