Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-04-27
.zoners Weigh
New Bans on
Alley Dwellings
Fight Develops on Bid
To Erect Six Houses
In Georgetown

50 .
The District zoning Commits
sion today wrestled with the
problem of whether to restore
bans Congress knocked out two
years ago on the construction of
dwellings in alleys less than 80
feet wide.
Such a prohibition existed I'M
til 1854. But Congress. repeal
ing parts of the Alley Dwelling
Act to permit attractive reno
waited alley homes to remain,
also killed restrictions on the
books since 1892 against new al
ley housing.
The latest alley dwelling fight
developed from a proposal to
build six row houses on a IA
Ifoot-wide Georgetown alley on
IThirtieth street between P and G
streets NV.
New Regulations Urged
A host of Georgetown citizens
urged the Zoning Commission
today to adopt proposed new
regulations to:
l. Ban any new dwellings on
alleys less than 80 feet wide
which fail to connect directly to
streets.
2. Prohibit restoration of ex-
listing rundown houses on alleys
less than 80 feet wide if the
restoration cost exceeds one-halt
of the old buildings value.
But the Georgetown citizens
opposed another provision of the
regulations which would permit
owners to use alley lots for any
one of seven specified kinds OF
commercial use.
This provision was put in the
regulations on advice of the Dis
trict corporation counsel to meet
arguments that owners OF land
cannot be deprived constitution
ally of all uses for land.
Cut to 3 Uses Asked
The commissions Zoning Ad
visory Council recommended
that the restriction on allie,
housing be adopted. But i
Unanimously urged that the lis
of seven commercial uses be re
duced to three-storage build
ings. parking or electric sub
stations.
Mark Friedlander, attorney TO.
the developer who wants to builC
the alley houses. said the alley
property was purchased OF
advice of the District that there
is no present barrier to thu
development. He also challenged
the commissions legal right tt
impose such restrictions in view
of Congress action and implied
the fight might be taken to thu
courts.
Mr.. Friedlander warned thu
commission that the question
before it was mot Stun housing
but the right to use land tc
provide good housing.
) The Georgetown citizen S
headed by Mrs. Harold B. Hin
ton. representing the Progressive
Citizens Association of George
town, argued that Congress in.
tended only to permit restored
alley dwellings to remain anC
had no intention of permitting
new alley dwellings.
West End Units Stand
A spokesman for the West Enc
Citizens Association opposed
, the regulation saying he saw
no distinction" between decen
, housing in an alley 80 feet widt
and one narrower than that
: The Capitol Hill Citizens Asso
citation took no position on nev
dwellings but strongly opposed
commercial development in an,
residential district alley.
In another case. Attorne.
James Wilkes urged the commits
;, sion to make a coming change t,
permit construction of a 1870
foot-high Office building on tn
northwest corner of Connection
! avenue and X street NV. H
, said working drawings have beer
, made and financing is set
the change is made. He said h
would concur with a zorinI
: Advisory Council majority reror
! approving the change but hold
: ing it up until completed build
! ing plans are filed and proc
essed."
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