Evening Star Newspaper, February 18, 1928, Page 17

REAL ESTATE WASHING TON, D. C, he Foening SP o e n o HOME & GARDEN | 17 COMMERCIAL ZONES EXCEED DEMANDS. MA]J. COVELL SAYS Assistant Engineer C Too Much Space Has Been Allotted Business Areas. BY DON S. WARRE! A comparative study of sections of the District of Columbia zoned for com- mercial use and the amount of such areas actually emploved for commer- purpases. just completed by zon- ng officials of the city. shows clearly that the District has a great oversupply of first commercial zone areas, to the detriment of residential areas. ‘The time has arrived when expan- Kion of commercial areas must be cur- tailed, in view of the volume of re- quests for changes of property trom Tesidential to commercial zoning. These are the convictions of Maj. W. E. R. Covell, senior Assistant Engincer Cormissioner, who has charge of the goning office. and are based on data gathered in an extensive and techuical s of the question made for the Commission by S. G. Lindholm, engincer. Problem Persist ommissioner Believes ! secking to’establish additional commer- | clal zones “will kill the goose that lay the golden egr” by the process of cre- ating a supply of such areas greater than the demand. Arguments for the change of resi- | dential areas to commercial zoning fall into three classes. records of the Zon- ing Commission show: 1. That the city needs more com- mercial area to support necessary pusi- ness activities. This plea. Maj. Covell believes, is not based on present condi- tions in the District, as shown by the | study made by Mr. Lindholm. Sev- {eral times more acres of land in the District now are zoned for commercial use than actually are employed for such purpose, the survey shows. 2 hat regular traffic arterie: streets through which street ca run are of necessity comme: 1 her than residential streets. While this is logical, the zoning official holds. there | would be a tremendous oversu of | ZONE USE Res. 3064 2206 RES. 2057 1190 COM. 8s) 376" Vet %% 0l m‘"‘-mcwnl:ssa?za m;vsm e s @Sommn: \ Atone b . ;ES ZONE USE ZONE USE 625 €54 146 22 BES 1735 = VACANT o5, ZONE USE VACANT 820 RES. 732 G28 328 337* ZONE USE RES. 510 9220 COM 807 284 ZONE USE VACANT n3 3823 578 €73 3433 | estimated cost of projects, as sho BUILDING PROJECTS REACH NEW HIGH FOR WEEK HERE Operations Total $1.111.875 in Biggest Period for Year — Five-Story Apartment Listed. Private building the (lot $20,000. operations in 837 and 43, square District of Columbia during the past in W again struck a high mark designer and 1-story brick and et southeast (lots by the new list of building permits is- sued, the total being in excess of quare 697). to cost $2.000. $1.111.875. The figure is about $400.- 5. Torre, owner: to mak 000 higher than the total for the 3134-3123 Dumbarton av preceding week and is greater than the average week's total for 1927. Included in the new list of opera- tions are plans for the construction of garages, 207- a large five-story apartme neast (lots 74 | be erected at 3700 Mas: . to cost $500 |nue by Baer & Schol h : Woodward the actual building estimated at $800.000 designed by Robert tect, will be of coner cost of i The buil 0. Scholz. te and street | struction with elahorate trimming Construction of 17 nded study of the problem of 1 zone arcas, Maj. Covell shows that at the present time Te is about four times as much com- e commercial areas should all property on such traffic arteries be zoned for com- mereial use, 3 That the value of pro joining business sections is dep mercially zoned property in the Dis- 5 e onsly s 2 for residential _pun) though trict as is uires ee S 3 5, s © 'euited o meet eXBUSE | pogig he valasble f soned to pormi business. The answer to this The problem of commercial areas, as pUsiey The ansy opposed to residential areas. has been s . residential property must adioin com- Sonstantly before the Zoning COMMIS- | mervial area or gtheraise. the. entim ect 1o g Toning law was put 16t | picerict would be commercial in char- effect in 1920. and it is one of high importance to local property owners due to the effect of commercial property on #djoining residential sections, and the danger to commercial values | ing out of an ov ply in cer- tain communities. Petitions for chang- ing the zoning of areas and paris of S from residential to commercial are coming before the ission and have provoked many wordy battles at zoning hearings be- ":‘fen dlr}amt' owners who feared mone- | highly harmful to all, he contends Bearby Gecclommeniniy [PIOPEItY IFOM | I “support of his contention that Claiming - thet oonts &nd applicants | there is about four times too much Seaming heir Property could oring | commercial area now in the Dis.ric inancial retuns only through | Maj. Covell cites figures from the Lind. ‘commercial use. h 3 e $ olm survey showing that in most sec- While the Zoning Commission has | tions of the city there are many more made no formal declaration of a policy acres 3 s of land zon 3 of placing tight restriction on the es- | than nct]:filvzg::dsgoixscz!mm"cm o tablishment of additional commercial | Charts prepared by Mr. Lindholm e o elr Tejection this week of nu- | show this to be trus in the setin giergts applications for change of resi- | bounded by Rock Creek Park. the Sol- Sopenrs “rcas 1o the commercial zone | diers’ Home grounds. Florida avenus topeats Stenificant. Out of 17 veti- |and Spring road. this bsing a well tr. w*:i )f: zfimng changes acted on this | tablished apartment house ‘tior e o Somaission, 11 wer: for |wher: Gswe ate 148 acres mned o ”“g;l of resAden}z'u areas to the com- commercial use and only 22 acres actu- eatione s, Qniv one of these 11 ap- ally used for commercial purposes. 655 3 ns approved. acres zoned for residential use and 654 Oversupply Possible. acres actually so used: and 95 acres being vacant. Maj. Covell points out that the ex- Ing the section perience of cities in zoning is that the Creek Park, Nor Zoning of property for commercial use | Riggs road, Sp: :» 1;smn_rxhnecr:?‘:c the degalr;d for cuch Branch. there are reas. econom! W of sup- | residential purposes and 1, 2 piy and demand only can make prop- | 185 actes zonea o romme'rlcggls&:l::A erty available for commercial use a |only 40 acres actually used for i . 1g px:upouuan, he believes. | purpose: and 1.012 acres vacant. Ol only s 100 great an amount of In other sections of the city similar Soramercial or business zoning area ob- | conditions are shown on the zone and _to Owners of residential use charfs prepared during the survey but an oversupply of such zon- ' now completed. These figures are ves to lessan the value of thesc taken by Maj. Covell as ingioative of gommercial sones, the zoning offeial the need of limiting further extensis Cs. He fears that property holders of commorcial aress, o Crinelans Colonial, English and Norman Styles Of Homes Have Individual Plans acter. if the proposition were carried tc its logical conclusion. Lindholm Survey. It is not proposed. of course, that changes in property from residential to commercial should be prohibited alto- gether. but zoning should be regarded &s a more or less permanent thing and not one subject to constant changes. Maj. Covell believes. Otherwise prop- erty values would fluctuate to a drerec bounded by Rock th Capitol sireet and g road and Piney 057 acres zoned for The colonial style is characterized by a box-like exterior appearance, prim picturesqueness or symmetry, accord- ing w0 the school of design. The classi- ¢al orders. handled in 2 free manner The plan may take on more freedom |and irregularity than in the colonial. | Half-timber work, stone, stucco and brick can be used together to give charming and in ing effects. is and sometimes windows, The Norman st y . ws, T closely relato © basis for most of the Ge- to the English. but can be ri‘r‘h(‘ ‘3 s are divided tinguiched ta dls. Dor: ho 2y have the overhanging root st on the face of the wall and not in the roof. Roofs are usually steeper and half-timber work is more sparingly used. Towers also may form distin- | guishing features. Windows are the casement type and generally larger and ‘"tw‘" often single than in the English style The French styles, other than the Pl is made up of rectangular fhapes, either in one or more simple sset, always attached together, how at right angles. The colonial while ours by inheritance, lacks | son Trust e Sexibility and picturesquencss that | Nosrant TCacl ot ; years. its aumosphere {07 40! mencement of bearing and aisn tends 16 | Sverims e pqriiny 9f the agricultural | e from English or Norman mal type and' repremmtiir O C e - Top ! Howeber it e comimerd | the' home vegetable garden’ which may | ety o p e mEpesen: | op. owever, with the commence- |pa obtained free upon application, The Brglish style offers a wide range | any of the Precelicniy el titve-to | HINTS FOR ATTICS. AR LT ' “Femouing | TTlese contain plans for home and farm | = Broperly undersiood may be|from. Windows are symmetricaily —_— |large branches, pruning. to be effective, | S0TdeNs and are of material help to | [ pied o modern American |placed. with the first-floor ones often |space May Be Utllized for Many |should consist pHmeriy iy the et [ Syee, Shie S perteniced GURIETER, T0EM1T 18 nusua eme: It is perhaps more a|coming down to the fioor level . Shut- | out of small limbs over the whole bear- | o1« difficult “to plan simply from Each of th h “ crafiemanship than any other | ters were also quite characterisiic. The Usages. * | ing sustace ‘of the tree memory, The United States Depart- ach ot these homes [ or, and eonse- | gestive of the splendor of Louls XV and e wcted possibilitics for . | B¢ recommended except where an n- |{he home garden which may be ob- aesioence T et ,,(‘?,, t construct | XVI and its restrained ornamentation, MAany unsuspe possibilitics for in- | 4iq001" branch 18 Growing out of tined upon request and which deal di- bath - . Grouped casement | are yet to be fully developed and ap: | Wligent utbization, “The matier of | S e s growing out o rectly with the heeds of lotal gardeners | baths (one of which has orioles. elabo- | preciated by the home owner of today, Adequate light and ventilation fre- | BUfit: &l Herice, it wrae- | S . o d are 8l who is rapldly acquiring architecturai |quently appears as the stumbling block e e o hero . e wb[[b i}\ttlt[t a shower). finished ar Gitinguishing | - . wphistication i Malch preyents the home OWNCT 17O | bushy-topped tree, which i ailieult 6| In & other, way has the gardencr M T but the rpace . Cutting now dor. SPray and prune and which excludes |BTCAter control over: the outcome of LI i Wood . ‘171 s however, wiil ity proaae | the UGHU from the frult spurs und ot sl s o ~ : Ao oodward and Union Trust Buildings & Jggveer o trut s e b e I e pentes the ‘Li] arm P | g e AN | AU this season the pardener usually | 8¢ this stage is indeed false economy [} Bl . A N U d Cl = p the work will probably be less than the |B¢1S the impulse to prune. often, ‘per- {0 o manter of culture. fertilizing o and lavatory in base- ppear as INew Under Uleaning Process i horn would anticipate i con. | Daps, a3 an excuse to gt out i the Connaed on et e ment T L eration 15 given to cerlain factors sun. It is as well not to obey (Conunued on Twentleth Page.) n 'lg al‘ i d The size of the dormers should. be The Wodwa and have been continued more or le * width of the space be- BRI g i R i : { } Trust Buid i 8 i Toof rafters. 1 the dormer | J5 0 onaRANNERR SRR i It is, of course, thore since ther orming 1 h * o s e tan be cut through the roof without 3 e ot G the vatiery the work ean b One Square from i i atroets cone much more cheaply. Where it 1y 2 I bt Fed iy o cut At Ieast one rafier The National Episcapal be necessary o reinforce the ~ il : Uit at the points where the headers Cathedral and Overlooking ¥ o g Y trom the dormer framing are jolnted 3 . | . : e of thoir | 15" them Direct From Owner Washmgton's Finest I | on of wwering trees—The Garden Spot of shington entrances with its beautiful homee and 1s atmosphergof exclusive- nees, 557, W. C. and A. N. Miller Fleven Nineteen Seventeenth Sieet Telephone One-seven-nine-O section, | wding wos i el (1 Northeast’s Best L osned e Hcme Value ;5 PositivelyitheiBast/Buy in Toun i for i . | %6,950 Wesley WHreights (oo Whether wrapped in a mantel of H S50 . Month glistening snow: or radiant in the efful- li Ao W ey, gence of the summer sun. filtering in fan- .. e ot th tnest, matcrtue, they N rastic imagery through the leafy boughs { ZONE USE i RES. 1403 642 com. =6t 7 VACANT 1015 i ZONE USE>~ ¢ RES. 233295 ‘»«_COMN,NI 4§ Vi 1 s " o e The above chart was prepared by the District zoning office to show graphically the number of acres in various sections of the city zoned either for residential or commercial purposes as study the designation “R npared with the number of ‘means residential res actually used for these purposes. In the tables appearing in each section of the city charted for and “COM" means commercial. In the columns to the right of these designations are figures indicating the number of acres zoned residential as compared with the number so used, and similarly the number zoned commercial as compared with the number so used. The figures are held to indicate an oversupply of commercial areas. CELLAR CONSTRUCTION | | COSTS $1,500,000.000 tics Indicate $900,000.000 In- vested in Unencumbered Space Designed Merely for Storage. Statistics show that $1.500.000,000 is | invested annually in cellar construction. ! Only 40 per cent of this space is utilized for boiler, coal bins and laundry. This | means $300,000.000 worth of space, un- encumbered except for storeroom pur- pos standing idle while the family dces without room it actually needs for and recreation. Today an idle T is a real expense. The average family cannot afford an extra room for the children's play. On rany cays their tracks and Kiddie cars clutter the living room, a wear on the family ¢s and more noticeably on the living-room furniture. Statis Conducted | FOREWORD. This is the first appearance of the column for the new year. A little early perhaps for the average city gar- dener, yet there are plenty of tasks to be done before the actual planting sca- son arrives. Trees und vines of many kinds need pruning. spraying for scale insacts should be done. nursery and seed catalogues must be studied and suppliss ordered, plans for the garden worked out and seeds of certain slow-, growing species of flowers and vege- tables may be sown to advantage in- coors in boxes or pots of soil It 1s dening somewhat Gardening in Washington AND ITS ENVIRONS A W. Wellington, Garden Editor, The Star. this impulse unless one has a pretty | fair idea what he is doing. Those who live in the vicinity of Takoma Park or Woodridge should get out to the prun- | ing demonstrations which are to be held on the morning of February 22.' They will soon find that the skilled pruner has a reason for making each cut a definite plan in mind and not smply an impulse to relieve the tree or vine of some of its wood i A Garden Plan. ! In order to buy sceds to advantage | and to make the most of the garden. it is almost necessary to have some def- inite plan and to set it down on paper. Genexally speaking, haphazard or no PLANS FILED FOR NEW FIVE-STORY APARTMENT $300,000 Structure Will Be Erected at Girard Street Georgia Avenue. and Plans for the construction of a five- story apartment building. to be locate at 650 Girard street. at the intersection with Georgia avenue, have been filed ith the District building inspector by R. G. Fletcher, owner of the property The apartment building will be of brick construction and will cost in the neighborhood of $300.000. It will con- tain 75 apartment suites. The building will have a large open court in the front of the structure and will have a {rontage on Girard street of about 51 feet and a maximum depth of abe 106 fect. It is to be erected by Fletchar Fireproofing Co Thus the callar is taking its place as' Two of the local garden clubs are oot ; . e lanning may be expected to result in Bl >l 5 the logical location for the recreation | putting on pruning demonstrations on ol thehianel of the younger generation. This is only | Washington's Birthday Giediany | o epuaead iERdenA we T TERE Prefer One-Color Tone. one of the uses to which it is being put. Workroom, billiard room, an extra sit- ting room and a gyvinnasium with ap: paratus and a shower attached are | among the unsuspected possibilitics where traditicn once decrced waste pace. | LOVE OF MOUNT VERNON | LURED WASHINGTON Tesired to Forget Cares of Office’ in Quiet Atmosphere of Stately Mansion. | Running through the web of legend woven about the Father of His Country, the love which George Washington bore | his ancestral home, Mount Vernon, in Virginta, is now proverbial. To the love which he bore the stately mansion which was his residence for for commencing outdoor activities, al- though sometimes rather bitterly con- tested by the departing Winte We wish at th's time to express our appreciation to the ga n clubs and club members who co-operated with us during 1927 and earnestly solicit the ssistance of all the clubs for the com- ig year. Information to be included !en any given Saturday should reach the Garden Editor on or before the preceding Wednesday. Pruning. At least three definite stages in the life history of a fruit tree should be considered in connection with pruning At the time of planting and for a !l year or two thereafter rather severe pruning is usually required to obtain | a well shaped tree. The modified | leader type of pruning, in which the | branch nearest the center of the tree is allowed to develop faster and form | a central trunk, is now quite generally out plan, no matter how crudely drawn, is bound to result in seed saving and | labor saving and better crops. Natural- 1y the kind and amount of vegetables or flowers to be planted will depend on the location and size of the garden and the | personal likes and disiikes of the gar- | dener. For example. one can scarcely | include sweet corn, potatoes and runs | ning squash in the very small garden. or | eet corn, a sun-loving plant in rtial shade of trees. Those who ! have plenty of space are, of course, not | so subject to limitations ana may plant more in regard to indiviqual preferences. | In the small garden it 1s well to take | into consideration the size of the various | plants at maturity and the length of | scason required to reach edible con- | dition. Tall plants, such as sweet corn, | pole beans and trellised tomatoes, should | be grouped together ana so placed as | not to shade too closely the lower- growing kinds. Short-lived crops, such | as peas. may be placed with a view to = Al 5 3 replacement with late sown vegetables, 40 years, is attributed his Tofiisal ! ear wor st voele apple And cabbage. kale or beans. Parsnips. accept the presidency for th- third|papgral shape, and hence casiest to \fy ‘and_ others whichy ocouny ittie term. Thus his desire for quist enio attain. Shaping of th> i garden the whole season are most con- ment of his home established an Im- ccompiisned murie e veniently placed to one side by them- porteat political precedent still of Wld® | vears and from then on to the time SCVeS. effect fruiting begins the voung ‘ree shouid Mot all the modern seed catalogues Mount Vernon expresses in stone and efve but little prur i except the contain quite reliable information on wood the lofty and inspiring heights to which Washington himself had risen in man’s esteem. Its grandeur lies in a magnificent simplicity, and in this it stands as a perfect mirror of the man who lived in L TP R 2T 2T You oue it to yourself to see these homens before you buy! HOWENSTEIN BROS Healtyra Pith & H Sta. NE Lincoln 897 AL R R UL P22 e removal of broken and conflicting twi and small branches. It has been well established by re- | search pomologists that pruning during the youth of the tree delays the com- the number of feet of row or the num- ber of plants tha: may be expected from a given quantity of seed. Hence il one has plotted his garden he can | order intelligently without incurring | First Txme Offerecl New 5 and 6 Room Homes 1428 to 1444 W Street S.E. One of the ”i_q/n'ar and Most Desirable ctrons of Anacostia daublo Fivesroom houses with eght-foot They have ouk floors upstairs and down, hot- heat, uled hath budt-m tub and shower, cedar closet, builtain 1ce box, hinoleum on kitchen floor, colonmal solid brass lighting fistures, plate glass mirror in fist Hoor closet The lots are 130 feet deep. Schools and water with door. churches are very close hy. %6450 to %6750 Small Cash Payment, Balance Monthly Open & Lighted Daily 1500 0 A 010 0010 9 ) 00101 140 D 0 9 Many women like the floors in their homes to be of one color tone through- out. They want something mode something truly decorative. 'y seek floors that will look equally effec- tive in dining room. living room and bedroom. Kealto And they, Residential Section | cost of $122300 and othe |include two store 2 {erected for Grah: 801-807 . 0 cost at a co st owners; plans by A 3 h Co.. Inc., New Construction Projects. Among permits issued thi. the following Baer & Schol: Robert O. Schi one 5-story brick ment hotel, 37 «lot 12. square 19 Stephen Chaconas Scholz. architect builders: to erect on: tile restaurant buildi Massachusetts Park The Triangle of Increasing Values Avel a ler construe- 1 exceed side hail $10.500,000. Call for Literature and List of Over 300 Purchasers Middaugh & Shannon, Inc. ESTARLISHED 1599 1435 K St. NW. Main 8685 Lghting sty ctiveness and to the parden. Grounds of home are beantitully planted with fine and rare Entrance this shrubbery, ! 3821 € e | (129 Quenue thed