Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-06-06
ID. {. Business
ContinuesFigh
On Lewis Plan
Public Hearing
On Zoning Report
Approaches End
BY GEORGE BEVERIDGE

public hearings on the contro-
versy neared an end.
The District Zoning Commits
sion took a brief recess thi.
morning to permit a majority oil
its MEMBERSHIP three District
CommiSsioners-to attend tc
other business. Brig. Gen
Thomas A. Lane, Engineer Com.
missioner and chairman of the
coming Commission, resumed
Hearings at 2 pm.
Only remaining testimony /.
ON impact Of the Lewis pro-
Iposals on the downtown business
area-which absorbed q bitter
attack from property owners
yesterday.
After the downtown area i:
covered. however. Gen. Lane
said he would hear anyone or
hand who was missed at earlier
sessions. This left uncertain
whether hearings would end late
today or would be extended fol-
another day.
Ward Attacks Plan
Opponents yesterday included
Judge Godfrey L. Munter of the
Domestic Relations Court, who
blasted Lewis proposal tc
change from commercial to resi-.
Dental coming number Of
properties he owns on the north
side Of Pennsylvania avenue
NV. between Twenty-fourth
and Twenty-fifth streets.
] Judge Munter said the Levi.
action on his land was "ranl
discrimination" and spot
coming Of the crassest kind,
which constitutes taking of pri.
vate property without just com.
pensation."
Another strong attack camI
from Royce F. Ward. presiden
of Hegeman- Harris Co.. who saiC
the Lewis proposals would xii
plans for the big Potomac
Plaza" apartment hotel offic'
building project in Foggy Bottom
Mr.. Ward showed the commits
sion a model of some Of thu
buildings planned. as designed
by Pietro Belluschi. Massachu.
sets Institute Of Technology
architecture director.
He said the Belluschi plar
called for the buildings to cover
ionly 1873 per cent of the land
as against a rs per cent lot.
coverage permitted by present
coming rules. and argued thi:
would meet one of the CHIEF
Lewis aims of preventing over
crowding.
He said to do this. however
would require coming to permit
buildings ll0-feet high. But Mr.
Lewis coming, he said. would
limit the heights to 80 feet anc
permit a total floor area in thu
buildings less than half as large
as Mr.. Belluschi planned.
Apartment Virtually Complete
The Potomac Plaza projec'
would extend from Twenty-fourtf
street to the Potomac River
generally between New Hamp'
shire and Virginia avenues NV
One cooperative apartment
which would have been impos'
, sible to build under the Levi,
plan. is virtually complete. anC
plans are we'll along for two
more.
!. Mr.. Ward said his firm got
enthusiastic support" for thu
plan from city officials before
it began purchasing land from
the Washington Gas Light Co.
and urged the commission Il
consider Potomac Plaza. it
plans and its problems"
Architect Louis Justement. one
of Mr.. Lewis bitterest opponents
charged that the New York con
sultant "either is ignorant o.
local conditions or he just
doesn't care.
To back up his charge. he citeC
IL "nonsensical" coming pro
posals in the downtown area. H,
traced the IL on two maps, on,
showing how land is zoned- nov
and one as Mr.. Lewis proposes
it to be zoned.
Called "Chinese Puzzle"
!, Mr.. Justement characterized
various of the proposals al
"fanciful little Chinese puzzles.
"viscious obsessions." ridiculous
fermentation of land" and sill.
little bits of buildings"
Donald A. Brown. attorney
charged that in one six-blocl
area downtown, los existing bus,
mess properties could not con,
form to the Lewis rules anC
would lose value "or the right Il
remain. Mr.. Lewis zoned tn,
larea. between Fifth street, New
Jersey avenue. New York avenue
and p street NV. for row house:
and apartments. Mr.. Brown
asked that it be given CONNER.
cial coming.
Another attorney. Norman M
Glasgow. said perhaps the mos
tragic mistake of the entire
Lewis plan" were rules and re.
strictions he proposed for Six.
teenth street NV. between Scott
Circle and the White House.
The attorney said this area
containing five hotels and Other
buildings that could not hav,
been built under the Lewis plan
has developed lin unique fashion
into one Of Washington's f1nest
streets" He asked that somt
special coming treatment" con-
slider It's particular needs.
Earlier. property-owners Of Thu
far northwest" sections west o
Rock Greek Park alternatel!