Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-12-29

Pians have been prepared for an apartment
house in this city which viii be one Of the
handsomest ever erected here. Several weeks
ago mention was made of the visit to this city
of Messrs. +. @. Newlands and F. W. Sharon,
OF San Francisco, the trustees of the estate OF
the late ex-senator Sharon. The object of
their visit was to inspect the property in this
city owned by the estate, with the view of max
ing improvements. The property in valued at
about three-quarters of million of dollars II
Is all located in the northwestern part Of the
city. and consists almost entirely of unim-
proved lots. They were accompanied by Bruce
| Price. New York architect, and. in accordance
with instructions received from the trustees
he has completed the sketch plans of
| an apartment house which will be To-
Gated on the south side of Massachusetts,
avenue, between 18th and 18th streets The
ground has frontage of eighty-four feet and
isseparated from the Force school building by an
alley. The structure will occupy the entire lot
and will be six or seven stories in height One
OF the features of the building will be an in
terror court, into which carriages can be driven
through covered passage-way. The first
hoor will be occupied with the parlor recep-
tion-rooms, and dining-rooms for guests, chfl-
dren, and nurses and servants The upper
floors will be arranged in suites Of from three
to eight rooms. The details Of the building
|
probable that the front will be of stone. II is
estimated that the cost of the building will be
about 5000 The exterior, as well as the in
terror, will be after the most approved models
and the building is intended to Be an ornament
| to that section of the city, where many fine
residences are now built
The erection of this building forms only q
part OF the comprehensive plan of improve
ments which the trustees have in contempla-
| ton. They propose to erect number of resi-
| dpncpS A NJ IuJo
| the whole or nearly the whole of squares ISL
| 153 and 156, besides a block of lots near the
late Mrs. Patterns residence, on P street. near
2lst street. and in other localities. Mr.. Sharon
| acquired this property some five or six years
ago in the settlement of the estate of the late
| Judge Sunderland. In connection with John
| b. Alley, MIR. Sharon purchased nearly the
whole of the large real estate interests held by
Judge Sunderland. The property has been in
| charge Of Thos. ]. Fisher Co., the agents Of
| MIR. Sharon, and it was after consultation with
/ them that the trustees decided to begin the
work of improvement.
| REAL ESTATE AND THE HOLIDAYS
The Christmas holiday has been observed
fully by those who help to make the real estate
market lively. The dealers find that bargains
in Christmas goods more than in real estate
absorb the attention of the public: No one
| favor OF Christmas. 1t is an annual occur
renee and, therefore, entirely expected. The
| prospect for the future is 80 encouraging that
| the festivities of the season no doubt en-
| joyed with hearty Zest. Those interested in
the building trade as well as those who are in
terested in real estate look forward to a period
| of renewed prosperity. The great throngs of
visitors from all parts of the country that will
come here during the next year, the attrac-
| tons OF the city as well as the natural growth
of the population, are all reasons for believing
that Washington will soon enjoy healthy
| 'boom."
| THE CHEAPNEss OF WASHINGTON PROPERTY
Slight years ago." remarked John A. Pres
colt, the real estate broker, whom a STAR re-
porter happened to find in reminiscent mood,
ground in this city which sold for fifteen cents
| foot is now selling for % per foot. At pres
| ent desirable building sites are held at
still higher figure and yet, sometimes, people
talk to me about property being high in this
| city. tell them they are mistaken. The rates
| are certainly greater than few years ago, and
values have advanced. A few years hence
| there will be still further advance Com
pared with property similarly located in other
cities prices are low here. Ground is cheap
You pay two or three dollars foot for ground
| to-day and in a few years it will no doubt be
four or five dollars per foot. As the city fills
up, building sites become more expensive.
With the growth of population there is an in
| crease in the business of the city and an expan-
sion out from the business center. Residence
| streets are given up to stores and Offices, and
| ground advances in value. II the city il going
| to stand still there is of course no future for
property. But the city is growing rapidly and
| anyone can see that it is going to be a great
center of population. There is every indica-
pose that land is going to increase in value.
| 1t has done so in the past and guess the same
rule will hold good for the future"
| THE WESTERN SUBURBS.
During the past month";" observed Mr. Jno
E. Beall, of the firm of Beall, Brown Il Co., Il
have sold a number of lots in the vicinity of
| Dupont Circle In nearly every case Ibelieve
the sales were made to prospective house build
| ers. There has also been some movement in
| Belair Heights property, and a number of lots
| have changed hands. We were in hopes that
| the Commissioners would be willing to spend
some money in curbing and laying sidewalks
| along Massachusetts avenue, which Is extended
| through kalorama and Belair Heights. There
| ought 20 be a water main laid. and other i'm
provements made by the city. There has been
| large expenditure of money in this locality
| by the owners of the property. The enterprise
| displayed is unexampled. and it seems that the
| Commissioners ought to encourage such men.
| Until within the past few months this property
has been taxed as agricultural land. Now, in
/ consequence of the subdivision into city lots
| and the Improvements made, the amount of
taxes derived from the same property has
/ greatly increased. OF course, nothing can
| check the growth of the city in this direction
and the improvements which the property
| OWNERS nave petltlOned Tor are bound to be
| made. and that too, at no distant day."
| In regard to the prospects of property along
| the Tenleytown road. Mr.. Beall. who is largely
Interested in that section, said that the building
| of the proposed street railway along the Ten
leytown road would be of great advantage I'VE
| have asked Congress" he added. Ito amend the
| charter of the company so that the tracks can
| be laid in the middle of the road instead of at
one side, as the charter at present authorizes
/ have no doubt this will be done by Congress
| and then the road will be built at once as the
| money needed has been all subscribed"
| BUILDING AT BRooKLAND
Mr.. A. NJ. McLachlen, of the firm of McLach-
len d Batchelder, told a STAR reporter that
| they had great many inquiries in regard to
| property along 14th street extended He said
| that lots were wanted for building sites, and
from present indications he thought that there
| would be good deal Of building in the spring,
not only in that locality but throughout the
| city and the suburbs
We are selling good many lots in the SUBJ
| division of Brookland." he continued 1.-THE
| work OF grading the streets is going on and
sidewalks are being laid. In the spring 800
trees viii be planted, which with those already
planted VIII give this new subdivision hand
some appearance. Central avenue is being
opened through Brookland, which will furnish
| an additional outlet and direct commupica-
ton with Lincoln avenue by the attractive
country residence Of Mrs. Kate Chase Sprague, :"
| "A number OF houses are now in course of
erection" he went on, land estimates are being
received for others which will probably be