Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-06-19
Building Operations Are Brisk and
the Future Outlook is Good.
HANDSOME RESIDENCES LEASED
New Homes for Cabinet Officers
and the Chinese Embassy.
REVIEW OF CONDITIONS

Is Qull as the Dack OF q case knlIe, II you
ask builder who puts up the structures
that increase the value of real estate the
same question, he will tell you4it is better
than he had expected it to be when the
season began. So it all depends upon the
way the condition is regarded. Even in
what were known as boom years the sum-
mers were dull. when the sales of prop
erty were considered, so the present apathy
in that branch of the business is only
natural. There is a large amount of build
ing going on. however, as any one with
half an eye can observe. Four months ago
no one had the most remote idea that this
summer would show any material signs of
activity in realty improvement, but as the
weeks wore on there were steady evidences
given that the summer would see con-
siderable liveliness, and consequently a
much better time has been enjoyed by the
building trades than was expected
The character of many of the buildings
now in course of erection is important in
the effect that will probably result. Owners
of old dwellings in good neighbornoods
whose locality has made them sought by
renters, in spite of their lack of all the
conveniences that modern comfort de-
mands, are alarmed at the number of
apartment houses going up in SO many
desirable places.
Owners of dwelling houses of this class
perceive the necessity of keeping abreast OF
competition, and many of them are now
having plans drawn for improving their
houses in different ways, not few con-
templating Transforming them into small
fiat houses.
Building permits issued during the week
involve expenditures of over $4,000, which
is an excellent showing for the middle OF
June.
Well-knovvn Houses Leased.
Some well-known residences have been
leased to some prominent people, and Mi.
f. c. Baumgras, real estate broker, is
much envied for his evident selection as
house hunter for President McKinley's
cabinet. Through him Secretary Lyman ].
Gage has leased for a term of years the
very handsome residence of Mr.. 1sadore
SakS, No. Ills Massachusetts avenue.
To Secretary Russell A. Alger Mr.. Baum
gras has leased the home of Mrs. Hazen.
No. 1901 street, and the residence of
Mrs. Van Wyck, No. 1860 Massachusetts,
avenue, formerly occupied by Chief Justice
Fuller. has been leased By the same gen.
tleman to Senator Fairbanks.
New Home for CAineAe Embassy.
Mr.. T. F. Schneider has also made an i'm
portant deal quite recently. His hand
some residence at the southeast corner of
18th and Q streets has been untenanted for
long time, but he has now leased it for
term of years to the Chinese embassy.
An addition of fifteen rooms will be added
TO the present building, and Mr.. Schneider
will furnish the entire residence through
out
lard's new office building at 14th and f
streets is progressing rapidly. and the
actual construction will commence next
week. The Western Union Telegraph Com
Iany has already leased the lower portion
and top story of the building and will
move in from it's present quarters in the
Corcoran building January l. 1898.
The plans for Mr.. Wizards proposed
apartment house at the northeast corner
Of 14th street and New York avenue are
being prepared by Architect T. F. Schnei-
der. Work may be commenced during the
present summer, but this is very doubtful.
Activity in suburban improvement con-
tinues F. V. Coville will erect. at cost
Of $1,000, a residence for himself on Cali
fornia avenue Washington Heights. The
house will have frontage of % feet and a
depth of 80. The front will be plain and of
selected red brick with mansard roof The
heating will be by hot water; there will be
Tile bath and vestibule electric bells, speak
ing tubes and every modern convenience
+. H. Knight has the contract.
D. B. Croft has had Architect Jules Ger
muller make plans for two frame dwellings
on Illinois avenue, Brightwood Park. They
will be latrobe heated and equipped with ali
conveniences
Mr.. George w silsby will build hand
some residence of stone and brick at Lowell
and 18th streets, Ingleside. The plans will
be completed in few days, and work he
commenced Immediately afterward The
cost will be $4,000
Samuel A. Swindells will build this sum-
mer two-story and cellar dwelling on
Cleveland Heights, from plans by G. A.
Hardness.
Business property is being improved in
many sections, and much additional work
of this sort is contemplated.
A brick addition. three stories high and
n 1in1anSiOnC 10 TO he
by Builder N. Eckhardt to the store build
ing No. $50 d street, that extends through
to and fronts on Louisiana avenue. The
improvement will cost $1,000.
A brick addition, Is feet by 90, will be
added to the store building at the corner
of 7th and H streets northwest, occupied
by P. J. Nee. A show window will be run
the whole length of the 7th street front
and II feet on H street.
Somerset Heights Improvement.
Following the sale of the property adj
joining Chevy Chase, on the Tenleytown
road. known as Somerset Heights, arrange
ments are now being made to Immediately
open up the land to the public Today
contracts have been made by John E. Beall,
area of the subdivision put in good shape
by clearing out all of the heavy timber
tracts lying on both sides Of the Glen
Echo railroad. in that portion known as
I
other parcels will be well shaped up and
cleaned. In a few days contracts will be
let for driveway to be constructed along
the tracks of the electric railroad, which
will be very substantially built, similar to
those in Chevy Chase, SO that persons can
have access through this beautiful park,
along the picturesque stream traversing it,
from Chevy Chase circle and the TenIey-
town road to the river road, where good
highway exterds Up to Delleytown. This
will make q very desirable road for BIZ
cyclists.
1t is proposed also In the near future to
construct water tower on the highest
point, giving full supply of artesian
water to this whole property, and in the
general plan 1t is contemplated to locate an
artificial lake in the park.
The erection of three Queen Anne houses
will soon be commenced. They will prob
ably contain all modern, improvements,
and the first story constructed of stone.
Telephone wires FROM tho city are now
placed to the center of the property. and
electric wires for lightingl pass along the
railway, SO that with the establishment of
a sewerage system, now to be commenced,
will place all desirable FEATURES on this
land at once.
Investors attention is called to the trus-
tees sale of valuable ground in Good Hope
Park, on the summit OF Good Hope Hill.
which takes place on Monday at O'Clock
p.m. See advt.