Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-03-03
REAL ESTATE GOSSIP.
The Line of Connecticut Avenue
When Extended.
SOME RECENT PRICESOr CITY PROPERTY
The Spring Activity a Fact in
Spite of Wintry Storms.
NEW BUILDINGS GOING UP

The controversy which has been going on
for the past year or so over the extension
Of Connecticut avenue was practically set
tied during the past week, when the District
Commissioners attached their signatures to
the plat of the subdivision of what Is known
as the Phelps property. This tract of land
lies at the head Of Connecticut avenue on
the other side of Florida avenue, and. If
the extension Of Connecticut avenue was
made on its present lines. the avenue would
go directly through the property. In place
of making a straight extension, slight
detection OF the avenue at Florida avenue
was advocated, thus utilizing a portion Of
Columbia road as far a. lie Roy street
when there would be anothe: slight defec-
ton until the line Of the street known as
Connecticut avenue extended would be
reached, and then continuing along this
street UP to the point where the street
curves. when the proposed line of the ave-
nue. would continue along a straight course
to the head Of the present Woodley bridge
and then form a juncture with that section
of Connecticut avenue which is now ex-
tended to the District line
This proposed line is made a part of the
map of the extension Of streets in that sec
ton of the suburbs. The owners of the
Phelps property have dedicated q strip of
land along the west side of what Is now
Columbia road. which Is to form a part of
Connecticut avenue extended. The avenue
IL is proposed to continue at it's present
width. namely, 100 feet. This Is the width
Of the section west of Rock creek
This plan of extension involves two de-
Elections from the straight line-one at the
intersection of Florida avenue. and the
other where the extension will leave Column
bia road. 1t is claimed that these defiec-
tons are 50 slight as to be hardly noticed
and that the cost compared with the
straight extension Is much less. These con-
siderations, it is held, justify the deviation
IN this particular from the Uniform extern
sion Of the streets of the city. which 1t is
proposed to make under the street extension
bill which became a law last spring. 1t
will be necessary to condemn the land need
ed for this avenue. but as yet no positive
steps have been taken.
Some Recent Transfers.
The two transfers Of property which were
mentioned in The Star the other day in
volving a change Of ownership in the old
Jefferson Club House on the south side Of
II street between 14th and 18th streets. and
the property at the southwest corner OF 18th
and II streets, were what is technically
known as a trade. The owners Of the two
properties simply changed these holdings
with each other, and on this account the
consideration which was mentioned in both
instances does not have that importance in
its bearing on the value of the properties
as would have been the case IL they had
been regular sales. 1t Is always supposed
that each owner in a trade puts what val
uation he sees Mt OH his own property
However, basing an estimate of the values
upon the figures mentioned, 1t is found that
the club house property, which is 7Oxl3l
feet. and has building which Is Of value
was given a per foot value Of between $lI
and ST.. The other piece Of property has a
frontage of S IL feet on 18th street and
70 feet on HI street The Improvement
need not be considered. On the same ba SIS
the valuation Of this property is between
$14 and SIS per square foot.
Both or these properties are located in
sections which can no longer be garded
as residence sections. Business Is RAPIDLY in
vading these localities, and property wheth-
er occupied as residences or for business,
must be regarded as business property. As
TO the prevailing values of residence proper
", the recent sale OF the Shepherd house
at the corner OF Connecticut avenue and
ltth street and OF the Travers house at
the northeast corner Of 18th and l streets
has more significance. The former exclu-
sive of the improvements, is valued ACCORD
Ing to the price paid at the recent auction
sale at little over s. per foot, while the
latter property which was sold at private
sale, was valued. exclusive of improve
ments, at about $3.50 per square foot 1t ia
sometimes said that residence property and
In fact. the assertion is heard in regard TO
business property, that prices are high
hatever may be the opinion of the aIti-
tude 10 which prices have attained In this
city, there are many degrees of still higher
ascent before the prices of New York prop
Crty reached.