Evening star., 1944-01-23
Bradbury Group
To Study Appeal
On Rezoning
Commission Decision
Divides Section Into
Building Areas


The zoning Commission yesterday
announced division of the Bradbury
Heights section into separate zonine
areas, only partly satisfying the
appeals of the Bradbury Heights
Citizens Association to have the en-
tire area rezoned in manner which
would have blocked proposed multi
family housing there.
The area rezoned to restricted
for single family dwellings is quite
big" Henry w. Austin, president OF
the Bradbury Heights Citizens AS
sociation, said, but, he added, "It is
only small victory"
He will talk with members of the
Executive Committee today, he said
to decide whether the association
Will appeal the zoning Commission
decision to the courts. An appeal OF
the nearby Congress Heights Citi-
zenS' Association for rezoning was
denied last week, and the Congress
Heights group decided court proce-
oure would be too expensive.
Writes to Mrs. Roosevelt.
Mr.. Austin has written to Mrs
Roosevelt, asking her to tour Brad
bury Heights with representatives
of the association. After a tour OF
the area with Mrs. Pauline Coggs
of the Washington Urban League
and Franklin Thorne of the Ma
tional Capital Housing Authority
on Thursday, Mrs. Roosevelt de-
clared the undeveloped land desig-
mated yesterday by the commission
as a multi-family dwelling area is
a natural, normal place for expan-
sion of colored housing"
Through a secretary, Mrs. Roose-
velt said Yesterday she had not yet
received Mr.. Austin's letter. She
plans to be out of town during the
early part of this week, she said.
and so would not be able to read
and consider Mr.. Austins request
for several days.
The Bradbury Heights Citizens
Association maintained in hearings
before the zoning Advisory Council
two weeks ago that its members
wanted rezoning because they were
opposed to multi-family housing In
the area. Mr. Austin told reporters
yesterday, however, that recent an
nouncement of such construction
for Negro occupancy had figured
mainly in our appeal"
Decision of Commission
The commissions action was as
follows:
l. The area lying north of G
street Sc, west from line l25
feet west of Benning road, south
from Woodlawn Cemetery and C
street, and east of Burns street,
Texas avenue and Ridge road, will
continue to be in the "A zone. In
this area, private firm of builders
has purchased property for a 600
unit project intended for colored
occupancy
2. The area lying south of G
street, west from a line 125 feet
west Of Benning road, north from
the intersection of Bowen road and
Southern avenue, and east from
Ridge road was changed from "A"
zone to "A" restricted zone for
single-family dwellings.
3. The area bounded by Boulevard
avenue on the west, Alabama ave-
hue and Bowen road on the north,
by Southern avenue on the south
east and by the intersection of
Forty-sixth street and Southern
avenue on the east. was changed
from "a to A semi-restricted
This allows construction of semi
detached homes and group homes
for not more than three families.
4. The area bounded by Southern
avenue on the south, by ST. Louis
and Fitch streets on the east and
by a, line 125 feet west of Benning
road on the west, will retain its "a
zone rating.
In rendering its opinion, the COM
mission declared:
The commission is of the opinion
that a demarcation line along G
street Sc. provides a proper boun-
Diary line between the improved por-
ton OF the area involved and acre
age to the north. We feel that the
decision is proper and in all fair
ness to those who acquired the acre
age in reliance on zoning which
exists now and has existed for 20
years, and that the construction of
multi-family housing on that land
in the judgment of the commission,
will not affect adversely the single
family dwellings to the SOUTH
Brig. Gen. Charles w. Kutz. En-
gineer Commissioner and chairman
of the zoning Commission, refused
to disclose whether the commission
members had been unanimous in
their decision He said ma ioritv
of the members had voted for it
and, therefore, he had kept no
record"