Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-07-20
REAL ESTATE GOSSIP
An Improvement of Some Conse-
quence on G Street.
LATEST FASHION IN ARCHITECTURE
Assertion Of the City Where Promi.
nent People Once Lived.
S ON NEW BUILDING

Reference has been made in this column
to the interest which is being manifested In
property in the business sections of the
city. One Of tfe indications of the reviv-
ing activity In this class OF property is the
improvement which Mr.. John w. Foster
proposes to make on G street. He owns
the building 1904 G street and also the
| property which abuts on it.and fronts on
18th street, the number being GIG. Soon
after the return of Mr.. Foster from Japan.
| and before he left forSthe north. he au-
| thorized his agent, Mr.. T. A. Harding, to
| improve this property.
Plans for that building have been drawn
by c. l.. Harding. architect. and provide
| for the erection of four-story structure
| having a frontage of nearly 40 feet on G
street by depth of nearly So feet, and
| then extending east 90 feet to a frontage
| of % feet on 18th street. The two frontages
| trimmings and a generous provision will be
made for window openings. The first floors
| will be arranged for business purposes snd
the upper floors for use offices and flats.
| The work of construction will be substan-
| tial, and the new building will be quite an
addition to the business structures OF G
street.
Other improvements, 1t is stated, are con-
| templated in various sections of G street,
| but the details have not been definitely de-
termined and 1t is not positive, as yet,
| is evident, however. that there will be in
| the near future considerable building done
| on G street. as the demand for additional
| facilities to accommodate the increased
new structures.
The Homes of the Lenoxes.
| A building in rather interesting locality
| was torn down during the week to make
| room for new structure. 1t was located
ho Gil of z hot
and 18th streets, and adjons a row Of
| dwellings which was built many years ago
| by Mr.. Peter Lenox, one of the weli-known
| and substantial citizens of the District.
| Mr.. Lenox, as is well known, came to this
| city in its early years. and was in charge
of the construction of both the White House
| and the Capitol. He was also engaged in
| private business here. For many yea1s he
occupied residence. which is still stand
ing, near the entrance to the Long bridge.
Then he built the house at the northwest
corner of 10th and E streets, which has re-
manned practically unchanged; and also
several houses adjoining on f street. One
of these latter was occupied for a time by
Mr.. Walter Lenox, son Of Peter Lenox,
and who was mayor of the city and a
prominent man in local affairs.
A New Architectural Fashion.
People who contemplate building houses
will be interested to know that fashion In
architecture which, however, is not quite
as changeable as the styles Of dress, has
decreed another style than that which Is
now in vogue, and that it is likely to be in
full fling here by next year at any rate.
Some of the leading architects of New
York city are employing what is popularity
known as the French style, and are using
1T in designs not only for busiress buildings
but for private residences. 1t is fair to
presume that 1t will not be long before ex-
amples of this style will be given form and
shape in this city, and those who have be-
come tired of the more recent phases OF
architectural fashion, such as the Roman
esque and the colonial forms. will be glad
to learn that a change is Imminent.
The French style as now being applied In
New York preserves to large extent the
lines and forms Of classic architecture. One
of the features is the extension OF the
openings up into the line of the cornice.
and in addition the roof is made to seem
lnimportant, and 1t is sometimes given the
effect OF being unfinished. characterization
is rather exten Sively used. ana, altogether.
the extreme examples Of this style furnish
quite contrast to the simpler forms OF
the Romanesque or the colonial. In the
matter OF ornamentation, however. much
depends on the taste Of the architect and
the purse Of the owner. This city shows.
perhaps, as great a diversity In architec.
in fact, 1t may be said that one of its chief
charms consists in the absence of the mo-
notonous rows OF buildings which. like
boxes set on end, make one street wear
A Big Retaining Wall.
The excavation which is being made for
the erection of a street railroad station on
NJ street at the head Of the Aqueduct
bridge is attracting a good deal Of atten-
ton on account of the extent of the work.
Owing to the grade Of NJ street in rela-
ton to Prospect street, 1t Will be necessary
to erect a retaining wall on three sides
sixty feet in height. To give to this wall
the strength which will be required TO
withstand the pressure, 1t has been deter
mined to build it some thirteen feet thick
from the bottom up to about half the
height, and from the latter point 1t will be
gradually reduced in size until the top 10
reached. when the width will be four feet.
This great wall will be constructed neither
Of brick nor of stone but of solid cement,
which when 1t hardens becomes like the
solid rock ITSELF
Some improvements.
Plans have been prepared by C. L. Hard
ing, architect Tor an apartment house. to
be erected at No. 1922 10th street 1t Will
have frontage of twenty feet. and will
extend through to New Hampshire avenue.
the depth being about sixty-two feet 1t
will be four stories in height, with front
of Pompeiian and light stone trimmings
There will be five rooms in each apartment
George c. Bloomer will erect three three
story dwellings on NJ street between 10th
and 18th streets. The fronts will be OF
press brick and stone.
A. S. Whit is building a two-story and
cellar addition to his residence, 463 street
northwest. It will be 20x30 feet, with
square bay window, surmounted by tower
The front will be pressed brick, with stone
trimmings On the first floor will be par
lor, with cabinet oak mantels On the sec
ond foer the new addition will contain
three bed rooms and q bath room. Tho
building will be heated by furnace.
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Considcratc Youth.
From Puck,