Evening Star Newspaper, June 26, 1926, Page 30

MODEL HO 30 STARMODEL rMES SECTION. HOMES| POINT FUTURE WAY Possibility of Artistic Devel- opment of Row Type Stressed by Architect. BY HORACE W. PEASI I w and the the Washington Ch Institute A disoussion of The model | homes demonstration. in which & no- | table forward movement has resulted | from the combined efforts of the ar- | chitects and builders, leads naturally | fo a discussion of the Washington | nensing situation in general and the | Ynes of its probable or possible de-| velopment The diffe auspices « strated the wd nt The possibilities especially semi-detached, houses - architects projects under Star have demon- of different community have developed to ! ability certain_fea- | have long been pleasing porches and ter: the fake stumpy hily development of reening of these porc on of the | end louses | Superflucus Space Eliminated. inside efforts arvange the doors and | 1o give the appearance > and to eliminate su- wsable space such as | needlessiy large hall | fhe perfiu involved in of the model e have co-operated | nly by varving the detail of the ! bouses. which was more | troublesome and expensive to them, but in (he use 6f good materials and in asentlon 1o details of good con Srustien and of good craftsmanship. Tn peneful It mav be sald that the model projects represent a decided ad vance over what hus been previously ul an example which decidedly {mprove [n fact, these projects have served more or less as laboratory for experimental work, d not appear at first glance ery radical improvements e in_similar types in the uestion, then, is represent the types expected 1n the future for housing in Washington The question of cost is one of lead- ing importance to the buyer of a home, and the presen dications are unless fundamental _conditions are changed the buyer is either going to pay more and more for houses of ihese types, or he is going to be com pelled to lower standards grade b grade if his purchuse appropria- tion rematns the same. This is due 1o the law of supply and demand, which fn this case hus, perhaps, been made to work adversely to the public by the action of the public itself in eperating to curtall the supply. By the supply is meant the area avail- able for extension of these varlous types, these areas being prescribed by zoning regulations, and the changes i zoning regulations being largely affected by local sentiment as ex Pressed at the public hearings. Seeks to Meet Demand. The operattve bullders have in this @emonstration shown a. desire to meet—In fact, to antlcipate—the pub- lo demand, and their continuance wlong these lines will be largely In fluenced by the publte reaction to thelr offerings. Furthermore, the demonstration has shown thaf mo type of house need be objectionable merely because it represents a cer tain type, and that any type of dyell- ing, if properly designed, may be an improvement ruther than a detriment | to & nelghborhood. { A disinterested review of the press rdports of various zoning hearings end an examination of the results of ; J apter of the | the | zroup develop- ’ have been | regulations, In so far as group de velopnients are concerned. seems to be negutive, with the elimination of mass housing from various areas, as though such group housing were in itself a great evil. The result of this attitude seems to be reflected in the fact that V ove all cities 1s wholly la & arden apart- ments of the type which is found in the environs of New York, and in community or small group develop: ments, which ocour without any sug- gestion of being out of place, in such developments as Forest Hills Gar- dens, Long Island, or Guilford, which adjoins Roland Park in Baltimore. In Gullford there is surely no taint ! of undesirubility about the bulk of the houses erected. even though they happen to have party walls, nor do they seem out of place in juxtaposi- tion with Roland Park. An examination of the plans of the garden cities of England, which start- ed the so-called garden movement in this country several years ago, shows that the majority of the houses are Jjoined together in short rows. It has been the policy of zoning to encourage detached dwellings in the outsglirts, although no absolutely de- tached dwelling ureas were provided until initiated in March of this year upon the recommendation of th - ing committees of the architects, the Board of Trade and the real estate operators. Business Islands Designed. The tdea underlylng this method has been to obtauin the intensive de- velopment of the properties nearest town before permitting other than detached houses in the so-called sub- urban sections. Nevertheless, the fact remains that from month to month the demands of housing ne- cessitate the gradual admission of massed housing into areas previously detached. During the past veur several sub- missions have been' made 1o the Zoning Commissién of projects for the development of outlving sections these hearings, shows again and again the protests of communities aguinst the so-called encroachment of group housing and the delimiting of group ‘pouse areas until the avalluble tracts ‘have greatly appreciated in value, this appreclation being eventually horne by the man who buys the im provements upon the property. A5 the largest part of the popula ¢tlon must, by reason of limited in ©coms, ocoupy ETOup houses or apait tnents, and since either the cost of these housing provisions is Increused @ the size and number of 10oms re auoed, it 1s time that the interested ipart of the public took notice of this ‘fact and made felt the weight of dbelr views. It would not be from «Molce that the dweller in & row house Avould buy in a high-priced downtown ‘section, and yet the alternative 1is epace for the erection of such build- 3ng8 In districts farther removed from the tntown values. It {s not wholly Prom choice or from the desire to be mear &n office that the apartment fiweller contents himself with one er kitchenette and bath. If for the same money he could obtain k. large garden apartment removed rom the center of the city he would be quick to grasp the opportunity. of the zoning T ! along new and striking lines as ad- vanced and as desirable as those to be found in the outskirts of any mod- ern city. Business islands of attrac- siores designed around court- yards, miniature villages in the Eng- lish fashion, garden apartments based upon the most attractive types to be found on Long Island, have all come up for consideration, but upon the protests of citizens' assoclations have all been rejected. These model home projects were net voluntary offerings of the oper- ators, but were experiments in hous- ing upon which the operators had been induced to embark upon the urgent recommendations of various architects, all of whem were inter- ested in seeing these types of de- velopment made possible in Wash- ington. When these projects were urged upon the cornmission, and their value as demonstration projects was pointed out, the proponeuts were met with the alternative proposition of “Why not do the same thing in urban areas which were already zoned so as to permit these tyvpes?” The answer has been that all of these projects involved greater costs of construc- tlon and more lavich use of land for their setting, and that they are pos- sible only where land can be ob- tained more cheaply than in those THE EVENING STAR, WASHINGTON KRow 1, left t and Walter Dunigan, Row 2, left to right: C. H. Small, B baugh. Row 3, left to ht: Ruby Lee Minar. Row 4, left to right: W. C. and A, Miller are b ley Heights. Henry colonial home at Stambaugh of the Stambaugh Construe house in Wynnewood Park, near Silver 8 o Minar Small, right: W. (. is and F. Eliot Middleton fifth street and Massachu: sections where values have uj clated because of the limited » avallable. Rince the suburban immediately adjoining the so- urban zones are gradual the demands for mass housing would seem a wise policy for Zoning Commission to anticipate this expansion dand 1o open up new ireas but under such restrictions poly | alled sirable modern types of housing a to_encourage, rather than to dis- L. and Lewis T. Breuninger are b Thirteenth street and Al 'l uses on Decatur street between Fourth and Fifth streets. Ruby Lee ronstructing the Virginia detached residence in Lee Heights. C. K ) d Bernard Saul of the C. H. Small Co. are buf West Virginia avenue near Queen street northeast. W. Walter Vaughan is con- | structing the semi-detached houses pt Thirteenth and Upshur streets nort east. Walter Dunigan Is etecting the community group at Marietta Park. Jesse | re building the stone detached house af @ aveaue. ve- | car For exampl s |wible for the commission to announce' houses or apartments equally unde- that is desired to encourage the de-|sirable when mixed with stores and vielding to | velopment of low garden type sub-|filling stations, let us have business Jrfurban apartments, and that it would fislands adapted to the needs of com- the | consider i | illustrate, Miller, A. N. Miller, Lewis K. Breuninger|groups with the larger ones— Tom Jarrell, Mrs. Stam- t Middleton, Morris Cafritz, | alter Vaughan. { e home in Wes- ilding the detached ka avenue. Tom Jarrell and Mrs. , are erecting the detached pring. Mortis Cafritz Is erecting the ing the row houses at tendencies in this direction. | it would be quite pos- | se within certain designated | Regulations as to area | ttie | would | There can be the operators desired. that , D. C.. SATURDAY, welcome and support such indication of co-operation. In the same way features of other forms of group housing could be eliminates To the suggestion has come representative builders and that they would be glad from financie the undesirable]' JUNE as residential in character—as inof- fensive and attractive as the appear- ance on Eighteenth street above N of the rears of various Connec t avenye stores. The operators are willing to co-op- erate for better housing, but the leads must come from the governing bodies and from the public. As to the former, th mission need but to submit the zoning situation, with these questions, for view of the new Park and Plan ‘ommission. which is authorized by Congress to maintain a comprehensive, consistent and co-ordinated plan for of Columbia i . which plan shall include vecommendations o the proper executive at to * * * housing, bullding and zon ing ions; public and private and to employ experts i overy branch to study the situation ‘There {8 no necessity or justification for any regulation which is not based upon thorough study of the situation as a whole. As to the public’s part. the first prerequisite toward better housing is 1 receptive attitude toward progres sive housing projects, rather than an obstructive one; next. an intelligent demand for an insistence upon better housing. Just as long as the publi insists upon or accepts every man o porch exactly like his neighbor's, just 48 long as the public doesn't weisl zood taste against a saving of a few dollars, then just so long will builders supply what is demanded—the cheap. est rather than the best. There is no reason for iguorance on the subject, no need for undesigned buildings 26, 1926. Zoning Com | #very plan that I% filed for a building “prepure, develop and |’ MODEL faults of every plan are pointed out and constructive criticisms made for betterment. 1f the public will support this council, demanding to know what the councll recommends, whether the councll approves the houses it buys, nn]other definite step forward will re sult, Washington’s housing situation— viewed as quality, not as quantity— is on the way toward improvement; but it way to go before it its full possibilities—and the s squarely upon the public. ionstration sponsored by The Star will do much to improve and assist the situation. % | The Star Model NOOER PRETOP P H That's why ot % » » ¥ building operations. estimates, TR ¥ permit in the District is reviewed by | the Architects” Advisory ° Council which has given its tifne and services without ge for several vears. The 830 13th St. NW, W HOMES —Deserve the Best Shade Shop painstaking care that is exercised in making these shades i< ‘one great factor why they are specified in practically all We would be pleased to send vou SECTION. Pictures Help Home. Pictures serve an admirable pur- pose in the decoration and furnish- ing of the small home. By the very nature of their location upon a welil they occupy none of the floor space that is so valuable in the small dwelling. If a little room has to ha | rather crowdea with furniture, pte tures on the wall carry the eye up ward and bring the attentfon from the lower portion of the room to L where there is a greater sens. o taRaf.2.2.8.8. 8. 2000 0.8 8 0.8.02.8 283 :*tQfi'h*fi*fi'ifitfitfi'ttflit't*itii'*tifi*ifitt"fiifi* Homes des were selected. The 0 288 0.8 8.8 8.8 8 8¢ ARk A kR A AR R A A A Main 4874-8552 STORES SAMMONS, Froprieior to support a regulation limiting the]/ maxiinum number of houses in a row to seven, providing such regulation were of general application, so that it worked no special hardship or gave no special advantage to any one. lmagine the effect upon the appear- ance of Washington's streets If such @ ruling were made. Couple with it further regulations tending to en- courage the admixture of smaller semf- detached and community houses— breaking up the monotony of the end- less rows, and a new suburban type will result. . Encourage the develop- ment of entire blocks with massed garages, inner gardens and present. able backs of houses, instead of con- sidering only frontage. Show the pos- sibilities of setbacks, or varlations from the building line, instead of the uninteresting accuracy of row align. ment. Favors Business Islands. Open new areas for community groups, but encourage thelr variation with semi-detached types, to the bet- || terment of their mutual appearance. It is the monotony of either, unre- lieved by contrast, which tends toward | | undesirability. Instead of needlessly long commer- cial arterfes, which go either into row munities. Nothing is less attractive sections definite plans for unit block | than the backs of these commercial | developments. t to | occupancy, height limitations and side | dential districts. guide developers into the most de- [ vards can be devised to obtain any d | type doubt lines, which blight the adjoining resi Nothing would be more attractive than island develop. ments straddling the avenues, with the backs and upper stories developed - SeLies e UWnlMoidIac douht thet the. cperators would ik backsanaupper atoriesiakyeioned %IHHIHIllllIIIlIlIIIlIIHIHIIHIHHIIIIIIIlHlIIlIIIIIIHI!IIIIIIIIIl!|lIllflllflNIIIIIIIIMIIIII!IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIKIlllVIIIIIIlllllllll||I|Il||||l|||IJIHHIII|Il!IIIH!IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIHIHIIIIIHIIIIIIIIIIIE DUCO and Other DUPONT FINISHES Used Throughout “The Star’s”” Model Home Cor. Alaska Ave. & 13th St. N.W. TWhen you inspect this “Model Home "—one of the finest in the entire group—you will see the famous DU PONT DUCO on all the Interior Woodwork and Walls—DUPONT SUPREMIS VARNISH on the floors—DUPONT PENETRATING STAINSJand VARNISH on the doors. " Compare this DUCO-finished Home with houses fin- ished in other materials, and draw your own conclusions 1 YOll can'have Duco in ydur own home——on your woodwork, furniture, floors or automobiles. Easy 1334 N. Y. Ave. “There is:a DU T Phone Main 1703 PONT Agent n your neighborhood” There is anly ONE Duco~DU PONT Duco| to apply. -Just brush it on. Sixteen beautiful colors. HUGH REILLY CO. ; DISTRIBUTORS Paints for Eveljy Purpose—Glass for Every Need S /A | s Breuninger Model Home Alaska Avenue and 13th Street N.W. L. E. Breuninger & Sons, Builders e HE nine Model Homes to be exhibited, beginning June 26, under the auspices of The Evening Star, will represent an investment of hundreds of thousand§ of dollars—the most costly and elaborate undertaking of its kind ever attempted in Washington. This will provide a comprehensive exposition of household conveniences and luxuries devoted to the de- velopment of ideal home life and better living condi- tions. The Model Home of Today Must Be Equipped With Tested and Approved Electrical Appliances and Devices Operated from a Wiring System With Ade- quate Outlets Conveniently Controlled. The Breuninger Model Home is Equipped With a Complete G-E Wiring System, Laid Out and Installed by E. C. Ernst, a Local Electrical Contractor. The very term “Model Home” conveys the thought that tested and approved appliances will be installed in the nine homes to be exhibited under the auspices of The Evening Star. Electrical appliances of all kinds have been developed to such a degree of perfection that a home without them ceases to be an ideal home. The National Electrical Supply Company will sup- ply all electrical appliances and devices to be shown in the Breuninger Model Home, Alaska Avenue at Thir- teenth Street N.W. All appliances to be shown in this house have been tested by years of satisfactory service in the homes of Washington citizens. The Laun-Dry-Ette Electric Washing Machine, the Turbax Electric Tub Washer, the Rainbow Automatic Electric Ironer, the G-E Refrigerator, the G-E Electric Vacuum Cleaner, the Ventura Kitchen Electric Ex- Phone Main National Electrical Supply Company 1328-30 New York Avenue N.W. Washington, D. C. haust Fan, the O. K. Vacuum Brush, the Johnson Elec- tric Floor Waxer and many types of small appliances and devices will be exhibited. You are invited to visit this house during the exposi- tion and to talk over your household equipment prob- lems with the National Electrical Supply Company’s representatives who will be present to fully explain the workings of every appliance and device shown in th Breuninger house.