Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-10-17
REAL ESTATE GOSSIP.
A Large Owner of r Street Property Adds to
His Holdings.


His Holdings
THE LARGEST INDIVIDUAL OWNER OF
Il street property is Mr.. C. c. Willard. His
holdings have not been acquired by few large
purchases, but by long series, extending from
the time when r street was almost entirely q
residence street to the present.
He has paid all sorts Of prices. He has seen
tn c time when s2 per square foot was regarded
as high figure and he has heard without as
ton;shment that s65 per foot has been paid.
During the years represented b. the interval
between these figures he has seen the city grow
in population and in wealth. He has witnessed
D development In the business interests Of the
city that is simply astonishing, especially ia
view Of the well nigh universal opinion that
has prevailed up to comparatively recent
date tina: the town would not support large
commercial houses he has been an eyewitness
to transformation that has turned an entire
section OF the city occupied by residences into
q busy business center. Amid all these changes
there has been one unchnnsing feature, and
that is the prices Of property have constantly
been on the increase. The prices paid by AIR.
Willard for his holdings would represent pretty
well this development. He owns the entire
south frontage OF the square from 18Th to l4t
streets and about hall way down the block on
both Of the above named streets. There is,
however. one break in the frontage aud that is
the narrow old-tashioned brick building ad-
joining the Ebbit. House, which belongs to Mr..
Joseph Willard. Until within few days ago
there was another gap in his holdings which
is occupied by tho building 1912 + street. This
property belonged to q lady in Brooklyn. Re
Gently, through her agents. Thomas 5. Fisher
4 Co., she sold it to Mr.Wiilard, the considera-
ton being S85, 600. 1t lie only q plain three
story brick house. and hiss been the office and
home for number Of years past OF Mr.. Z. 3.
wight, the newspaper correspondent But
owing to its location this MODEST house brought
price which the owners of elegant residences
in the fashionable section o. the city would be
glad to get for their property. Az Mr..
Wizard Is known as I conservative investor
the price may be regErocd as q pretty good in
dication of the value of tie property. 1t las
frontage OF IS feet 1l1S inches, tho lot ex-
tending back to depth of lco feet, The price
paid was about S25 per foot The purchase also in
cluded IN abuttiDg back 10: 59x36 feet with q 80
foot alley on the rear and side and the consid-
Grafton paid Cor this part was about &l0 per
foot. 1t Is the intention Of Mr.. Willard to
make such changes in the property as will adapt
IL to business purposes.
GEN. YLAoIER's PURCHASE.
During the past week u deed was placed on
record transferring to Gen. D. W. Flagler, U. 6.
A., a building site on California avenue, Wash.
ington Heights. Gen. Fiagier has recently
y,
pointed chief Of ordnance. Like other men
who know anything about Washington real
estate he has decided to own his own home,
and in the near future he contempiates build.
ing handsome house on the ground which he
has just purchased. The location IL beyond
the bounds Of the city and is in what may be
called the suburbs. But it 10 SO near the city
that the residents enjoy all the couveniences Of
city and do not consider that they live in the
country. The spacious lots afford plenty Of room
about the house for lawns and in this respect
they regard themselves as more fortunately
located than the residents Of the city Gen
flaglers lot has frontage Of 81 feet and q
depth OF $50 teet, and al he paid Sl6 800 for the
lot the rate per square foot was not quite 81.
HoLMEAD MANOR ADDITION.
A new subdivision has recently been re-
corded. 1t comprises some fourteen acres,
which will be an addition to the subdivision
known as Holmead Manor. This latter prop
erty fronts on Whitney avenue just east OF l4th
street and 10 being built up. The addition ex-
tends the subdivision from Whitney avenue back
TO Spring road The trustees Of the property
have donated . strip of land fifteen feet in
width for the purpose Of widening Spring road
the intention being to make it boulevard be-
tween the Soldiers Home and the Rock Greek
Park.
NEW HOTEL BUILDING.
The work OF laying the foundation Of large
hotel has begun. The new building will be
located on the Metropolitan Branch Of the
Baltimore and Ohio railroad at Takoma. It
will be three-story, attic aud basement
structure OF handsome design, having q 'front.'
age OF 2OO feet A tower projection at the
corner will extend to q height OF rs feet. This
enterprise has been undertaken by the Takoma
Springs Company, and the new building will
be located in q tract Of ten acres resr the
springs