Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-08-11
Commissioners
Adopt District.
Housing Code
Board of Review
Is Also Set Up
Effective Sept. /;
BY HECTOR MCLEAN

the DlStrlcC commissioners
today formally adopted a Hous-
ing Code for Washington, COM
Ipleting a two-year effort to de-
velop it as q weapon in their
war on slums in the national
Capital.
The code. to be effective Sep
TENDER /, is designed to force
la d equate maintenance and
cleanup of residential buildings
as well as the installation of suf-
Ificient toilet, bathing, heating
lighting and ventilation facilities
wherever they are lacking.
The Commissioners also estab-
Ilished a Board of Appeals and
Review to consider complaints
against decisions by the Depart
Iment of Licenses and Inspec-
tons, which will enforce the new
code.
Regulations Set Up
They also set up Housing
Regulations of the District of
Columbia" which includes the
housing code. general licensing
regulations, and special licensing
regulations on rooming and
boarding houses. tenements and
tenement houses. hotels and
Iconvalescent or nursing homes,
Provision was made for the fu-
ture adoption of special licensing
regulations concerning apart
ment houses, which are not now
included.
Director Cabell Gwathmey OF
| the Department of Licenses and
Inspections said complete copies
of the regulations would not be
ready until shortly before they
| go into effect September /.
Major change in previously
announced provisions concerns
special hotel regulations. The
Commissioners approved a re-
cent compromise with the Wash
Iington Hotel Association under
which hotels may allow not
more than I person for each SO
square feet OF habitable floor
space on any given floor.
More In Single Room
They may, however. put more
persons in any single room than
otherwise allowed by the general
standards Of the code. Hotels
had complained that strict en-
forcement of the codes basic
occupancy standards would pre-
vent them from shifting patrons
around to accommodate large
delegations of visitors.
AS adoption Of the regulations
was completed in Commute
session of the Board of Commits
sioners. Commissioner Samuel
Spencer turned to the city Off
Gals who have spent nearly two
years drafting the code and de-
clared. Il congratulate all of you
This is a momentous occasion"
Licensing Nov. l
Assistant Corporation Counsel
Robert Keneipp pointed out that
the new licensing regulations will
not effect business licenses for
various kinds of housing until the
new licensing year starts Novem-
Der l. He warned. however. that
holders of existing licenses must
conform to standards Of the code
after September l or face prose-
cution, although their licenses
cannot be revoked.
/ The housing code begins by
declaring That there exist resi-
dental buildings and areas
which are slums or are other
wise blighted, and that there
are. in addition, other such
buildings and areas which
are deteriorating and are ir
danger Of becoming slums OF
otherwise blighted unless action
lis taken to prevent their further
deterioration and decline"
Adoption of the code ties If
with an overall campaign agairist
slums which includes slum clear
ance and rehabilitation Of major
areas in the older parts o.
Washington.
While permitting the con.
tinuation of the tenement
classification to describe certain
types of housing the new code
wipes out sharing of kitchen.
and limits bathroom sharing tt
four persons occupying two Of
more dwelling units except II
rooming units. where they may
be shared by up to six persons
The limitation will require
many property owners to install
new facilities If they are to con.
tinue using the property.