Evening star., 1897-05-29
REAL ESTATE GOSSIP
New Buildings That Will Shortly
Be Erected.
ACTIVITY IN some DIRECTIONS
Q>A4> Eeel..1x Anaonn tho 0oalore
Better Feeling Among the Dealers
in Real Property.
THE WEEK. RECO r D

An excavation Is being made at the north
east corner of 7th street and Howard ave-
nue., where it Is proposed to erect row
of twenty two-story houses. This I'M
provement is to be made by NJ. T. Cockey,
J.. T. Levy being the builder. The ground
occupied by the houses comprises nearly
all the extensive frontage on 7th street OF
the lawn about the former residence OF
General o. o. Howard. As the house is
considera bly, above the graded street 1t was
necessary to do some heavy grading. and
the bank of earth left in the rear of the
proposed houses is to be protected by a
retaining wall.
The erection Of houses In rows In this
vicinity affords another illustration Of the
growth of the city. Several years ago
houses in rows we're built in the vicinity
of Brightwood. and, in fact. all along the
7th street road are Indications showing
the gradual encroachment of the city on
what was the green fields and farms OF
the country.
In the Petworth subdivision, which Is at
the northeast corner OF the 7th street ROAD
and Rock Creek Church road, Christian j.
Ubhoff is erecting eighteen frame cottages
He Is also planning to erect other houses
in the same locality.
In the subdivision known as BrightWood
Park D. B. Croft is building number OF
frame houses. The ground bordering on
the south of the country res1dence OF Mr.
NJ G. Emery is being graded, and 1t Is
stated to be the intention TO erect tnefe
number of houses.
Affected by the Street Extension Act.
Recently an application was received by
the District Commissioners for the issue of
a permit to erect houses on SUBDIVISION
of land beyond the present bounds of the
inn
this subdivision was not in accordance with
the plan of the extension of streets as laid
down in the map which has been prepared
by the District Commissioners In 1act'
one of the avenues OF the city wnen eA-
tended would pass directly through TINS
subdivision. The Commissioners refused
the permit on the ground that the suDdi-
vision was not in accordance with ths
plan of street extensions
Application was then made TOR peTmis-
SIGN to erect houses on this ground, no
subdivision being proposed This appnca-
ton was granted and the permit was -.
sued, and it is supposed that IN the event
that the houses are to be SOLD oescrip-
ton will be given of the ground occupied
by each house by metes and bounds. The
position Of the Commissioners is that tney
have no right to interfere with any use
that property owners may desire to make
on the land affected by the street extern
sion act.
It is understood however. that property
proposed streets and avenues. as Indicated
| IL. the street extension map, do so at their
own risk, taking the chances that wnen
the right of way for the streets and ave
nues is secured they will be reimbursed Tor
the amount expended in improvements.
Business on the Avenue.
AS already published in The Star, Mr..
| Emmons S. Smith, the proprietor of the
| Boston Variety Store, intends to erect a
| handsome and commodious building on the
| site of mis- present establishment on Market
space or Pennsylvania avenue, near 1tf
street The new building Is to be six
1 stories in height and promises to be one
of the most notable additions to the busl
/ ness buildings along pennsylvania avenue
/ which has been made In recent years.
When Mr.. Smith found that his growing
business made 1T necessary that he should
| have new building, he debated Whethel
he should erect the new structure on tnt
| present site or find some location on
| street Mr.. Smith said that he was thret
| months considering this question. and ht
took almost daily walks through the BUS
mess section of the city, watching the
| crowds at different points in order to de
termine for himself whether the presen
location was less frequented by shopper:
than some others in the city. He came Il
the conclusion that the locality had not los
its characteristics and was still largely re
| sorted to by those who wished TO buy. H
the refore concluded to remain where h
now is.
| In the development Of the business sec
ton of the city some doubt has been raise,
as to whether the avenue would continu
to maintain its place as a business thor
oughfare. 1t Is evident from the decision
| reached by Mr.. Smith, as well as from tn
| extensive additions made by other bushes
| men along this thoroughfare, that Penn
| sylvania avenue Is not being left in tn
onward march of events. 1t is also eviden
| that the occupation of other streets 70
| business purposes shows an expansion O
the business of the city rather than tn
abandonment of one location in favor O
| another.
Some Large Enterprises.
Mr.. T. E. Roessle. who owns a larg
block of land at the corner of 10th and ]
streets, stated during the week that h
had been in communication with Ney
York capitalist who desired to purchas
the property. He said he was told that
was the intention of the would-be pur
chasers to erect on this site a large apar
ment house, the total cost reaching abou
100000.
1t is apparent that capitalists living i
other parts of the country are turnin
their attention to the possibilities Of Wash
ington real estate as an investment.
the present time there are several entel
! prses being considered, which II carrie
out will result in the investment here nt
only Of a large amount Of outside capita
but in many substantial improvements. l
| all these enterprises, with one or Two e1
ceptions. it is proposed to acquire large In
J | terests in suburban property. with a vie
of erecting houses 80 as to furnish accom-
modations for the growing population.
, | One feature that is proving attractive
| these outside investors Is the comparativel
: low price for which 1t Is possible to secur
| eligible ground in the vicinity of the cit,
1t is often said by those who are resident
here that land values are excessive. Bt
1t is evidently considered by outsiders ths
- | present prices Of land, especially In SON
| suburban sections, are remarkably low q
. compared with those asked for land sin
e ilarly located in relation to the cities wheI
they have their homes.