Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-03-10
Way IsCIedred
For ST Million
Unit
Zonine Commission
OK's Garage to Serve
Wire Truct Project

Ending a two-day session of
public hearings, the District
Zoning Commission today cleared
away the first stumbling block to
construction of a 81 million high
rent apartment project on the
Wire tract on Massachusetts,
avenue at Ward Circle.
The commission approved an
amendment to coming regulations
permitting construction of a CEN
trail underground parking garage
to serve projects of this type.
Previous regulations had pro-
vided that parking space be- To-
Gated on individual building lots.
and would have prevented con-
solidation of the parking spaces.
The amendment authorizes the
Board of Zoning Adjustment.
now considering specific plans
for the development, to approve
them.
Others Due Monday.
Other decisions on II cases
heard at the two-day session are
scheduled to be made Monday
Three of these were applica-
lions for rezoning by Safeway
Stores.
Each store would cost about
100000. One site involved is
bounded by Allison and Webster
streets, Nineteenth place and
Michigan avenue NE.
1t drew some opposition from
neighbors, who were backed up
by a warning of the Zoning Ad-
visory Council that the location
is in a single-family area which
probably could not support such
a store. "a considerable amount
of transient trade will be re-
quired," the. report said.
The other Safeway requests
involve locations on Milwaukee
place Sc. at Nichols avenue and
near Shannon place and w street
Sc.
Shopping Center Opposed.
In the major case of the hear
ing yesterday, the commission
heard four protests against
request for rezoning which would
permit construction of a SIS
million women's apparel shop
ping center on Connecticut ave-
nue. across from the Bureau of
Standards.
Culver B. Chamberlain, coming
chairman of the Connecticut
Avenue Citizens Association,
said the project might be
premature in view of current
redrafting of District coming reg
ulations. If it is to be started,
he indicated, precautions should
be taken to keep it from being
abandoned before completion.
The opponents were Joseph
Sanders, coming chairman of the
Forest Hills Citizens Associa-
ton; Charles A. Burmeister,
president of the organization,
and Mrs. Leslie Wright of the
same group. The fourth was
Mrs. Swager Sherley of 1900
Upton street NV.
Hoyt Estimates Taxes.
Earlier, the commission heard
DR.. Homer Hoyt estimate the
center would yield the District
$403,131 a year in taxes.
DR.. Hoyt, planning consultant
who has conducted economic
surveys of the counties surround
ing Washington. testified that
about SIP million would be spent
annually for apparel in the pro-
posed center.
The commission heard a mas
sive presentation of evidence,
supporting the plea of the Chevy
Chase Land Co. of Montgomery
County, for a rezoning from
residential to commercial of
part of a 20-acre tract between
Yuma and Van Ness streets on
the east side of Connecticut.
Plan Parking for 1000 Cars.
Attorney James c. Wilkes
said the company owns most of
the tract, including the former
Leo Rocca store, and plans to
use six acres for apparel stores
catering to the high income
neighborhood. Some 13 acres
would be used to provide parking
space for 1000 automobiles.
Daniel w. O'Donoghue, speak
ing for the Dunbarton College of
Holy Gross Academy, which lies
just east of the tract, said the