Evening star., 1947-05-28
Mcclure House
Will Be Razed
In wChange
Alexondrio Rezones
Site After Move to End
Charleston Ordnance
By Moy Lou Werner

called Charleston Ordinance and
rezoning request granted by the
Alexandria City Council last night
cleared the way for razing of historic
MCGUIRE House at the corner of
Prince and Washington streets.
The rezoning request from D-1 to
p-2 commercial was turned down six
months ago when strong public
opposition to rezoning the site was
voiced. Last night, however, after
hearing similar protests, the Council
granted the request with only Coun-
Gilman Paul Delaney dissenting.
Maurice D. Rosenberg, owner of
the famed colonial house, has stated
his intention of tearing the building
down and erecting an ONCE building
In its place.
Amendment to Be Prepared.
At the same time, the city attor-
rey was instructed to = prepare an
amendment to the so-called Charles
ton Ordinance to exclude King street,
with the exception of the corners at
King and Washington, from the
scope of the Charleston Ordinance
and to exclude the portion of the
ordinance that says no building more
than q hundred years old can be
razed without first obtaining per-
NIT from the Architectural Board of
Review set up under the ordinance.
Although final action on this
amendment will come in a later
Council meeting, the vote last night
indicated quick approval of the
amendment. When this Is done, it
no longer will be necessary for the
Mcclure house owner to ask the
Architectural Board for permission
to tear the building down.
Opponents of the rezoning, who
also pleaded for retention of the
Charleston Ordinance in it's entirety,
told the council that to destroy
landmarks such as the Mcclure
House would be to destroy the
memorial and historical character
Of the city of Alexandria.
"Gentlemen's Agreement" Cited.
Mrs. Robert Reece. a member of
the Architectural Board, cited a
'gentleman's agreement" made be-
tween Alexandria and the Govern
ment at the time the George Wash
ington Memorial Highway was con-
structed. She said the city agreed
at that time to restrict Washing
ton street to buildings of a resi-
Dental character and charged that
to do otherwise was to break faith
with the Government.
Mrs. Reece pointed out that the
MCGUIRE House is considered by
most experts to be the best example
Of revival Greek architecture in the
United States. =~
Colin Gray suggested that the
council purchase the house and
put it to some use. sF5ss
Interference With Rights Seen.
/ please don't tear that house
down-it's too beautiful" he pleaded.
Proponents of complete repeal of
the Charleston ordinance COM
planned that it interfered with the
rights Of individuals. David d.
Book, representing the Chamber of
Commerce, said that the law was
causing delay and inconvenience to
progressive business interests.
Those favoring retention Of the
ordinance, however, emphasized one
Of the leading tourist attractions of
the city is its historic architecture
Restoration Costs Involved.
The ordinances supporters point
ed out that many of them had in
vested large sums in restoring old
homes and they look to the ordi-
nance as protection for their in
vestment.
The Charleston ordinance adopt
ed 10 months ago established a
historic zone in the city. Any struc-
tural changes made to buildings in
this zone must pass the Architec-
tural Board Of Review.
In addition to ordering prepara-
ton of the modifying amendment.
the council ordered a committee of |
businessmen, councilmen and his
toric interests to meet to discuss
the merits and shortcomings of the
ordinance.
The council granted a request to |
rezone land at the southwest corner
of Monroe avenue and Common
wealth avenue from B residential to |
ca residential to permit construc-
t{Ay, of a~ ro ~ want I,,;1J{or