Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-09-01
BUILDING UP THE CITY.
Improvement In suburban Propert

ALONG THE HKIGHTs-THB COLUMBIA HEIGHTS IN
PRovENENr-A L BARBRRs HANDSOME RESI-
DENCE-FINB COUNTRY Observation-Disclosures
AND KALoRANA HKIGHTs-BUILDINas IN OTHER
SECTIONS OF THE CITY.
1t seems very probable that Washington Will at
last have suburban architectural attractions
This natural adjunct OF every city has been lack
Ing here for various reasons, the main one being
that the city proper was laid out large area
OF land in advance OF the population. The growth
OF the city during the last decade or so has filled
up the magnificent distances" and the wide in
tervals, and now it would seem that
the period has arrived for further
extension OF the building limits
The rapidity with which building operations
have been carried on during the past year or two,
and the consequent advance In the price OF land,
has undoubtedly had great influence in turning
the attention Of spectators and those wishing to
1uild houses for themselves to suburban property.
This tendency is manifest in the activity In eligi
BILE locations along the railroads leading into the
city and upon the other side OF Boundary street
ducement for investors, as they are able with the
same amount OF money to build finer houses upon
larger lots than in the city limits When land in
the suburbs can be purchased for 20 cents a foot
and in the city 1t ranges from S1.75 to s. so per
loot, investors are apt to consider the difference
In prices as Overbaancing the Inevitable objection
OF remoteneSS from the business centers.
THE cHEAPNEss OF LAND AND BUILDINGS HERE
The prevailing price OF city lots, even at $3.50
per foot, Is high only in relative sense as COM
pared with the prices Of suburban property When
compared with the prices prevailing in other cities
land is still very cheap here AS competent au-
thorty remarked to a STAR reporter:
There Is no city in the country where house
can ca De built SO cheapy II you compare the cost
York city, the difference is astonishing. believe
that the average price Of twelve or fifteen of the
rare that house costs more than that"
"But there is complaint made" Interrupted
the reporter, that persons OF moderate means
can't build here"
PERSONS OF MODERATE MEANS
81 don't think that such complaint is well
rounded" was the prompt response. "There is
no city where good house can be built for so
little money. This city Is not composed of rich
people. In fact, there is q large poor population
here. Yet, such a thing a tenement house is
unknown. 1t Is rare to find house occupied by
more than one family. Very good houses can be
rented for $12 month, and houses In q good
neighborhood, with all the modern improvements,
In conversation with an architect on this sub
1ect the reporter was told that:
I'm making plans we are compelled to consider
nrSt the cost IN drawing every line. We are thus
hampered in that elaborateness of detail which
while adding to the architectural beauty also adds
mildness OF the climate there is no necessity for
the massive walls. which are common In northern
cities, and that effects great saving. Then we
are saved from the expense of blasting rocks In
order TO build foundation walls"
"We are, however" he remarked more hone
pie will be willing to put more money into houses
than heretofore. The character OF our architec-
ture is improving all the time. and when the
houses already erected here are considered as to
their relative cost with that of houses of similar
character in other cities 1t makes q very good
II the same amount OF money Was expended the
result would simply be magnificent"
THE ACTIVITY IN SUBURBAN PROPERTY.
Recurring to the subject Of suburban property,
any one who rides along the crest OF the hills
overlooking the northwestern section OF the city
will see evidences that demonstrate the activity
now prevailing In suburban property All that
long stretch OF country from 18th street to the ex
tension OF Massachusetts, avenue upon Kalorama
heights Is showing signs Of Improvement The
e emu 1raet occupies the heights overlooking the
day IL Will be covered with residences.
WHAT MAY BE SEEN ON THE HEIGHTS.
II this Is the prediction, the facts can be easily
ascertained in one evenings drive. In crossing
Boundary street, at 18th, the visitor sees on the
right side an eminence crowned by grove of Old
oak trees Aglimpse can be obtained through the
trees Of an old mansion, which is known to the
old residents as the "Stone mansion" The march
OF modern Improvements is seen on all Sides
Where the lawn drives and fields Of the old estate
used to be, are roads newly made, and The squares
and lots of city subdivision. All the land lying
between 18th and 18th streets and Boundary and
Whitney avenue, which leads into the Soldiers
Home, comprising some 200 acres, is known now as
columbian Heights" 1t was subdivided by the
owners, Senator John Sherman and Mr. A L. Bar-
Der, some years ago, but recently large portion
OF 1t has been sold. The price paid It Is under
stool, was about IL cents a foot The uniform
that figure up to 80 cents according to the location
The city authorities have opened up and graded
and 1t is expected that 18th street viii also be-
opened up. The first street running east from
1ath is Clifton, dividing the land into squares.
The square south of Clifton street has a high
knoll which gently slopes down to 14th street.
and is adorned by noble gr owe OF oak trees
A. L BARRIERS HANDSOME RESIDENCE
In the center of the grove, and at the highest
point of the knoll workmen are engaged in exca-
waiting for foundation. Here Mr.. A. l. Barber
intends erecting handsome house. His lot
fronts 300 feet on 14th street and runs back 600
feet to 18th street The house Will front south nay-
ing commanding view OF the city and the Poto-
mae beyond 1t Is 10 be built of stone, which Mr..
fSa ner VIII bring , from his quarry on
granite, and when combined in the forms Of arch-
lecture OF modern villa residence will present
OF the house, as ntimate1 win be that of villa
residence, and will be- very elegant A tower orna-
ments the 'front.' and there win be balconies and
OF the house Is placed at $4,000 Mr.. Baroer
intends TO RETAIN as far as possible all the natural
beauty OF the site and there Will be winding drives
and walks amid the grove OF oaks and u green
lawn slipping down to 14th street. When COM
about the city.
PARKER AND TOwNsEND's SQUARE.
The lot at the corner OF Clifton and 18th streets,
in the square opposite Mr. Barber's place, which
is owned by Parker & Townsend, the real estate
dealers, has been sold to Mrs. Lippincott of Pila-
delphia. The price paid was so cents per foot,
Further up on Clifton street DR.. G. F. G.
Colburn is building a pretty cottage for
his own use. A number of lots
have been sold In this square, the sales during
the past two months aggregating between $4,000
and $S5 OOO lot near Dr. COlburn'S has been
sold to G. b. TOwles, who will build upon It,
AT Clifton and 18th streets stands the Old ..Srone
Mansion" an old fashioned country house, now
used as a boarding house. This has been pur-
chased by Gen. Nelson A. Miles, U. s. A. and he
intends TO remodel it for his own USE. 1t COM
mands fine view OF the city, and In order that he
might not be shut of, Gen. Miles has purchased
the land In front on the other side OF Clifton
street, and laid 1t out as q lawn.
Driving down 18th street you come to Roanoke
street, new street leading to 14th This divides
the Parker and Townsend square from the
square owned by John Sherman and others on
the latter square no houses have yet been built
although IT Is said that the owners intend to build
this fall three houses fronting Roanoke street
From this point to Whitney avenue the land is
divided on into squares. but with the exception OF
Capt Bakers house on Princeton street. as
yet no improvements have been made It is
thought that the Improvements are not far In the
future.