Evening star., 1951-01-24
'zoners Weigh
Parking Lot on
% Street NV.
| Residents Protest
| Use of Five Lots on
| I'D Street Corner


After hearing strong opposition
from neighboring residents, the
Board of Zoning Adjustment to-
day took under advisement a pro-
posal to establish a parking lot
on the southwest corner Of Twen-
ty-second and @ streets NV.
Opponents contended the move
would lower property values, de-
tract from appearance of the area
and bring added noise and con-
gestion.
Mrs. Carolyn Gray Townsend,
owner of the five lots involved, said
she felt some kind of satisfactory
screen could be devised around
the proposed lot.
Church Objects.
She said the zoning of the prop
erty is not the highest residential
classification, and since the zon-
ing in the area was spotty, she
could not see how anyone could
maintain "that it is such a high
class residential area" from the
standpoint of zoning.
Opposition came from the ad-
joining Presbyterian Church of the
Pilgrims and the Minister of Lux
embourg, among others.
DR.. Andrew Reid Bird, pastor
of the church. said the church
from its beginning has always
sought to be helpful to everybody
in the community, and it was q
source of regret that we could
not agree to the request for a
parking lot because We felt it
was both to the detriment Of the
community and to the work of the
church." .,
Luxembourg Represented.
Other church officials appearing
included DR.. Henry c. Macatee
clerk of the session, and Charles
G. Lueck. member.
H. Russell Bishop, attorney Of
2235 @ street NV, spoke on be-
half of the Luxembourg minister,
Hughes LIE Calais, stating the
minister's opposition to the noise
OF parking lot directly behind
his residence.
I wonder what We Americans
would think if Mrs. Mesta showed
us, behind the American Embassy
in Luxembourg. a parking lot"
asked Harry L. Grant. president
of the Sheridan Circle Citizens
Association. The reference was
to Mrs. Perle Mesta, American
Minister to Luxembourg.
Il don't know of a single resi-
dent who lives in that area who
would indorse the proposal" Mr..
Grant added.
Embassy Letters Cited.
Bernard J. Gallagher, attorney,
of 2236 @ street NV, described
the opposition of neighooring res
idents, many of whom he said
had gone to considerable expense
to improve their homes as perna-
nent residences.
Referring to letters from sew
eral embassies in the area stat
ing no opposition, Mr.. Gallagher
questioned, why should embas-
sizes object to it. Most are located
a couple of blocks away. They
pay no taxes. are here on tenn
porary assignment and show no
appreciation of the long range
effect"
He pointed out that Jerry
Maiatico, president of the State
House, Inc. new apartment build
ing on the southeast corner Of
Twenty second and G, had with
drawn his approval
Architect Protests.
Matthew G. Lepley, architect
of the State House, voiced "seri.
GUS objections to the parking lot,
and Mrs. Bennett Champ Clark.
wife of the United States Court
of Appeal judge, who lives at 1890
@ street NV. said if the lot is
allowed. it will mean our prop
erty will drop in value
H. P. Caemmerer, secretary Of
the Fine Arts Commission, asked
the board to withhold action on
the proposal until ne could pre-
sent it to the commission at q
meeting tomorrow