Evening star., 1944-01-06
Rezoning and Building
Project Opposed al
D. {. Housing Hearing
Bradbury and Congress
Heights PIons Criticized
By Citizen Groups

het9hts Pions Criticized
BY Citizen Groups
The Washington Housing Asso-
citation and a ministerial member OF
the Committee on Housing Of the
Citizens Committee on Race Rela-
tions today voiced opposition before
the zoning Commission to pro-
posals to rezone Bradbury Heights
and Congress Heights areas ana to
prevent construction of low-cost,
multi-family dwellings.
"The Housing Association" said
Mrs. Helen Duey Hoffman, an ex-
ecutive of the Housing Association,
believes that existing regulations Of
the Zoning Commission should not
be changed to suit the convenience
of few individual property owners,
particularly when the greater good
Of the greater number of its citizens
is involved"
The citizens associations seek to
block construction by a private con-
cern of 744 units of low-cost housing
for Negroes.
Informed Housing Agency.
"The Housing Association" Mrs.
Hoffman declared, was instrumental
in bringing to the attention of the
National Housing Agency the neces-
sity of reallocating priorities to
build low-rent housing for Negroes. :"
Under this reallocation, private en-
terprise has made plans to build
dwellings for war workers clearly
existing under intolerable living
conditions as stated by the MIA.
Private enterprise should be en-
couraged in their laudable efforts
and not prevented from carrying out
commitments"
The Rev. Francis w. McPeek,
member of the committee on housing
of the Citizens Committee on Race
Relations, urged the commission to
dismiss petitions of the citizens as
sociations.
In the simple justice this COM
munity, through its private and pub
lie builders, must provide decent,
adequate homes at prices people can
pay" the Rev. Mr.. McPeek declared.
But we have been notoriously de-
linquent in respect to our obliga-
tions to the Negro is a common
recognition of fact
Delay Called Tragic.
The Rev Mr.. McPeek said the
zoning proposals of the two associa-
tions would be "a deprivation of
good housing at practicable rentals
for many families. Our other in
formation indicates that of the 5000
units authorized for construction
and use of Negro families on July
/, 1943, not one has yet been COM
pleted or even begun"
This tragic delay" he said, "has
prolonged the suffering OF many
families, has injured the morale of
war workers, has constituted a
threat to the health and morals of
the children of these families and
now gives substance to those who
seek to exploit racial disharmony."
Mrs. Eugene S. Duff1eld, president
OF the Voteless District of Columbia
League Of Women Voters, told the
commission that in the present in
stance "the evidence seems to sug-
gest that certain of the proposed
changes are in the interests of spe-
cial groups rather than of the gen.
eral public. AS citizens we look to
the zoning Commission for expert
consideration of all the factors in
volved, and for decision that serves
the interests of the whole commu-
nifty, regardless of the pressures ex-
erted by special interests groups"
Property Owners Testify.
Although j. Louis Goldman, presi-
dent OF the Congress Heights Citi-
zens' Association, objected to Mrs.
Dufhelds statement as not germane
to the issues because pressure groups
were not involved, the commission
accepted the statement.
AS the hearing resumed today on
the question Of rezoning in the
Southeast, Mr.. Gelbman brought
several property owners as witnesses
to testify that they felt construction
OF additional apartments would
AoVSA WV Fd1dOo Vi IllCll uAlu
expressed the view that apartments
were not as desirable for residential
purposes as individual homes.
Seeking to counter the arguments
OF home owners. attorneys repre-
senting property owners in the area
argued that the property had been
zoned for apartment purposes for
l.
unjust to change the zoning and
thwart development along the lines
for which these investments were
made.
Attorneys Testify.
Among the attorneys testifying
concerning property in Congress
Heights were H. 10y Anderson,
George. A. Cassidy, representing
Schuyler, Inc, and Mrs. B. S. Mat
thews, who represented William Lift,
who has apartment property devel-
oped and other property on which
he wishes to build.
AS the hearing upon the Congress
Heights petition started late yes
terday afternoon, support of the re-
zoning move was led by Louis Gelb-
man, president of the association.
who said that his group was against
building of multifamily dwellings.
The Advisory Council on Zoning
took no stand on the Congress
Heights petition but asked the right
to submit an opinion after the hear
ing. Mr.. Goldman said that while
his association was in favor of good