Evening star., 1949-02-13
Arlington zoning Law
Eased 10 Clear WAY
For 1,500.Unit Hotel

The Arlington County Board
yesterday approved an amendment
to the county zoning ordinance
which clears the way for construc-
ton of a 1,500-unit. $4,000, 900
apartment-hotel on Lee boulevard
opposite the site of the proposed
Veterans Administration hospital.
The board also awarded a $427.-
900 contract for a three story
north wing to the courthouse.
The amendment affects only
buildings within 1000 feet of the
Potomac River which are more
than 80 feet in height.
Action was requested by the
ODriscoll Construction Co. OF
New York, through Attorney Law
renee w. Douglas and George
Stone, Washington representative
of the company.
They told the board that a Sec
ton OF the Federal Housing Act
guaranteeing loans on such prof.
ects will expire March 81 and
speedy action is necessary to get
FHA approval before that date.
Would Overlook River.
Subject toF,EaA approval, pre-
|liminary plaiis call for three or
four History buildings with pent-
houses overlooking the river, the
Lincoln Memorial and the Mall
area. The Development would b
called Arlington Towers and would
be constructed of reinforced con-
crete with white stone facing on
the lower floors.
Approximately 60 per cent of
the apartments would be Of the
one-room efficiency" type, Mr..
Stone said, while the remainder
would be two-and-a-half room
apartments. The one-room units
would be designed for transients
while the larger quarters would be
for permanent guests.
The project was recommended
to the county board by a So vote
of the county planning commits
sion with Carroll Wright and Max
Wehrly dissenting.
Population Density Questioned.
They questioned the density of
population permitted-122 units,
or more than 200 persons per acre
by the amendment. They said
the change creates "a special zon-
ing district"
The board of directors Of the
Chamber of Commerce Endorsed
the amendment, but it was op-
posed by the Home Protective As
sociation, headed by H. Herbert
Howe.
The courthouse addition will be
built by Lee T. Turner, Washing
ton contractor. The contract calls
for 80 working days. The prof.
ect will be paid for from the coun-
tvs unbudgeted surplus.
Will House County Jail.
In addition to two floors for
offices, the new wing will house
the county Jail on the third floor,
Except for height, the structure
will duplicate the existing south
wing.
A proposal of the Arlington An
imal Welfare League which would
its activities and
those of the county dog pound was
accepted by the board. Under the
plan, the league will finance con-
Of an $500 building at
the county property yard which
will house both. The league then
will operate the pound under a
county appropriation, but will at
tempt to lower the costs. Saw
ings will be applied toward pur-
chase of the building by the
county.
The board took under consid-
Grafton a request that funds be
included in next years budget for
widening of Lorcom lane from the
entrance Of the Spout Run con-
nection of the George Washing
ton Memorial parkway to North
Military road near Cherrydale.
The request was made by the
Parkway Citizens Association
through o. R. Strackbein, chair
man of the Roads and Streets !
Committee.
Virginia Junior Chamber