Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-07-08
REAL ESTATE GOSSIP.
The Coming Session Of Congress En-
ivens the Market,
G STREET IMPROVEMENT.
Business in tho Real Estate Omces IL More
Active-The Demand for Houses to Rent
Increase in tho Practice Of Building
Houses in Rows.


Houses in Rows.
the early session Of Congress in the business
world. 1t is evident already that the call Of the
President for the meeting Of that body on the
7th Of August is imparting degree Of activity
to the rental market here for houses that has
never been known before at this season Of the
year. Dealers find that the demand for houses
has reached proportions that would make them
think they were in September il the condition
Of the thermometer did not remind them SC
forcibly Of the real time Of the year. However,
they are glad, and SO are house owners, that
property for rental purposes il again in demand
and that the prospects for better business are
encouraging.
The early session will affect all classes Of
business in this city. Is the summer holiday for
great many will be brought to an unusually
early close and they will come back to the city
the latter part of the month and open their
houses. II the coming Of Congress in August
is to bring people back in any large numbers
this city this season.
AN AMPLE bUtPLI OE dOUoES.
Those who select their houses now will have
the pick Of the market, as there are probably
more houses for rent just now than has been
the case for several years past At this time
Of the year the rent lists in the offices Of the
real estate brokers are apt to be large, but it
is said that this year there seems to be q
greater number Of houses vacant than ever
before. This condition 10 attributed by some
to the change Of administration and the oon-
sequent change In the personnel Of the offices.
The new men, it Ia said, have not fixed upon q
location for their families, while the houses
occupied by the retiring officials are left va
can't No doubt the political changes may have
had some influence, yet there is no question
but that the great activity In building during
the fiscal year just closed and the preceding
year has been the main factor in the present
condition of the rental market, and also &C.
counts for the long list Of houses for sale.
SIX THOUSAND HOUSES.
As has been stated in this column, An unpre-
cedsnted number Of houses were built in this
CITY during the year ended July. 1892 The
record show that in that period nearly 1000
residences were added to tho number erected in
this city. Last year, or rather during the year
which has just closed, the number Of houses put
up fell behind the record of the previous year
only by some 200 houses Dnring the past two
years nearly 5000 houses have been built, in
volvfng an expenditure Of about &18, 900 900.
1t is not believed that the building has been
excessive, as the growth Of the population and
the demand for more room has justified CON-
servative investors In putting their money in
brick and mortar. There is always q certain
class OF people who will move out Of an old
house in order to live in a brand new house, and
therefore it is not surprising that in view Of the
active building and the partially Of people for
new houses well as other conditions that the
rent list and the lists Of houses for sale should
be rather longer than in an ordinary year.
HOUSES IN ROWE
The recent rapid development Of the city
shows some new phases, and perhaps the most
marked, because 1t indicates in q certain way
new departure, is the practice which is now SO
general Of building houses In rows. A few
years ago it was unusual for . man who was
building for investment and not for the use Of
his fsmily to erectmor than one or perhaps two
houses in one locality. The result was that
the houses erected had the individual air and
variety OF design which necessarily is largely
lacking in row designed by one architect
Now. however, owing to the rapid increase of
population and also to the value of building
sites. houses are put up by the hundred feet.
Building Is less expensive when carried ON in
this way, and of course the individual can do
more with $4,000 or SIC, 600 when he buys Q
house than when he attempts to secure a lot
and build u house. 1t may not have much Of a
back yard, and the finish may not be of the best,
but then it il apt to be in a good locality, and
the front is pretty certain to be Of stone and
there are cabinet msntels, electric bells and
other devices which are snowy.
1t must be said to the credit Of the men who
build houses to sell that they have recognized
the advantage Of introducing much variety
as possible in the design of n row Of houses. and
SO this city is saved to . large extent from the
disfguring ugliness of rows of houses that look
like nothing SO much in the world as an enorm-
GUS dry goods box set up OH end.
O STREET IMPROVEMENT.
A business change Of some consequence Is to
be made on G street. as the large building. or
rather the two old-fashioned houses, 141O and
1412.are to be remodeled into an office building.
Foc number OF years past, in fact practically
ever since the houses ceased to be private resi-
dences. they have been used as annex to the
Riggs House. They have sheltered in their
time good many statesmen Of more or less
prominence The late s. S. Cox made his home
in one of these houses for several years. and in
fact the leisure hours of q number of well
known men in public and private life has been
spent within these walls.
But now the property has become too valu-
able to provide merely place where men can
sleep. Where men make money is where they
are apt to spend money. and as the building
promises larger returns when adapted for office
purposes it is the intention of Rev. DR.. Hall, the
former rector Of Epiphany Church, and Mr.
Ames, the owners. to remodel the building A
new front will be built and through the center
wide hall will be provided, which will extend
through a back building one story high, to be
built. There will be Office rooms in the back
building, but arranged on q rather novel plan,
as they receive light and air from the center
court or hall. which will be covered with glass
The only business Office in the building now is
that Of Mr.. John b. Wight. and he will occuov
an Office in the adjoining building pending the
repairs.
TO SAVE SPACE.
An Office building with an addition in the rear
of u similar character is on 14th street. In this
case, however, there is q tier Of offices on the
second floor, which are reached by means Of a
gallery running around the court. Tho light
and air comes from this court This arrange
nent makes 1t possible to utilize deep inside
lot In an economical manner, - there need
be no space wasted in the effort to secure neces-
sary light, rs that comes from the large sky-
light over the central hall or court.
RECORD FOR THE WEEK.
The total number of permits for new dwell
ings issued for the week ending yesterday was
twenty-one, costing in the aggregate S64, 400
or this amount the northwest is credited with
three permits. the estimated aggregate cost Of
which is placed at $4,000: the southwest with
seven permits, costing $1,000; the northeast
with one at 5,000 the southeast with three at
$500 and the county with seven, costing
$4,000.