Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-08-13
Increase in the Number Of Apart
ment Houses Built Last Year.
TIE SUPPLY And DEMAND CONSIDERED
The Prospects for a More Active
= Market in the Fall.
S Me NEW BUILDING s

L ne report VI Tic Inspector OF buildings
| made public during the week showed thai
| during the year ending the Both of June
| last there were erected in this city twenty
seven buildings of the class known as
| apartment houses or fats. AS COMPARED
| with the pumber of structures of this kind
| erected during the previous year. the rec
! ord for the year just closed shows a rather
| notable increase. During the year ending
| June 3d. 1897 there Were only six apart
ment houses put up, while in the past year
| there were twentyseven, an increase of
twenty-one.
| These figures confirm the prevailing opin-
| ion in real estate circles that unusual ac-
| tivity was displayed in the erection of sucn
| buildings although the aggregate result is
not SO great as a good many We're led to
| suppose. 1t may be said that up to within
the past few years investors for some
reason or other. have not been favoraoly
inclined to property of this character.
Demand for Flat Buildings.
Some persons who have given the sub
ject attention are inclined to the opinion
that the demand for such buildings is al
ready supplied, while others hold the con-
trary opinion. 1t Is claimed on the che
hand that conditions in this city are not
such as will permit apartments to take the
place of Independent houses, at least to
the extent that has been the case in some
other cities. 1t is argued by those that are
of this way of thinking that the extent
of unoccupied ground within the CITY limits
as well as the suburban area, which is not
only ample, but unusually attractive and
desirable as home sites, will, for solne
years to come, induce the majority Of peo
pie to prefer houses to flats.
1t is further urged that while the quar-
ters in apartment houses may be preferred
by those who make this city their winter
home people who expect to live here the
year around will continue in the future
as in the past to prefer house as a home
for their family.
More Active Market.
A marked change is noted in the tone
Of real estate dealers and those interested
In property. THERE'S a more hopeful feel
ing prevailing, and the belief is very gen
orally expressed that there will be a re-
vivaldin activity during the coming fall
months. This appears to be based on two
considerations: One Is kele knowledge that
large sums of money are lying idle await
Ing some remuneratfve Investment, and
the other is that recent current transac-
tions seem to Indicate the attention of IN
vestors is again being turned toward real
estate. 1t is. of course, impossible to pre-
diet the particular phase which this ex-
pected activity. will take but it is .hodght
by some that there Is likelihood of a
demand for income-producinS properties
prices, unimproved properties of a promis-
ing future are likely to become prominent
in the market.
Two Rows of Six Houses.
A row of six three-story houses is to be
erected by Mr. William T. Davidson at the
northeast corner of 18th and Princeton
streets, Columbia Heights. Mr.. Davidson
has also arranged to begin the erection of
six three-story houses ct the corner OF 10th
street and California avenue, Washington
Heights.
Adapted to Social Purposes.
The alterations which are being made in
the residence of Judge John Davis on Con-
necticut avenue near NJ street serve to
emphasize a tendency which has been fire.
quently referred to, and that is to pay
some attention in the interior arrangement
of houses to convenience and ease in ham
ding the throngs which come together on
social occasions.
The interior plan of a good many houses
Is not We'll adapted for receptions and other
functions, although the house itself may
be spacious and the rooms ample for such
purposes. The difficulty is that no ade-
qrate provision is made, in many cases, in
sorder to facilitate the arrival and the ds-
parture of the guests.
In the majority, perhaps, of the large
houses Of the city there is but one en-
trance hall, which leads directly past the
people in wraps coming in or going out
mingle with the guests who are arrayed in
full evening dress.
TO do away with this defect, which is
common to his house as we'll as a good
many in this city Of the same class, Judge
Davis is changing the entrance SO that it
will be on level with the street, Or what
is known an English basement house.
By making this alteration there will be
rooms available where guests can lay aside
their wraps before going up to the parlor
floor. 1t Is, of course, possible by other
interior plans to achieve the same result
Prices of f street Property.
Current values of F street real estate are
always of interest to these who own prop
erty, as well as to investors. During the
past week transaction in property on this
street was closed, with the result that the
title to 1881 F street was transferred to Dr.
G. F. Whiting. The consideration named in
the deed was $4,000. and as the lot has
frontage of q feet inches and contains
3.146 feet the price per square foot was
$14.30 AS the building is old and dilapi-
dated it had no value In the sale, and the
price paid is looked upon as what the
ground is considered to bs worth.
In this connection it viii be worth while
to note some of the figures paid for prop |
erty in this vicinity during the past few
years. The last transaction was the pur-
chase by Mr.. Andrews last May OF the |
property 1913 and 1871 F street, which has |
a frontage of 80 feet inches and an irregu- |
lar depth, the total area Being 1919 square |
feet The improvements are of some value |
and yield an income, but, II is stated, not !
very large percentage on the money invest |
ed. The price paid was S5a,5e0, which is at
the rate of S1997 per square foot.
Last December Mr. William Gait bought |
the property 1909 street, which is i'm |
proved by building yielding good reve- |
rue. The lot has frontage of 20 feet by a |
depth of 81 feet, and contains 2,192 square |
feet. The price per foot was therefore |
s20.53.
In the winter of 1885, when the financial |
depression was perhaps the most severely !
felt here, the propeEty 1927 street was |
forced or the market and sold at public |
SALE 1t has the SAND dimensions as 1881 F |
street, and, like the lattar the improve |
ments were of no value. The price paid by |
theapresent owner. Mr.. F. L. Loring. was |
sf4,072, which was at the rate Of $14 per
square foot.
Some improvements. |
building at S18 F street northwest Is to |
be remodeled. There will be a new show /
window and q hallway will be provided |
with staircase to the second floor.
residence lie to be built at l422 N street |
northwest by Mrs K C, Jones'. It II to be |