Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-06-26
zoners Hear
Plea for Shops
AT Berkshire
Owners of Property
Near Apartment to
Protest July 6

Protest July 6
The District Zoning Commits
sion was in recess today, after
hearing many residents Of the
fashionable Berkshire Apart
ments yesterday.
An overwhelming majority Of
the 800 families in the building,
4201 Massachusetts, avenue NV.
favor rezoning the property to
permit stores in the basement.
From among the 1000 resi-
dents, one Senator and two Rep
resentatives testified yesterday in
favor of the shops. Other Berk-
shire jewellers who wrote letters
advocating the change included
three more Senators, one Rep
resentative, Chief Judge Bolitha
j. Laws of U. S. District Court
for the District of Columbia, As
sistant Attorney General Dallas
S. Townsend and Federal Power
Commissioners Seaboard L. Digby.
More Witnesses July 6.
After more than two hours,
they had barely got their case
started. The hearing will be re-
sumed at 10 am. July 6.
Attorney Paul B. Cromelin
shepherded mis- witnesses to the
stand. Senator Bennett, Repub-
lican, of Utah, said he would be
the last one to wish harm upon.
the historic section" by recon-
ing or other means. He added,
however, that the heavily popu-
lated apartment house badly
needs shopping services for its
residents.
Plans call foA a drugstore,
delicatessen, coffee shop. barber
AMI beauty shops. newsstand and
dry cleaning facilities. All would
be completely out of sight OF
the general public and would be
to serve Berkshire
jewellers exclusively.
Representative Priest, Repub-
lican, of Tennessee pointed out
that these adjuncts would serve
a population larger than many
of his own States county seats.
Cites Interest in d. C.
81 supported Washington's
public works program and did
some button-holing to help re-
store the House cuts of WASH
ington's 1855 appropriations BILL"
Mr.. Priest declared. But I'm
not currying any favor. I'm just
showing my interest. I can't see
any validity to any opposition
to this petition.
Representative Steed, Republic
can, of Oklahoma, and his wife,
agreed lit would be a convenience
when we had to get a loaf Of
bread, a pound of butter or a
bottle of milk"
In addition to Judge Laws and
the two administration officials,
Chairman DirkSen of the Senate
Appropriations subcommittee for
the District, and Senators Kuchel
and Knowland. both Republicans
of California. addressed support
ing letters to the commission.
The physicians viewpoint was
given by DR.. H. Blacker Vein.
berg, another Berkshire resident.
1--WE need a drugstore for
emergency delivery of medical
tions," said DR.. Weinberg. He
said he regularly experiences de-
lays in such deliveries.
"And many people won't call
for deliveries of little things like
cathartics, aspirin or a thermo-
meter because they think it's so
little for all that trouble" he said.
Protests ZOning.
A number. of private property
owners in the area are standing
oy to protest the rezoning petit
ton when the hearing is re-
At least one, Charles
Glover, jr., owner of a large I'M
tract he wants to de-
velop as a full-f1edged shopping
center across Massachusetts, ave-
nue. from the Berkshire. plans to
oppose making the whole Berk-
shire property commercial just to
install shopping facilities in the
building.
However, Mr.. Glover is under
stood to have no objection to an
proposal to change the
Act to give the Board Of
zoning Adjustment power to give
apartment houses and hotels
special permission to include
screened shopping adjuncts in
the premises.
GEORGETOWN Case Heard.
Developers and owners OF
Georgetown homes took up most
Of the commissions day arguing
and pleading for rezoning most
Of the block bounded by the
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal and
NJ, Thirtieth and Thomas JEFF
ierSon streets.
Although this land, as well as
most of the Georgetown water
front, has been zoned CONNER
cial for "a years, the citizens
;ontended their interests should
De protected. About Is renovated
former sluIn dwellings are To-
lated in the block.
Particular objection was di-
,ected toward Parkway Motor
20. which wants to build a large
garage behind the rehabilitated
homes and its own present plant
1t 3040 M street NV.
Henry r. Berger, attorney for
Parkway, angrily attacked the
,oning proposal.
oombings were not in "the area
ot prankS but were terrifl-