Evening star., 1947-12-10
StoreCosting
Million Planned
In Silver Spriing
Rezoning Application
Filed for Building on
CoIesviIIe Road

~SbSSNHtS tNSSe
Plans for construction of ST.
100000 department store on Coles
vile road between Fenton and
Spring streets, Silver Spring, were
revealed yesterday by applicants
for the rezoning of the property
from residential A and C to COM
mercial D.
The petition was one of seven
taken under advisement by the
Montgomery County Commissioners
after hearings in the Silver Spring
Liquor Dispensary Building.
An architects sketch of the pro-
posed department store was shown
by E. F. Cave who, with L. P. Steu-
art and D. r. Ernst, sought COM
mercial zoning of the land.
Mr.. Gave said the proposed build
ing would be about four stories in
height and would extend along
Colesville road for approximately
120 feet. Phil D. Poston, Silver
Spring real estate man, who repre-
sented the applicants, said he was
certain he could find a tenant for
the project.
Smith Opposes Request.
Strong opposition was voiced by
j. Bond Smith, attorney for the
Maryland National Capital Park
and Planning Commission, who con-
tended there is no need for addi-
tional commercially zoned land in
the Silver Spring business district
He was supported by H. P. Morris,
representing the Woodside Park
Civic Association.
Both men also opposed two other
petitions seeking commercial zon-
ing of property in the area. Mr..
Smith said his opposition on be-
half of the planning commission
extended to a total of q applica-
tions for commercial zoning of prop
erty adjacent to the Silver Spring
business district.
Declaring there are about Ct
acres of undeveloped commercial
land in the business district, Mr..
Smith argued this is enough to
support a community of 2,500000
people.
He claimed that the proposed de-
partment store could be erected on
almost any property already zoned
for commercial use in the business
district and that the application
to rezone the property is purely
speculative
Johns Cites Tax Receipts.
In reply, Mr.. Poston said COM
mercially zoned land now available
is being held by the owners for pro
hibitive prices" and that prospective
commercial establishments desiring
to locate in Silver Spring have re-
fused to occupy buildings or land
on Georgia avenue south of the
Baltimore g. Ohio Railroad UNDER
pass.
Also opposed by Mr.. Smith and
Mr.. Morris were petitions by Beryl
r. English for the reclassiication
from residential A to commercial D
of land on Ellsworth drive ada
cent to the county parking lot at
Fenton street and Ellsworth drive,
and by the G. & S. Enterprises,
Inc, for the rezoning from residen-
tial c to commercial D of land at
1922 Colesville road, now occupied
by an apartment house.
During the arguments on the three
petitions, Brooke Johns, president of
the board, interjected:
"We are on the spot. We want
to keep the county residential, but
where are we going to get the money
to run this county? We will re-
ceive between $4,000 and 100000 a
year in taxes from the new Hecht
Co. store. We must have more COM
mercial and industrial establish
ments in the county to keep from
putting more taxes on you home
owners"
VFW Post Files Petition.
A fourth petition, which resulted
in opposition by nearby property
owners, was that of the Silver Spring
Memorial Post, No. 1852, Veterans
of Foreign Wars, who sought the
Redistribution from residential A to
C of about three acres at the end
Of Thayer avenue, Silver Spring.
Post officials said they planned to
build clubhouse, with apartments,
on the property.
Other petitions heard were:
Mr.. Johns, residential A to COM
mercial D of six lots on the west side
of Brookville road at Olney.
Paul D. Taggert, residential A to
commercial D of lot facing the
B. & o. Railroad in Linden.
Mr.. Poston, agent for Samuel and
Louis Fine, residential C to COM
mercial D of land on Pershing drive
opposite the Silver Spring Armory.