Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-09-01
REAL ESTATE GOSSIP
Some Important Changes in the
Building Regulations.
TO MEET MODERN REQUIREMENTS
The Sanitary Conditions of the City
Will Be Improved.
TIL E PYTHIAN CROWD
TO MEET MODERN REQUIREMENTS
I E PYTHIAN wD

great importance and as likely 70 con-
tribute. among other advantages 70 the
health OF the city, II Is not the only recent
change in the regulations which Will have
the same result As IL happened the tall
building regulation created a good deal Of
comment and was, In this way, made
widely known. Preceding the adoption Of
this regulation. the Commissioners within
the past month or so. have made several
changes which are calculated to improve
the sanitary condition of living In this city,
Perhaps the most important Of these re-
cent changes is the regulation which re-
Quires an area OF at least 100 square feet
either In the rear or at the side of a dwell
ing. As may be readily understood the
purpose Of this regulation Is TO put a stop to
the practice Of subdividing land into such ex-
tremely small building lots that require
almost the entire depth TO accommodate
even a small house, leaving no space I'm the
rear. Unless light and air Is secured from
the open space of the abutting yard, the 90
cupants OF such houses are compelled 20
live IN badly lighted and badly-ventilsted
rooms. The practice OF subdividing corner
lots into small lots Of this description has
been followed to some extent In this city,
There are instances where a man owning y
corner lot with a frontage of twenty-five OF
thirty feet and a depth of one hundred feet
five small lots. each having a frontage OF
twenty feet and q depth of twenty-five CT
thirty feet. II the abutting properly is un-
proved the owner has q right to 30. car~
rying the wall OF his house along the entire
line Of his property. It Is evident that the
rear outlook Of the houses on the trans
formed corner lot Is limited TO an extreme
ly close proximity to q blank wall From
such q contracted area way IL IL. highly
improbable that very much IN the way OF
fresh air or of light can come.
Narrow Lota and Streets.
There is another recent change which 10
In the same lire and prevents the suedi-
vision OF land into small lots by fixing the
standard for the minimum frontage. This
provision prohibits the erection Of houses on
lots which are less thar sixteen feet front
and also provides that there shall be q
reasonable depth. Another charge which
has been mere or less discussed is intended
to give a more generous width 10 streets In
Georgetown ard I'm the county than the
original surveyors Of the streets allowed
1t is nov unlawful for q citizen In these
sections to put a projection on a house
which fronts on a street which Is sixty feet
or less In width. OF course, IL the house 10
set back from the street so that the width
is increased a projection Will be allowed.
This regulation was not made TO apply TO
the city of Washington. for the reason that
most of the streets within the city limits
sixty feet or less in width are practically
built up. and IL was thought that Il would
he an unfair discrimination TO make this
change apply TO the few remaining vacant
lots.
The building regulations. as may be judged
from what has already be done, are being
carefully gone over by the Commissioners,
especially by Col Truesdell, in whose de-
partment this matter properly comes He
has found that this city is not up with
some other cities in this country and is way
behind most European cities in the line OF
building regulations. especially those which
are calculated TO improve the sanitary con-
dition of the city. Ii is said that In the
Of tai hllil hal he
lation, which has just gone into effect here.
is much more liberal than those which are
In force in a number Of the prominent cities
of Europe. Col Truesdell believes that q
great deal can be done TO improve the pres
ent building regulations. He regrets the
lack of money to employ a sufficient corps
of inspectors. The regulations in regard to
the material used and the style of con-
structlon of houses are regarded not up
to date. 1t is probable that important
changes will be made In the future In the
building regulations which will tend 10 i'm
prove not only the sanitary condition OF
Washington dwellings. but lessen the danger
from fire.
Money Put I'm Circulation.
During the past week the streets Of this
city have presented an active busting ap-
pearance. II was not exactly a business
activity, but Il was remarkable that so
much animation could be displayed at this
season OF the year. On one or two of the
evenings the avenue reminded one OF the
scenes made familiar when the inaugura-
ton throngs occupy the broad expanse q
that great thoroughfare. There are. a
course. only estimates as to the number a.
people who came 10 the city. IL is fair to
assume that a calculation. which would
place the total number of visitors includ-
ing the knights. at 10000. would not be far
out Of the way. II this is correct and sup
posing that each OF the strangers spent
$40 while here. the snug sum OF s4oocv
ha m n In NJ nn huh
this money will be very generally distrib-
uted In the course OF q few days. Perhaps
some may look upon this estimate as too
large but Il is only an estimate and Il can
ment OF the reader may suggest. At any
rate q good deal OF money has changed
hands and In addition large number of
people have enjoyed their visit TO WASH
ington and no doubt have been pleased
with the city. These pleasant Impressions
generally diffused among the constituents
legislators for this city. win have a bene-
flcial influence when District legislation
| is pending In Congress.
A Flat Building.
An apartment house Is TO be built By
Robert Portner at the corner Of Virginia
avenue and 9TH street southwest, from
plans prepared by c. A. Didden. II viii
have a frontage OF 103 on 9TH street and
20 feet on the avenue. There Will be four
stories and the walls will be built OF brick
and brown stone. The FIRST floor will be
used for stores and there will be twelve
suites Of apartments.
Some New Houses
Plans have been prepared by George 8
Cooper. architect for a block Of eleven
houses. which Hobbs Bros. will build on
florida avenue between LIST and North Cap
itol streets northwest. They are 10 be two
Ltories In height 16xss feet each. and with
-
stone.
A two-story residence. to be erected at the
corner Of Oak and Center streets, Mount
Pleasant. has been planned by 7. NJ. Hais-
lip. architect. The front will be OF press
brick with brown-stone trimmings
Three houses will be built by +. H. Smith
on NJ street between 18th and 10th streets
Democrats Of Delaware Tuesday nomi.