Evening star., 1954-12-08
Acacia Takes
Land Case 10
zoniing Chiefs
Sole Of Huge Tract
As Site for Building
Hinges on Changes

the constitution avenue area,
which the Federal Government
says it wants to acquire but has
failed to buy over a 28-year
period, took their case today to
the District zoning Commission.
The Acacia Mutual Life Insur-
ance Co. wants to sell the land, a
9.200-sQuare-foot tract on the
southwest corner of Twenty
second street NV. to the Ma
tional Association of Life Under
writer's as the site for a monu-
mental-type memorial head
quarters.
The sale is contingent on hav-
ing the tracts present zoning
changed from a residential to a
commercial classification.
Real Issue Is ''Rectangle."
The real issue, however, is that
the tract is located in the So
called Northwest Rectangle,"
an area between Constitution
avenue and E street and Seven
teenth street and the river.
which Congress in 1926 ear
marked for Federal acquisition.
The Government has acquired or
sanctioned use for all Of the area
except the Acacia block.
The commission today heard
parade of seven witnesses urge
the rezoning. The major part
Of the opposition side was to tes-
tify late this afternoon.
The only morning session op-
position was registered by John
Nolen, jr.. as National Capital
Planning Commission director
and in minority report as ~
Zoning Advisory Council mem-
ber. He contended the proposed
use would be completely incon-
sistent with all prior plans and
commitments of the Govern
ment" for that area.
Area Protects Memorial.
Mr.. Nolen said the Govern
ment area has been carefully
planned to protect the nearby
Lincoln Memorial. He also con-
tended the land owners had
benefited from increased prop
erty value because of surround
ing development, that the owner
has realized profits Through use
of the land as a parking lot and
that the land actually is suitable
for residential Development.
In a Zoning Advisory Council
majority report, Zoning Com
mission Director r. o. Clouser
and Assistant Engineer Com
missioner Harry F. Hansen ad-
vised the commission to make
the zoning change.
Their report said the resi-
Dental Zoning has mo rational
basis" and had been maintained
obviously to cut the costs "of
eventual U. S. Government &C.
quisition. They said retention
Of the coming would be ''tanta-
mount to a taking of property
without due process" and
added:
THE residential zoning in
effect forms an island of re-
sidential zoning in a sea of uses
which are of a first commercial
character"
Witnesses See Penalty.
Donald S. Dawson, former
White House aide and now a
Washington attorney, called wit
nesses who contended the zon-
ing Is a penalty and that the
proposed new use would be en-
tirely consistent with surround
ing structures.
Howard Kacy, Acacia vice
president, said his firm Every
definitely" feels it has been pc
nalized by the unfulfllled threat
Of Government acquisition. He
said Acacia has made "every ef.
fort to dispose of the land" in
cIuding three unsuccessful offers
to the Government.
Mr.. Kacy said his firm at first
gave the life underwriters grour
a sales price of $4,000 for the
land. He said it later reduced
this to the agreed-upon price o1
100000 as a contribution tc
the building" because of Acacia's
interest in its aims.
IL, Others Ask for Change.
In other testimony in behalf
of the zoning change:
/. William II. Press. Washing.
ton Board of Trade executive
vice president, said the proposed
building was ideally suitable
for location here and Is precisely
in line with the boards efforts
10 attract such national head.
quarters employment centers X
bolster the city's economy. HI
said the board, in fact, had pro-
posed the G street location tx
the insurance group.
q. Carey Winston, president O
the Washington Real Estat'
Board, said the tract was no
suitable for residential zoninl
both because of surrounding use
and because of the lands exces
sive value.
3. Robert L. Walker of Orlan
do. Fla, president Of the insur
ance organization, stressed tn,
new building would be in nj
sense an ordinary Office building
but would serve as a memorial t,
leaders in the field as well a
for a national headquarters.
4. J. D. Marsh, Washington
broker, said the building Woul.
be q marble and limestone, three
story structure for which indi
vidua1 insurance agents alread,
have contributed $3.50, 900 towar,
construction costs.
Roll Stotion Hearing Set