Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-03-14
ESTATE GOSSIP
Prices Of Property in the Vicinity Of
the Barber Purchase.
NOTABLE SALESN THEPASPFEV YEARS
Donation Of Land for a Proposed
Railroad Avenue.
SOME NEW UILDIN g S

y M E n 3 W q q Il D IN 6 S
Attention has recently been called to what
is known as the Tenleytown region by the
purchase by Mr.. A. L. Barber of the Dulaney
place at the corner Of Tenleyto town and Wood
ley roads site for his future home.
Owing to the fact that the President has
made his country home in that locality,
Well as on account of the attractiveness of
the natural features real estate in this
gion has of late years enlisted more or less
the attention of investors and others.
AS has been stated in The Star, Mr.. Barber
paid for the twenty-five acres the sum of
$125.OOO, which is at the rate Of 5000 per
acre. This figure is regarded by those who
are in a position to form a judgment in the
matter as nothing extraordinary. 1t Is by
no means the highest price that has been
paid for acreage property in the vicinity of
the city.
An example in point is furnished by the
property which lies directly opposite on the
other side of Woodley road. 1t Is known as
Oak View and became famous as the coun-
try home of President Cleveland during his
first administration. He sold it in the spring
of 1890 for s135, 600, and there are some
twenty-siX acres the price was more than
5000 per acre. Three years later the pur-
the representative of the Sharon estate, sold
the residence and two acres around it to
Col. Robert I. Fleming for $4,000.
Some Other Trnnsactions.
In the fall of 1880 DR.. s. c. Busey, who
owned the place adjoining Mr.. BARRIERS re-
Gently acquired property, but fronting on
the Woodley road. sold the Twenty-Five
acres to the Sharon estate for $4,000, which
is $4,000 per acre. Higher prices have been
paid than even those mentioned above. A
large transaction was the sale Of the kalO-
rama property, which occurred in 1887. AS
well known, this land les on each side of
Massachusetts avenue. just beyond Boun-
dairy, and for sixty-eight acres there was
paid in that year the sum of $4,000 which
is nearly $1,000 per acre.
When the extensive series of purchases
was made by the Sharon estate of proper
ty along Connecticut avenue extended, one
of the pieces purchased was the tract of
E. w. Clark on the Woodley road adjoining
Woodley Park. For the twenty-five acres
the sum of $4,000 was paid. an acreage
price of about 81 900. This transaction took
place in 1890. 1t is quite evident from these
figures that real estate values have re-
NAMED pretty firm during the past five or
six years, and If an exhibit could be made
of the prices current of property through
out the city. the sme conclusion would, no
doubt, be reached.
The Demand for Bargains.
In fact, one of the chief causes of COM
plant on the part of real estate men is the
firmness with which property is held, so as
to practically exclude from the market
what are known as bargains. 1t is stated
ttat there are investors who are looking
for cheap pieces of property, and If the
srrply was only equal to the demand,
there would be much more active market
than is the case at present. This Is only
saying in another form what has long been
known of the Washington real estate mar
bot hot nVfU q yra0 a n mr.
strong. In emerging from the period of
financial depression, 1t may be said that
real estate has survived the stress of the
times as well, If not better, than any other
form Of investment.
Proposed Railroad Avenue.
The breaking Of the ground for the first
building in the proposed scheme of build
ings for the American University lends adj
ditional interest to plan which proposes
to supply. direct railroad facilities from
that point to the city. AS it seems to be
generally understood that Massachusetts,
avenue extended will always be kept as
grand boulevard free from the encroach-
ments of railroad tracks, the property own
ers In that vicinity have decided to donate
to the District land sufficient for an avenue
100 feet in width, which will run parallel
to Masaschusetts avenue, crossing Rock
creek at point between the Chevy Chase
railroad bridge and the Woodley bridge.
This new thoroughfare Is to be called
Nevada avenue, and for the present it is
proposed to start it at point at the juno
ture with road which is a straight
line with that of the Chevy Chase railroad
bridge. From the point Of juncture the
avenue proceeds in northwesterly direc-
ton, and crossing the Woodley road will
pass directly in front Of the residence at
Oak View and then continue to the
Loughborough road.
Practically all the property through which
this proposed avenue extends, from Rock
creek to the TeEleytown read, is owned by
Mr.. John W. Thompson and the Sharon es-
tate, or the representative of that estate
Mr.. Newlands. These property owners
have consented to donate strip Of land of
sufficient width for the avenue, with the
understanding that when the time comes
and there is a demand for street railroad
this avenue shall~be used for that purpose
The eastern terminus Of the projected ave-
nue. on the city side Of Rock creek will be
at oath street. 1t is on that street the Cap
ital Traction Company has asked from Con-
gress authority to lay It's tracks, and no
doubt some time in the future branch of
that road will extend along this proposed
new avenue.
Some New Houses.
Josiah Shaw will build a two-story brick
dwelling on 9th street between and D
streets southeast.
Plans for dwelling for Mr.. O'Leary, to
be erected on r street between Goth and
21st streets. have been prepared by w. B.
Wood, architect. The house will have a
frontage of twenty feet and the front will
be built Of light-colored stone and Roman
brick. There will be circular bay window,
terminating in a balcony at the second
story.
r. J. Beall, jr., architect, has prepared
plans for two DIV ellings which will be erect
ed for D. B. Gottwals Quincy street.
lexington. The houses will be two stories
In height and the fronts will be built of
press brick.
A three-story residence is to be erected on
21st street for Mrs. Elizabeth Gallagher
from plans prepared by C. e. Anderson,
architect.
MILITIA OFFICERS RESIGN.