Evening star., 1945-08-05
Arlington Board
Orders Studyof
Ross|yn zoning
Acts After District
Real Estate Man
Hits Present Picture

teerday instructed County Manager
Frank C.. Hanrahan and County
Planning Engineer w. P. Groom, jr.
to study the desirability of making
the Rosslyn business area CONNER
cial rather than industrial They
are to report their findings to the
board as soon as possible.
The board acted after hearing
Herman Schmidt, Washington real
estate developer, say that there is
no comparable area in or around
Washington that has such a con-
glomeration of undesirable, obnex-
ious improvements as the Key
Bridge approach to upper Arlington
County"
Asking If it isn't time for con-
structive thinking, resulting in a
method Ito erase this unsightliness,
Mr.. Schmidt continued: THE first
picture of the county forcibly preju-
dices the minds of many prospec-
tive residents against living in the
county.
Affects Home Values.
"The residential values through
out the entire county are adversely
affected by it. If this area is per-
mitted to be 'topsy' and Just grow,
there will be no change in its char
acter. In fact, the cancer will grow
until 1t is impossible to heal it,"
Stating there are two methods to
change the present condition, Mr.
Schmidt said he does not favor the
first - condemnation - because the
county bears the entire expense
and criticism.
The second-making RosSlyn de-
sirable for more business of a gen.
eral character, rather than indus
trials the logical way, he said.
To do this, he continued, it Is
necessary to extend Lynn street over
the old Arlington-Fairfax right-of-
way, making a direct connection be-
tween Lee highway and Lee boule-
ward, and to create a density of
popularity adjacent to the business
area which can support it profitably.
Mr.. Schmidt said he concluded,
after discussions with Mr.. Groom
and Donald R. Locke, county Zon-
ing administrator, that land cover
age regulations should be reduced
and off-street parking decreased in
residential apartment areas ad-
jacent to Rosslyn. This, he said,
will attract taller, elevator-type
buildings. He also favors reducing
industrially-Zoned land to general
commercial.
Must Be Done Now.
However, he said, this must be
done before the county is in the
midst of the postwar building rush
The river and river bank, he added,
preclude development on the Wash
ington approach side, making ex-
ceptional density necessary on the
far side.
The board also authorized County
Engineer c. L. Kinnier to ask for
bids on four sidewalk, curb and gut
ter projects estimated to cost $751;
636.35.
The first project, estimated to
cost $17,17758, will include North
Highland street, from Key boule-
ward to North Edgewood street;
Key boulevard, from North High
land to North Fillmore streets, along
the north side; Franklin road, from
Key boulevard to North Seventeenth
street, and North Fillmore, from
Key boulevard to North Highland
street.
The other projects are:
South Sixteenth street, from
South Kent to South Lynn streets,
cost $4,29308; North Danville
street, from Franklin road to Key
boulevard, cost $4,574.52; North
Edegewood street, from North First
road to North Second street, and
North First road, from North Edge
wood to North Fillmore streets, cost
S5,59117.
Approves Storm Sewer.
The board also approved 500
appropriation from unexpended
funds in last years budget, to cover
preliminary storm sewer work at
Sixteenth and North Taylor streets.
1t also authorized completion of
storm sewer work in the Westover
oOSOAOAL Va 4OO4 N4iAC 4SO1l
from West of North Longfellow
street to West of North Nicholas
street.
Mrs. Ruby G. Simpson, presenting
a report from the county treasurer's
Office, said 81 1892 ,52202 of county
real estate taxes have been collected
during the year. The complete as
sessment, the report said, was
$1,896, ,35297, leaving 1858 delin-
quent, with $2,830.95 in reliefs being
noncollectable.
The percentage collected this year
was 96.21, compared with 95.37 last
year, the report said.
Other actions of the board i'll
cluded approving use permit for
the construction of st. Agnes
Catholic Church, school and convent
at 2024 North Randolph street, and
approving expenditures of 1851 ST
during the last two weeks.