Evening star., 1952-12-09
Group to0ppose
More Stories on
Buildings Here
Committee of 100
Approves Project B
For SIum Clearance

The Committee of 100 on the
Federal City will oppose new at
tempts next week to throw out
strong zoning restrictions on the
number of stories in buildings
limited to 10 or 130 foot heights.
The committee of the American
Planning and Civic Association,
composed of Washington civic
leaders, expressed its opposition
yesterday in resolution, which
will be presented at a District
Zoning Commission hearing on
December 16.
Specifically, the group rejected
two proposals to come before the
commission. One would eliminate
entirely restrictions against the
number of stories permitted with
in the height limitations. The
other would permit changes from
10 to II stories in 110-foot build
ings, and from II to 13 stories in
130-foot structures, and would
give builders credit" for space
used to house utility facilities.
Compromise on Parking.
In Slight compromise, how
ever. the committee decided build
ers should be allowed to exclude
from the story category space used
either for off-street parking or for
such utilities as heating and VEN
tilation.
In other actions, the group,
headed by c. Melvin Sharpe:
/. Voted "unalterable opposi-
ton" to construction of a Poto-
mac River bridge connecting with
E street NV. between the Memo
rial and Key Bridges.
,. Unanimously approved plans
for the first slum- clearance project
in Southwest Washington. in a
76-acre area bounded by E and
I streets and Fourth and South
Capitol streets. Maj. Gen. U. S.
Grant Sd, Blair Lee and Harry S.
Wender were named to present
this view to the Commissioners
at a December II public hearing.
3, Decided to withhold support
of specific projects in the proposed
$319-million public works pro-
gram, as we'll as support of pro-
posals to raise water taxes and
impose a new sewer tax. The
group. however, approved in
principle proposals to seek a large
Federal grant and a long-term,
non-interest loan to largely f.
nance such a works-improvement
plan.
Highway Action Withheld.
The committee also withheld
action on the proposed District
highway program, after Tracy B.
Augur, head of q special housing
subcommittee. criticized aspects
of the plan.
Mr. Augur, urban planning Of
ficer tor the General Services Ad-
ministration, said he thinks a
weakness of the Districts ap-
proach is that its experts base
their estimates too much on past
experience, and not enough on
possibilities of future development.
The GSA official predicted a
revival of dispersal proposals and
said he felt "a considerable dis
persal of the capital area is inevi-
table over the next decade" He
foresaw the Nations Capital of
1870 or 1880 as being "far more
spread out" into "a number of
small communities.
A system of radial expressways
out of the city, with which Dis
trict proposals do tie in to a
certain extent" will be necessary
to meet transportation needs, Mr..
Augur asserted. He said his sub
committee. which will submit a
complete highway report by the
end of the year, proposes that the
group act at that time on individ-
ual elements of the programs.
B Plan Approval Forecast.
On Southwest redevelopment,
John r. Searles. director of the
Redevelopment Land Agency. ex-
pressed belief that the city heads
will approve the So-called Project
B plan during the Christmas holi-
days and before Brig. Gen. Ber-
nard L. Robinson, Engineer Com
missioner. leaves Office.
Mr.. Wender, a former president
of the Southwest Citizens Asso-
citation, outlined hardShips the
slum- clearance program will work
on some Southwest residents, and
reviewed reasons for opposition
from business and Negro citizens
there. He urged the RIA to take
whatever steps it can Ito make
the blow as soft as possible"
Mr.. Searles outlined assurances
he has given already. Much of the
opposition, he said. springs from
doubt as to whether we can do
what we say"
John Ihlder, chairman of the
National Capital Housing Author
ity. told the group public housing
dwellings would be able to absorb
the lowest income residents evac-
uated from the Project B area. He
made plain, however. that he was
making no such commitment as
far as future Southwest projects
are concerned.
The zoning proposals for tall
buildings, however, drew the most
heated discussion at the meeting
Sees Construction Boosted.
Mrs. Gertrude B. Cleary, execu-
tive secretary of the Washington
Building Congress-, said an easing
of teh regulations would stimulate
construction here, slow the move
to the suburbs and enhance the
opportunity Of getting more tax
money ont of apartments in the
city"
Butstrong opposition was voiced
on grounds that more building
stories would increase overcrowd-
ing and intensity the city's critical
parking problems.
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