Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-03-26
Clinic Proposal Brings Sharp Opposition
Opposing sides clashed bitterly

proposed construction of a two
story building to house a medical
clinic at the entrance to Som
erset on Wisconsin avenue.
On the one side was Donal l..
Chamberlin, president of the
Dorset Corp. which wants to
build the structure, the Yater
Clinic. which needs larger quar-
tiers, and Mr.. Charberlin's expert
witnesses.
On the other were some 100
residents armed with petitions
signed by more than 900 persons
living in Somerset, Chevy Chase
Village and Drummond-a.l op-
posing the developers plans.
The decision lies in the hands
of the Montgomery County
Board Of Appeals. 1t must decide
if the building shall be permitted
as a special exception in a resi-
dental community.
No Emotional Appeal.
Residents presented no emo
tional appeal to the board. They
sent four adjoining property
owners to the stand, and their
own expert witnesses.
Jesse Weinstein, chairman of
the Urban Planning Committee
of the Washington Chapter of
the American Institute of Arch
fleets, said the building of mod
ern design with two rows of
huge plate-glass windows. has
the appearance of a CONNER
cial Office building"
This building does not in
any way comply with the exist
ing architectural Characters
tics of surrounding homes" he
said.
Stanley H. Arthur, who de-
signed the 52-by- 105-foot struc-
ture with it's oscar walled-in
parking lot said it would not adj
versely affect future develop
ment.
1T would be a very unoffen-
sive building" he said. He add
ed it would be % feet high and
would be topped by elevator
penthouse not more than eight
or 10 feet tall.
Sees misunderstanding.
Mr.. Chamberlin said nearby
residents didn't understand his
plans.
mo one will object to it (the
building" he said.
He said he had been assured
by DR.. Wallace M. Yater that
the Yater Clinic would enter into
lease if the coming exception
is granted.
DR.. Herbert M. Griffin. of the
Yater Clinic staff, explained the
clinics functions, said it would
be different from a hospital and
added, however:
II still believe we do not want
to locate where we are not
wanted"
John L. Bischof. Of the Chevy
Chase Village Board Of Manage
ment, question the corporations
filing an application for a med
ical clinic without lease agree
ment with a tenant.
He also said he did not be-
lieve that coming exceptions were
intended for land spectators to
come in and put UP an Office
building"
No Traffic Hazard.
Wallace l.. Braun, traffic ex-
pert with the District of Column
bia. said the building at Dorset
and Wisconsin avenues would
create no unusual traffic haz-
ards. He added a U-turn from
the northbound lane on Wis
conSin avenue to get into the
clinic would be legal.
D. Grant Mickle, traffic chief
with the Automobile Safety
Foundation, however. said a u
turn on the existing left-turn
light would be illegal. He added
that any additional complica-
ton at the intersection would
materially aggravate an already
difficult problem"
Robert D. Hagner and George
Robertson, both real estate ex-
perts for Mr.. Chamberlin, said
the Office building would not
depreciate surrounding property
values.
Mr.. Hagner said there had not
been a residence built on Wis
consin avenue in the area for
about Is years except those built
as combination home and Office
| for doctors.
Mr.. Bischoff, however, said a
house just across the street now
used as a home and Office orig
inally was built about Z years
ago as a residence only.
Broker Explains Sale.
Mr.. Robertson, in answer to a
question from the opponents.
said he was the broker who sold
the property to Mr.. Chamberlin.
Without further questioning he
went on to explain he had re-
entered the picture when he
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