Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-03-25
|Rezoning Urged in Somerset Approach

Proponents of an office-type
building at the entrance to the
town Of Somerset on Wisconsin
avenue tdoay urged the Mont
gomery County Board of APP
peals to change the coming of
the area to allow the buildings
construction.
The opponents were expected
to make their plea later. More
than 100 persons damned into
the hearing room as the Dorset
Corporation pressed its appeal
to put the building up in a
residential area.
Attorney Plummer M. Shearin
sent five witnesses to the stand
to argue that the proposed build
ing would not create a traffic
hazard, a nuisance. or adversely
affect values of surrounding
residential property.
Three Petitions Set.
Residents of the area, how
ever. were ready to submit three
petitions bearing nearly 900 sig
natures of persons who opposed
the residential area inclusion"
Mrs. Joseph E. O'Brien, Som
erset = Councilwoman: James
Bishoff. member of the Chevy
Chase Village Board of Man
agement, and Attorney Edward
S. Northrup were to lead the
residents fight.
Donal L. Chamberlain, presi-
dent Of the Dorset Corp. was
the first man to testify today.
He said he believed the $4,000
square-foot tract at Dorset and
Wisconsin avenues could best be
used as a home for the Yater
Clinic with which he is now ne
gotiating on lease terms. He
said the clinic had assured him
they would like to locate on the
site if the board of appeals
grants his application.
DR.. Herbert M. Griffin, who
appeared to explain the clinics
function. said, however, he per-
sonally felt that the clinic staff
still does not believe it should
locate where it is not wanted if
the people understand its pro-
gram.
A Surprise Turn.
The hearing took on a surprise
turn when George Robertson.
real estate man, who was teSti-
flying as an expert witness, said
the proposed building would not
depreciate nearby residential
property values. But questioning
brought out that he was the
broker who sold the property to
Mr.. Chamberlain.
Mr.. Robertson explained he
had handled the sale to pre-
vious owner and had appealed to
them to allow him so days to
dispose of the ground when he
learned they were considering
selling it to Negro doctor" He
added that the previous owner
had decided to sell it after failure
to get the property zoned for use
as a drugstore.
Describing his explanation as
authentic" Mr.. Robertson said
he had gotten the previous owner
to let him seek white persons"
as purchasers.
Stanley H. Arthur, who de-
signed the 50x105-foot building,
said the two-story structure,
with it's two rows of glass win
dows, would not conflict with
other architecture in the area.
Ready to Take Stand.
Opponents of the building,
however, were ready to put Jesse
WeInSteln, chairman OF the Ur-
ban Planning Committee of the
Washington Chapter of the
American Institutes of Archi-
lecture. on the stand to refute
Mr.. Arthur's assertions.
Robert D. Hagner, veteran
real estate man of Bethesda,
told the board that he knew
of no residential homes having
been built along Wisconsin ave-
nue. from Bradley boulevard to
Western avenue in the last Is
years except those used as COM
bined homes and doctors offices.
He added he did not believe
the clinic building would depreci-
ate values in the area and said
that Suburban Hospital had had