Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-04-18
rI,HE RATHER ELEVATED CONDITION

-OIHEh
VNHE RATHER ELEVATED CONDITION
IL OF the Thermometer during the past
few days has revived nature and at the
same time impaired some degree of ac-
tiyity to the real estate market Pleasant
weather is regarded by many dealers
important factor in making sales Of property
and this is considered to be especially true
when suburban property is to be sold. There
Is no great rush OF business either in city or
suburban property, but still the volume of
transactions is considerable and dealers are
kept occupied. An auctioneer, who sells good
deal Of real estate, told STAR man recently
that auction sales were well attended and that
good prices were being paid for property. He
seemed to look upon this fact as an indication
that there WIS plenty of money awaiting in
vestment Real estate dealers report good
many inquiries and some sales. They would.
however like to see a more active market The
season for suburban property may be said
TO be fairly opened and plans will
be adopted for beginning or carrying on
improvements which Will make the various
properties attractive and desirable for residence
purposes Reference has frequently been made
70 the extensive scale in which improvements
IN suburban subdivisions are made and it seems
likely that in addition to providing paved
streets and sidewalks, sewers and water supply
the practice of erecting houses for sale and rent
will probably become more general 1t is
thought that houses can be erected in the
suburbs and rented to advantage for the sum
mer season; and 10 Is said that there is a grow
ing demand for facilities OF this character. The
advantages OF Washington a summer resort in
comparison with other cities much farther
north are each year more and more thoroughly
appreciated. and IL Is argued that the attrac
tions of the adjacent country for a summer
residence will bear the test Of practical expert
ence. 1t is believed that if the accommodations
provided people will prefer spending the
summer neari the city to enduring the discom-
forts of the average summer resort with the at
tendant heavy outlay of money. At any rate
the suburbs will be apt to enter largely into the
consideration of plans for the summer which
viii now and later on be more or less discussed
in thetanaily circle.
The past month has witnessed considerable
actiyity in building operations. As compared
with March of last year the records of the
Office of the building inspector show an in
crease IN the number of permits issued during
the past month There has been an increase
in the amount that these new additions to the
buildings of tho city will cost, compared
with last March. of nearly a quarter Of a mil
hon of dollars If the same ratio Of increase
Is continued during the year the present season
will be one Of the most prosperous ever known
here.
PROFIT IN STREET PROPERTY.
A sale of street property has recently been
effected which will eventually result, it is ex-
expected. in the erection of another handsome
building. The property at the northeast cor
Der of 18th and F streets has been sold. through
Messrs- Pitney Bradford, real estate agents.
to Charles J. Coulter. Mr. Coulter represents
The firm which IS engaged so largely in the
manufacture Of Huyler's candies. They have
branch store in this city. which is in a leased
building on Peunsy lyania avenue near 18th
street. II the plans now under consideration
are carried out the firm will erect a handsome
hufstii1tC the R 18th aud u
which Will be especially adapted 10 their BUSH
ness The property has q frontage of over 20
feet on j street. with a depth of about So feet.
The price paid for the property was 800,
which is at the rate Of $500 per square foot.
As an indication of the appreciation In value in
this street. this sale is referredto ior the reason
that little less than year ago the owner,
Mr. sidney y Kent. paid for this property
S59.OOO- lie has. therefore. realized in that
time the handsome profit of s13. 800. Mr. Kent
Is only one Of many bright business men. who.
coming TO the city on a VISIT h:.ye quickly ap-
preciated Its RttraCtiyeness Us a resident city.
Such nen see also tine great promise of the
future and the lire chances for investment and
do not let the opportunity pass. MIR. Kent not
only made this investment in T street prop
erty. but he bought a lot on Massachusetts
avenue between l7:h and 18th streets and
erected there a handsome residence, which is
now his home.
Mr. PARKS RESIDENCE.
building site Mr.. Richard C. Park of Penn
sylyania during the past week bought TWO ac-
joining lots on the west side Of Connecticut ave.
nue. just south of 4 street. He paid $50 900 for
the ground, which has frontage of fifty feet
and extends back some 100 feet. 1t is his in
tention to improve this site by the erection Of
a handsome residence, which in the future will
be the home Of his family.
SUBURBAN RESIDENCE.
An attractive suburban 10 ba5,r
built on Binney street between 18th and 18th
streets by Mr.. William Harper. The design.
made by Mr.. W. Bruce Gray, architect, shows
an effective treatment. The exterior is en-
tirely covered with shingles, which will be
stained in artistic shades Curvlng lines pre-
dominate in the outlines of the building. they
appear IN the graceful gsmbrel roof and the
rounded projections. and then in the lines of
the porches- The two towers fanking the
front are connected by porch. which. SWELL
ing out, appears to be part of the house
rather than an after thought. The roof of the
porch, which forms an open balcony in
tho second story, is supported on
pillars, which are covered with shingles
There are porches on three sides of the house.
and the design gives n completeness and har-
moly TO the entire building which is very
pleasing As there will be lawns about the
house the soft outlines of the exterior and the
artistic colors which will be used viii form an
effective combination of art with nature. The
hupIe ground space mas gwen an opportunity
for building house which has the appearance
OF being roOmy without attaining the height
which the narrowuess of lots makes nee essary
In city house. The interior is simply ar
ranged. but the same IDEA prevails as is indi-
Gated in the design of the exterior. There will
be wide entrance hail, from which the various
rooms on the first floor will open. As there are
sewer and water facilities all the appointments
viii be those of city house.
Mr. FRAsEa's RESIDENCE
A house that is attracting a good deal of at
tention Is uihe.. one that is being built for Mr.
George Fraser at the corner OF 10th and X
streets. opposite the residence of Senator Saw
yer The design Is somewhat different from
anything that has been attempted here and
the full effect will be seen to better adv ntage
when the house Is completed. The architects
Messrs. HOrnblower < Marshall have IN the
general outlines followed the italian school Of
architecture, but in the treatment of "details
the stronger effect of tue Romanesque
has been employed The material used
II red brick and light colored
red stone. The stone forms the frieze
broad course between the two upper stories.
the porch, the projection and MARKS the OPEN
ings- The nearly square walls are unreiieved
by any projections, except one on the side ex-
tending through the first story. There is an
effective porch marking the entrance. which is
built Of stone and Is square. the roof being
supported by rows Of pillars with carved capi-
tails. peaked roof OF tile is finished in the
center with q square baiustrade of terra co1ta