Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-05-02
REAL ESTATE GOSSIP
Seasonable Interest Which is Mani
tested in Country Property.
ATTRACTIONS OF THE Subj RIBS
Reasons Why Spacious Residence
Sites Are Desirable.
SOME PROV M IN T s

At this time of the year suburban prop
erty becomes important feature of the
real estate market. There Is natural
tendency toward the country which the
average dweller in the city is more or less
influenced by. and In some cases it is mani
fest in a more practical shape than the
mere desire expressed or unexpressed for
suburban home. Whether there Is any in
tention to carry out long-considered llans
and secure home in the country, great
many people, as soon as the vegetation be-
gins to develop, have longing for the
green fields.
This Is shown in a practical way In the
receipts Of the suburban railroads, which
begin to increase as soon as the cold
weather Is over. AS compared with the
winter traffic, that during the season of
warm weather is much larger. and, of
course great deal of this comes from the
casual visitor who goes out to spend a day
in the country. In visiting the different
points about the city, and in passing
through the suburban country, people get
this way they are more inclined to become
interested in a substantial way in subur-
ban property.
Attractions of the Suburbs.
1t. therefore, happens that there Is not
only a greater demand for building sites in
the suburbs at this period of the year, hut
it is also much easier to sell property of this
character. AS is well known, the country
about this city possesses many natural ad-
vantages, and there are some portions
which. in point of beauty Of scenery, Is
said to be superior to that which can be
found in the vicinity of any other city in
the country. The drives are, therefore.
never failing sources OF pleasant recrea-
ton and there is always something new
to attract the attention in the ever-chang
ing phases of the seasons.
1t is likely that the resident population
in the suburbs will receive many access
sions as the result of the building opera
lions of the present year. A number of
new houses have already been started in
various sections. and plans are being
prepared which, If carried out, will result
/, in the building of number of attractive
suburban homes. One feature, Of course.
which draws people to the country is the
spacious building sites which can be secur-
ed for considerably less money than the
; average building lot in the city.
Green Lawns and Trees.
While no doubt house in the city, To-
Gated in the midst of block, with only
two sides open to the light and air, is the
only home which great many people can
hope to have, not only from pecuniary rea-
sons. but from various circumstances, yet
the preference is largely for house with
more or less ample grounds about it. The
, | average man or woman likes to live rea-
sonably near stretch of green grass. dot
. ted here and there with trees and shrub
. berry.
This tendency is beginning to be mani
Tested to some extent by those who loca te
their homes in the city. Owing to the large
amount of unoccupied land within the city
. limits, which, up to comparatively short
. time ago, was characteristic of this city, it
. was not necessary to give much attention
. to this phase of domestic life. In recent
. times, however, the policy of making shall
. low building lots and putting up houses,
. leaving but a limited space in the rear has
become somewhat general so that now the
size of the back yard is one of the things
apt to be taken into consideration nova
days, when man contemplates buying or
renting a house. 1t Is likely that this will
become more marked in the future.
In the revised building regulations. which
are now before the Commissioners, there
Is a provision which fixes the minimum size
of rear yards of residences. and from this
it is evident that the city authorities have
. realized that the custom of occupying near
ly the entire building site for residence
purposes is not conducive to health.
In addition to this consideration, however,
; people who desire luxurious homes and this
| seems to be a constantly growing class
here, will desire to have lawn space about
| their houses, and it will be found that
building sites that are spacious and Of
ample width and depth will be classed as
among the most desirable of the property
of this description. 1t is sometimes now
considered that deep lots a dsadvan-
taSe, but from this point of view they are
really among the choice properties.
The Work of the Assessnrs
The board of permanent assessors long
ago completed the assessment Of the prop
;. erty within the city, and is now sitting as
) board Of equalization. While there have
been number of appeals filed against the
assessment as returned, the number is
quite small compared with former times
AS a rule property owners seem satisfied
after they look over the books. The board
will continue in session rs board of equal
1Zation until the end of May when the re-
Vised assessment will he turned over to
; the assessor. Upon this assessment the
taxes will be levied which will be due next
November.
AS soon as the new assessment is made a
matter OF record. the board Of assessors
Will at once commence an assessment Of
, the property in the county. This work will
require the undivided attention of the
board until the LIST of September when the
returns VIII be ready for inspection The
! Doard VIII then once again become board
, OF equalization. for the purpose Of correct
! ing any errors in this assessment. and re
turn the same by the first Monday in
January to the assessor for record The
taxes on the county property will he nav
able IN one tnstallment, and that in Nav
1897. N' III tHaS'
Some improvements
-Four houses situated at the southwest
corner of Louisiana avenue and 9Th street
are TO be remodeled and fitted out for hote1
purposes, plans for which have been pre-
pared by Appleton P. Clark, ir.. arcbjtact
; Another story will be added to each b,,;,d
ing, making the new hotel structure four
4 | stories in height. A mansard roof or;al
windows and tower will be added n The
} 'front.' an electric elevator will be put in nd
steam heating plant introduced