Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-10-06
The Interest in the Recent Transac-
ton in F Street Property.
4 CONTEMPLATED IMPROVEMENT
Some Reasons Why People Prefer
New Rather Than Old Houses.
NEW BUILDINGS GOING UP

property at the northwest corner Of 10th
and + streets. which was made during the
past week, excited considerable attention In
real estate circles. The interest I'm such a
transaction, apart from the prospective
Improvement which such a purchase i'm
plies. and which will, no doubt, result in
this case, lies mainly in the price which
was obtained. AS the transfer of this prop
erty was the result of a trade made by
Mr.. Rudolf Goldschmid and the heirs of
Dr. Howard, the owners Of the property, II
is difficult to estimate the exact cash valve
which the property represented in the trans
action. Mr. Goldschmid gave in exchange
the houses 1912 New Hampshire avenue
and 1l20 10th street. The price which is
said was allowed for the F street corner
vas $4,000. 1t is understood. however, that
recently the owners OF the property have
offered 1t for $4,000. and. granting that
they secured the latter consideration In the
trade, the property would stand as having
been sold for about $SS per square foot.
As an indication Of the current values Of
street property this sale possesses some
interest Owing to its dimensions, how
ever. 1t cannot be classed as a typical piece
Of property. The frontage Is only 10 feet
IL inches by a depth OF Il feet to q four
foot alley. The total area is only 1,163
square feet. SO that. as may be seen. It 10
rather an exceptional piece OF property.
standard lot which In this city is 100 feet.
the rate paid for this property at the price
assumed was about S2T per square foot In
this view Of 1t, 1t cannot be said that F
street property has deprecated very much
in value although of course the prices
which were obtained during the rather
boomy period Of 1880 and 1891 rather ex-
ceeded that figure.
Some Notable TransactiOns.
The property at the northwest corner Of
18th and F streets, which has still smaller
dimensions. being only 10 by IS feet. was
sold in 1890 for SIS per foot. II the depth
had been that of the standard the per foot
price would have been $50. Including what
was paid for the lease on the building, the
figure named was still further enhanced
to $50 per square foot. The adjoining build
ing was bought at tho same time and the
combined propertiea, having the dimensions
Of S3 by 55 feet, and including what was
paid for the leases, cost SOC per square foot.
In the same year the northeast corner of
18th and F streets. 20 by 30, was sold for
$3S per square foot; the southeast corner Of
18th and streets. 10 IL by 30 feet, for So
Of 18th and streets, % by 65 feet, for $50
per square foot. There have been, of
course, other transactions in F street prop
erty since that time. but those mentioned
notable transactions.
1t is stated that about two years ago $75,-
900 was offered to the owners OF the prop
erty at the corner Of 10th and F streets.
which was refused. as the price then asked
was $4,000. At that time the corner piece
was desired by some capitalists. who pro-
posed to erect a building covering that site
as we'll as the adjoining ground to the west
occupied by the Equitable building and the
store formerly owned by Mr.. Goldschmid.
Their plans, however. were not carried out.
Since that time the Goldschmid building
has been taken as a part of the great es-
Enlistment Of Woodward & Lothrop. 1t is
surmised that this recent change in the
ownership Of the corner property may re-
suit in a stu further enlargement Of the
building occupied by the Boston store.
Why New Houses Are Popular.
The tendency on the part Of that por-
ton Of the public who rent houses to Sc
cure new houses rather than those that
have been built for some time is a notice
able feature Of the rental department Of
The real estate business. 1t Is quite COM
mon for some families to move. having no
other reason than the expectation OF &C.
cupying a new house. In talking about this
preference for new houses. q man who
owns and rents good many houses said
the other day that 1t was not at all sur
prising to him that people were glad to get
out of an old house, or that they preferred
to rent house just built rather than one
th6t haQ been occupied Tor some years.
In the first place, he said, when q tenant
leaves a house 1t Is not common for him to
leave 1t in a specially slightly condition.
The floors are dusty and Uttered up the
walls are soiled and perhaps broken, and
there is a general air OF desolation common
to house recently vacated. On the con-
trary. he said, a new house Is fresh and
bright and clean and looks attractive even
when unfurnished. There is no reason, he
said, why an old house should not present
almost a similar appearance
Il always make 1t a practice" he went
on, "as soon as a tenant leaves one of my
houses to have 1t thoroughly cleaned and
put in repair. / renew the paper where 1t
is needed, put a fresh coat of paint out
side and inside II find IT necessary, SO
that when the prospective tenants come to
look through the house they are attracted
by the cleanness and neatness OF its APP
pearance. More Importance Is attached to
these features than the average owner of
property has any idea of. The first i'm
pressions on entering a house, whether It
Is occupied or unoccupfed, are apt to be
the lasting ones, and hence the Importance
Of having 1t In perfect condition I ven
ture to say that If this was done we would
hear less talk about people preferring new
houses to old. OF course, 1 do not mean to
include In the latter term houses which have
been built so many years that they are not
equipped with the modern improvements
OF course, such structures, II they are al
lowed to remain in that condition, nat
urally suffer from the competition with
new rivals to the favor Of those desiring
homes.'
A Large Residence.