Evening star., 1951-11-01
WoodIeyEstate
zoning Fight
Starts Anew
Apartment House -.
Construction Opposed
For Historic Site
By Harriet Griffiths

u0S04Cy Globd bC bNS021 ollCW UO0Cy
before the District Zoning Com
mission.
On the one hand, attorney
James c. Wilkes, declared that the
day for preservation of such large
wooded estates has passed.
On the other, former Ambassa-
dor Joseph G. Grew, first of the
opposing witnesses, pleaded with
the zoners to uphold the restrie-
tive regulation.
If Woodley cannot be kept as a
park. he declared, it at least should
be developed with single. family
homes in keeping with the resi-
dental character of the neighbor-
hood.
City's Fate at Stake.
Once commercialization is al
lowed to encroach on the park,
woods and residential areas, he
warned. 'the ultimate fate of the
city is sealed"
with my own eyes I have
watched other cities engulfed by
that creeping tide of commercial
~ization." he told the commission.
Asserting that when commercial
ization is permitted as the first
step toward submerging a residen-
tial sector that step becomes an
opening wedge whose operations
can seldom be arrested" he added.
Then the town, and character
and beauty of the area are bound
to go, he said, and once let slip
they can never be recovered,
Mr.. Grew lives at 2840 Wood
land drive NV, near the proposed
development. He said it is one
of the last open spaces located
close to downtown.
Pleads to Keep ZOning.
Appealing to the zoners to stand
firm on the present Zoning and
building regulations, he asked,
"Let us remember that the re-
moval of a single stone can and
often does start an avalanche"
Mr.. Grew said while he spoke
primarily in the interests of his
neighbors, his family and himself,
it Is perhaps even more in the
best interests of all Washing
tonians."
Mr.. Wilkes opened the case of
present owners of part of the es-
tate who are seeking approval of
modified plan to build apart
mentS on the property.
A year ago, in the face of Wig
orous opposition, the commission
turned down proposal to allow
f1ye-story apartment house con-
struction over an 11-acre area Of
the estate. The present plan calls
for use of about acres facing
Twenty-ninth street for three
story apartment houses.
Two Uses Outlined.
Mr.. Wilkes said the property
was suitable only for two uses: A
public park-"which is out of the
question for many Government
financial reaSonS"-or a develop
ment worked out which would be
reasonable and fair to the owners
Of the property.
Owners Ned Bord. Thornton w.
Owen and Edward C. Baltz now
have a plan which provides a
buffer area" for the apartment
development amounting to about
IA acres.
The plan calls for IL three
story buildings of de luxe gar
den nature, according TO the at
torney.
Earlier in today's hearing At
torney Roger Whiteford called
John Nolen, jr., of the National
Capital Park and Planning Com
mission ''zealot" and a "theorist"
as the commission heard argu-
ments on the type of apartment
construction that should be per-
mitted on Adams Mill road be-
tween Calvert street and the Zoo.
Expenses Are Cited.
He said much money and work
had been put into plans for de-
veloping the property since the
soning commission last summer
agreed to permit eight-story build
lngs on the site
On request of the National Cap
ital Park and Planning Commits
sion, the zoners are now reconsid-
ering the zoning.
Mr.. Nolen's recommendation that
the property be rezoned to permit
only f1ve-story apartments COW
ering not more than go per cent
of the ground area, he declared,
would "confscate" the money
spent.
He said that the owners, j. B.
and Morris Shapiro had laid out
thousands of dollars on the pro-
posed development.
The Commissions advisory
council disclosed at yesterdays
session that it is divided on the
question. Last June it had recon-
mended against zoning the prop
erty for eight-story apartments,
but the Commission overrode the
objection.
Park Unit Objects.
At the request of the National
Capital Park and Planning Com
mission, however, the Commission
Is reconsidering the decision.
Mr.. Nolen, jr.. representing
the NCPPC on the advisory coun-
ell, yesterday asked that the prop
erty be rezoned back to 60-foot
B status, which would permit five
story apartments covering not
more than so per cent of the
ground area.
Traffic Hazard Seen.
Mr.. Nolen contended that taller
and more dense apartments would
cut light and air from the park
from the densely populated areas
beyond. He said also that too
much additional traffic congestion
would result from the construc-