Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-09-28
REAL ESTATE GOSSIP
The Next Step in Executing the
Street Extension Law.
EXPENDITURE OF TEE MONEY
Vacant Lot Nuisance and the Use
of Colored Brick.
SOME IMP ROVEMENTS

Property holders as well as those inter-
ested in District affairs are looking forward
with intense interest to the next step in the
execution of the street extension law. An
application has already been made by the
Commissioners of the District to the court
asking for the condemnation Of a perma-
nent right Of way for the public over the
land lying within certain subdivisions in the
first map Of the street extension plan.
The law provides that the court shall al
low reasonable time for the cause to be
heard and the appointment Of jury to de-
termine the amount Of damages well as
the benefits to the property holder. 1t is
further stipulated in the law that in the
event Congress does not make an appropria-
ton for the payment of such award within
the period of six months, Congress being in
session for that time after such award, or
for the period Of six months after the meet
ing of the next session of Congress, the pro-
ceedings shall be void and the land shall re-
vert to the owners.
1t is supposed that the money needed to
secure the title to land required for streets
will be raised in the manner proposed at the
last session Of Congress. namely, by an
issue of District bonds. AS will be remem-
bered, the proposed issue provided not only
for the payments of a portion of the ex-
penses incurred under the street extension
law, but also the funds to carry out the
very necessary system of sewer extension.
The proposed issue was about 81, 500, 600,
and one Of the features of the bill which
was criticised was the large area of dis
erection allowed the Commissioners in the
expenditure Of the money that would be OBJ
tanned from this loan. 1t seems to be the
opinion that the form of the bill will be ma.
terially changed in this particular. In this,
as well as in other respects, it is believed
the law will be carried out in accordance
with the best interests Of the District.
Nafsance of Vacant Lots.
At this time of the year no doubt a good
many residents of the city, especially those
whose homes adjoin or are in the vicinity
of vacant lots are of the opinion that Con.
gress could enact some legislation which
would be in the interest of the health Of the
community. As is well known, unimproved
lots are allowed to get into a neglected con-
dition, the grass and weeds reaching a rank
height, only to become deeaytng mass and
catch-all for great deal of the refuse OF
the neighborhood. Under the heat of the sun
during the fall months such places become
nuisance, as well as an eye-sore. If there
is any regulation or law which compelS
owners of such property to keep 1t in or
der, that law or regulation is not enforced.
Now that the law has been SO changed
compelled to keep the sidewalks from snow
and dirt. 1t is hoped that something can be
done, so as to bring about a more slightly
condition OF the lots themselves.
COIOrs I'm Brick.
Brick of various shades are now SO e1.
tensively used in building that they may be
said to form quite an important factor in
the list Of materials used for building pur-
poses. The supremacy of red brick as Q
building material has been recognized here
for a good many years. Sometime ago 1t
was thought the front Of a house was i'm
1t is considered that house is more valu-
able in proportion to the amount of stone
that is used in its construction. In spite Of
fashion, however, red brick still held its
own pretty well as building material but
now the colored varieties Of baked clay
have come into the market and are making
extensive inroads upon the domain Of red
brick.
The new claimants have also the adj
vantage Of the sanction Of fashion, and
that is quite important sometimes in de-
termintng the vogue of building material
as of a dress fabric. There is one thing,
however, about the use Of light brick and
that is 1t presupposes some Idea of color on
the part of the architect or builder and the
adoption Of color scheme which will
neither dazzle the eyes of the passer-by nor
brighten the horses. 1t is unnecessary to
say that the designers Of buildings who
use colored brick are not always successful
in avoiding these extremes.
The Building Record.
This weeks building record shows slight
improvement. During that period a total
of twenty-six permits were granted, aggre-
eating in cost $1C9 $50. This was divided
among the several sections as follows:
Northwest, 20 permits. $4,000; southwest,
permits, $2.O50; northeast, permit, $1,000:
southeast, 1 permit, S1,20O; county, 2 per-
mits, $2,6e0.
Some improvements.
Edward A. Mosley is building at lib 10th
street northwest a handsome three-story
stone-and- brick dwelling. The plans were
made by F. L. Montague and show a house
with a frontage of Is feet with a depth Of
81 feet. Indiana lime stone and red brick /
will constitute the front, which latter will
be relieved by an octagonal bay window. ;.
A row of eleven brick-and-stone dwellings
will shortly be erected from 1921 to 1341
Columbia Avenue Heights by Barr & San
feet by different depths, ranging from Al
feet inches to As feet. They will be three
stories high, with Easements. The fronts
will be of press brick, with HUMMELSHINE,
trimmings. b. Stanley Simmons is the
architect.
Brooks Carson is erecting from 1904 to
3!06 Madison and from 900 to 2J9S 35th
street a row of eight two-story and cellar
brick dwellings,. B. s. Simmons & Co. are
the architects end B. G. Hanback, the
builder.
Plans have been prepared by George 8.
Cooper, architect. for five houses to be
erected at 18th and U streets. They will be
two stories in height, with frontage Of 20
feet
A Story of Mystery.