Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-08-12
Features of a Large Private Residence
Now Being Erected.
SPACIOUS DINING ROOM PROVIDED
Money Spent Recently in improve
ments Compared With Last Year.
BETTER CON ION S

Another handsome residence Is TO De
erected on Massachusetts avenue between
18th and 18th streets northwest. 1t will
be located on the north side of the avenue
and will be next on the west to the home
of Mr.. A. Lisner. 1t will be spacious for
a city house, it will have the unusual
depth of 100 feet. There are very few
houses built on inside lots that are deeper
than eighty feet, and Mr.. John S. Lar
combe for whom. as trustee, this one is
being erected, will be able to make use
of such depth by reserving ample space
on each side of the house The frontage
of the lot admits considerable Iiberality
in this respect, as it is seventytwo feet
wide.
1t is proposed to occupy thirty-two feet
of this width by. the house and reserve ten
feet on the east side and thirty feet on
the west side, so that there will be ample
openings in each of the three floors and on
both slices. 1t is possible that some time
IN the fl, &c a portion of the ground will
be sold fG 'uilding purposes, but the house
is design to have always spaces of at
least ten ct on each side. While the
frontage is broad one, it can be seen that
by this arrangement the residence will
have all the advantages of a situation on
a corner in addition to the provision on
either side for light and air.
The Same Width.
The architect, Mr.. l.. Norris has awaited
himself of the possibilities of the conditions
presented and arranged the interior so that
the rooms will have an abundance Of light
and air, and yet there will be no reduction
in their width, as is susual in houses built
on inside lots where provision has to be
made for getting light. There will be an
entrance hall with the reception room
opening from it, and, still further back
Will be q continuation of the hall
leading into the staircase hall.
From the reception room there will be
access to the parlor back of it and then will
come the staircase hall, which extends
through the width of the house This hall
will be ten feet wide and ali the rooms re-
ferred to will be spacious. Still further
back will be the buffers pantry and back
staircase, with a hallway through the
center leading into the dining room. The
latter Will be the largest room in the
house, except the library, which is i'm
mediately above it the second floor and
has the same dimensions
Large Apartments.
There will be windows at the end of this
room and also at both sides, and it will
be 20x30 feet The two upper floors will be
arranged in chambers with the exception
Of the library. A feature of the third floor
will be the suite of rooms for the use of
the servants shut off from the rest of the
The attic will be left as one large floor
The house will be built of red brick, with
Ohio stone trimmings All the sides will
be constructed of the same material, As
the owner does not see the economy in
saving a few dollars by treating as a rear
back wall one which will always be in
evidence. Mr.. Norris, the architect, has
treated the front in the colonial style, and
the walls will curve out forming what is
known as a projection or rounded bay win
lf.Nt- hut sol
Of the wall and will not have the appear
ance of merely being stuck on the front as
If it was an independent creation. The roof
line will be finished with n balustrade, and
over the windows will be stone with some
slight carving of appropriate design.
The building Record.
The improvement in local business condi-
tiQns which has been noted from time to
time as one of the features of the present
season continues with encouraging pros
poets for the future. Just now, of course,
the city is experiencing the usual summer
dullness, but that will pass with the hot
weather, and when the holiday period is
ended and people once more return to the
city it is expected there will be a large vol
ume of business. A substantial evidence of
the better times may be found in the rec
ords of the office of the building inspector,
some figures from which are given below.
uTre Of the building done here during the
past seven months compared with the
corresponding period of last year. Whether
the totals or the details are considered, the
showing Will be regarded a favorable
one and as indicating that the depression
OF the last few years which has affected the
building interests seriously is at last
over and a new era has set in.
A Good Year So Far.
At the present rate the total amount of
money that will be invested in building en-
terprises during the present year will reach
amount that will probably equal that
spent during the period of greatest activity
in this line about seven years ago. If such
proves to be the record of the present year
it will demonstrate that there has been
recovery from the effects of the late finan-
cal depression. But whatever the figures
may show it is evident to every one having
the slightest knowledge of local affairs that
business is much better than it was.
Comparative Exhibit.
Table showing the number of building
permits issued during the first seven
months of 1898 and 1899. with the value of
such for each month:
1893. j 1890.