Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-12-27
REAL ESTATE GOSSIP.
The Future of Property ON Pennsylvania
Avenue.

REAL ESTATE GOSSIP.
The Future of Property ON Pennsylvania
Avenue.
GALES OF PROPERTY on Pennsylvania ave-
onue arc not frequent, and on this account it
is rather difficult to keep posted as 20 values.
Once and awhile, was the case the
other day. piece of property is sold. In this
instance the property at the northwest corner
of Pennsylvania avenue and 9th street changed
hands. The frontage on the avenue is 391 feet
and the depth 80 feet. The price paid was
slS per foot. When compared with sG5 per
foot. which was recently paid for a corner
property on T street, or S48 per foot for the
Vernon building at 10th and the avenue this
price seems TO be rather moderate for good
corner property on PennsylS ania avenue. 1t
is undoubtedly lower than the property would
have brought some years ago. But then the
character of that part of the avenue has
changed. As a property owner and business
in that vicinity said not long ago:
Below 18th street the scale of prices for prop
erty decreases about IS foot each square as
You 20 toward the Capitol"
1t seems as if the newer business sections of
the city are outstripping the avenue in the
competition for trade. A great many real
estate dealers anu Otners talk lnal way ana
there is no doubt something in the present
situation to Justify these conclusions. That
portion of the avenue near the Capitol grounds
especially has the appearance of being down
at the heel while on other blocks. which look
more prosperous. there is an absence Of those
smart-looking new buildings which are the
feature of other business sections of the city.
VIEWS OF BUSINESS MAN.
As another avenue merchant said recently:
I'VE have accommodations in our building to
do so much business and no more. There
is no room for growth and expansion ex-
cept in a very limited way. The reason
WHY the avenue has not kept pace
with the development of the business of
the city Is III great measure found In the fact
that the property is held by estates or by peo-
pie who depend on their holdings for in
come. Many of them have been getting very
good rental for their property for a number of
years past and they are satisfied. They are UNI
willing to spend money on the chance of max
ing more money. 50 they refuse to make alter
atiOns They are unwilling to sell. They decline
to tear down and rebuild. The buildings
erected forty or fifty years ago still do duty and
comparatively few modern improvements have
been made. During the past quarter Of ceI:-
fury there il perhaps no street in the city that
has undergone so few changes a. Pennsylvania
avenue. Large business houses once on the
avenue have removed to + street. for the rea-
sOn mainly that they are able to secure greater
floor space and better facilities.
I'm the judgment Of some people. he con-
tinued. such facts indicate the decay of Penn
sylvania avenue ~ n business street and its
abandonment in the near future. have a diff
ferent view OF the future of the avenue. 1t
will always be one of the principal, il not the
principal. thCrOughfares of the city. it. loca-
ton with reference to the leading points of in
terest in the city will insure that. l believe.
also. that its buildings and business establish
ments will be equal to any i'll the city. There
are some fine buildings there now. modern and
well adapted for business purposes. The num-
Der OF these buildings will be increased Owners
of property will lnd that ii is to their interest
TO provide modern. well-equipped buildings for
their tenants. Avenue property viii perhaps
change hands more frequently than it has in
the past. and that will hasten the movement.
Not long ago large owner of avenue property
died. His holdings were sold at public sale
to settle the affairs of the estate. Several pieces
were located ON the south side of the avenue
between 9th and 10th streets. Since that time
those properties have been Handsomely i'm
proved and fine groap of business buildings
now occupy the site OF old tumble-down build
ings. All these new buildings were not built
on this property, but the movement was started
and it spread; that was all. People that talk
about the avenue becoming a by-street will dis
cover their mistake. There Is no doubt that
the entire south side. or at least great portion
of il. will one dav be occupied by public build
palaces Of trade"
GOOD PLUMBING REQUIRED.
There is no feature about the construction of
a city house that is of more vital Importance
than honest, intelligent plumbing. This is
recognized by the regulations made in regard
to the inspection OF plumbing. not only il. this
city but in other cities. These regulations are
very complete. and an inspector OF plumbing
with assistants. Is employed under the direction
of the city government t. see that the law is
carried out. The regulations provide that the
trenches where the pipes are laid connecting
the plumbing in the house with the sewer In the
street cannot be covered up until they have
been inspected by the proper official of the
District. 1t Is required that each opening in
the house be provided with ventiating pipe
that is carried up through the roof. In
this way the gas. instead of escaping
through the traps into the house. has an
outlet provided 10 the open air. There is no
doubt that the enforcement of these and other
regulations contribute materially to the health
of the city. There are other sanitary regula-
lions which are in force here and the whole
makes an admirable code, which is no doubt
largely instrumental in its practical application
in preventing the breaking out here of cpl
denies of the so-called filth diseases" These
regulations have been supplemented by the law
designed to prevent the spread of scarlet fever
and typhoid fever. The new law requires such
cases to be promptly reported to the health
officer so that the proper precautions can be
adopted to prevent the spread of diseases.
A SQUARE IN THE NORTHEAST.
Recently the whole square between d and E.
18th and 18th streets northeast, was sold by
Wright Stockett, assisted by McLachlen Il
Batchelder, for SD. 0O0 to a syndicate. There
il. il is stated, a steady demand for northeast
THE PRESIDENT AND THE FAIR