Evening star., 1948-02-26
Old Georgetown
Area Rezoned
As Residential
Commission Rules
On Issue Involving
About 16 Acres

About 16 Acres
The Zoning Commission has re-
Eoned as residential about 16 acres
of Georgetown property, which had
been classified as commercial for
the last % years.
The commission said 1t had been
advised the rezoning would increase
the property values in the area.
The area involved represents the
largest rezoned since the end of
the war.
The decision yesterday ends long
fight by residents of Georgetown to
preserve the historical appearance
and early architecture of many of
the houses in that section of the ely.
In asking that the change be made,
they told the commission at the
hearing earlier this month that old
Georgetown must be preserved as an
historical and architectural master
piece"
Feared Dem0litiOns.
They said many of the residences
In the area that had been zoned
commercial might be demolished
and commercial establishments
erected, detracting from the Co.
lonial appearance of many nearby
homes.
The area rezoned is a doughnut-
shaped section bounded by M street,
Thirty seventh street, P street and
Wisconsin avenue. At the hearing
held by the commission on Febru-
ary II, the proposal was hotly con-
tested on both sides. The interior
portion of the area is Zoned resi-
Dental and will remain unchanged.
The rim of the area, however, is
rezoned to restrict it to single-fam-
'ily dwellings.
The new zoning regulation, how
ever, will permit five-story apart
ments on Prospect avenue between
Potomac and Thirty seventh streets
NV.
Original Plan Revised.
When the hearing was held, own
ers holding 20 per cent of the total
frontage opposed the change to
residential, those with SO per cent
Of the frontage said they were in
favor of it and the remainder we've
silent. The commissions first pro-
posal was to rezone II acres from
commercial to residential, but it
was finally decided on about 16
acres. Potomac street was left COM
mercial on both sides of the street
between M street and Prospect ave-
nue. NV, and several lots on
Thirty-f1fth street and several lots
on T and o streets, west Wisconsin
avenue NV, also were zoned COM
merciaI.
In announcing it's decision, the
commission said the revised de-
cision was opposed by owners of
only 914 per cent of the frontage
involved.
Those who appeared at the hear
ing to protect the rezoning told
the commission the proposed change
would cut property values in the
area, reduce the municipal govern
ment revenues and. discriminate
unfairly against persons who had
purchased the property with the in
tention of using it commercially.
Hecht Plans Approved.
The commission also cleared the
way for the Hecht Co. to erect an
addition to it's downtown store by
revising building height regulations
on part of its property on E and F
streets between Sixth and Seventh
streets NV.
The zoners approved a request of
the department store which would
allow a building height of 10 feet
on the property east of the present
store similar to that of the present
building.
The project is expected to cost
around $5,000,000. George M. Quirk,
vice president and general manager
OF the company, however, said he
preferred not to discuss plans of the
company as the zoning ruling was
only the first step and such discus
sion was premature" at this time.
Otner Act1OnS Listed.
Plans for the project were SUBJ
mitted to the Zoning Commission
when the request for rezoning was
made.
Other actions of the Zoning Com
mission yesterday follow:
srsa Change p6 rs} from TeSidential' sofoOt
area the southerly 100 feet and change
from from residential. 40,foo,, B. area TO
remainder of property having frontage on
the east side of Sixth street and on the
north side of Florida avenue NE, de-
Change from second commercial, 60-f foot
.DD,, area to second commercial, 90-foot
p, area area all property zoned in the 90
bounded by New York and Florida avenues
and Fourth street NE. tE. D. 25s9a),
Change from residential. 6o-foot ''B"
restricted area to residential. 6O-foot %"
area, premises 3434 oakwood terrace NV,
Change from residential. 6O-foot "c''
area to first commercial, 60-foot &C"
area to second commercial. 60-foot "D'
Of, q FspTiek street south Of Of New New YORK ave- ave-
Change from residential. 40-foot "a"
area to first commercial. 40-foot CO. area
q depth of 100 feet therefrom located at
Forty-ninth street and Central avenue
Change from residential. 60-foot "B"
area to first commercial, 60-foot &C"
area; Gs@ pre- premises s 40 H street s.W., rejected;
area to first commercial 60-foot &C" area,
premises 5500-1S Fourteenth street being
all of the frontage on the west side of
Fourteenth street from Kennedy to Long
fellow streets NV, rejected
Change from residential 40-foot "a" re-
etricted area to- residential 40-root "a
area, property located on both sides of
Brandywine street between Fortieth street
and Wisconsin avenue, and on the west
side Of Fortieth street between AlbemarIe
and Brandywine street NV, granted
OES Chapter to Hold Party
Lebanon Chapter, Order of the
Eastern Star. will hold an "oId