Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-04-13
REAL ESTATE GOSSIP
Continued March Of Improvement in
the Eastern Section.
INVESTORS And APARTMENT HOUSES
Travers Property on the Avenueto
Be Sod at Auction.
p ROP OS ED NEW BRIDG Els

A considerable addition will be made to
the number of houses in this city of mod
crate size when the improvements contem-
plated by Mr.. NJ. T. Cockey are completed.
He has acquired the whole of the southern
part of square 1862. which is bounded by
Kentucky avenue. 10Th and E streets south
east, and he intends to erect there twenty
nine two-story houses
AS already noted in The Star one of the
triangular squares to the south of the above
is being built up with houses of moderate
size, and this activity in building in that
locality affords another illustration of the
growth of the city. In some respects these
buildings are located in what would have
been looked upon a few years ago as the
outposts of settlement in that direction.
Now, however, there Is a street railway
out Pennsylvania avenue to the bridge, and
as it is proposed to make change in the
site of the workhouSe and the public hos
pital the conditions of living there are very
different now. and that fact. added to the
growing number of people in the city, makes
what was formerly known the commons
desirable place of residence. In other
words. the changes that are going on in
other sections of the District are not want
ing in the extreme eastern part of the city.
The erection of buildings at Fort Wash
1ngton so as to make that place suitable
for its new uses military station are
still in progress. In addition to the two
large barracks, each of which has 'front.'
age of 40 feet, with two wings of the same
depth, and six quarters, a building for use
as hospital is now being constructed, ano
1t is also proposed to put up an administra-
ton building and a guardbouse.
The Building Record.
The building record found at the Dis
trict building shows the present tendency
of investors toward apartment houses.
During the past month permits were issued
for twenty-three of these structures, the
total cost of which is given at $341, 900.
During the same period of last year there
were permits issued for the erection of only
four of these buildings, the cost of which
was $4,000. 1t is evident that while more
buildings of this type are being put up here
than was the case last year. that the aver
age cost is less, which only goes to con-
firm what Is a matter of observation of the
present tendency toward moderate-siZed
buildings of this character. Apartment
houses three or four stories in height are
being built here in perhaps greater num-
bers than large structures.
In some cases such buildings are only two
stories in height. AS a rule a lower rate
of rentals prevail, for the apartments in a
small building than in a large, although
that is not always the chief advantage.
As in houses, so in flats: variety of tastes
must be gratified, and hence the variety in
the character, size and style of apartment
buildings. The total number of permits for
new buildings issued during the past month
was 12S the cost being $500 $3.50. In March
of last year the number of buildings erect
ed was So and the money expended was
sal, 1873.
Avenue Property at Auction.
A notable sale Of realty at auction will
be begun next Tuesday, when Auctioneer
j. sW Radcliffe will begin the disposition
in this way of the holdings of what is
known as the Travers estate. The prin-
cipal portion of this estate comprises nine
separate pieces, forming a continuous
frontage on Pennsylvania avenue from the
northeast corner of 18th street past the
middle of the block toward 18th street, a
distance of some 1876 feet. Beginning at
the corner, the holdings extend to the east,
including the two stores just east of the
Bradbury building In the case of the two
latter the lots extend all the way through
the square to E street. There are also
two pieces belonging to the same interests
adjoining on the west Droop's store on
the north side Of the avenue between 9Th
and 10th streets.
The sale will take place on three sue
cessive days, beginning next Tuesday and
owing to the fact that the property is on
Pennsylvania avenue, a good deal of in
terest is manifested in this event. 1t is
perhaps safe to say that not in recent
years, at any event, and perhaps never
before, has such a large block of property
in a business section of the city come into
the market at one time. These holdings
nave IeIHdiHeu Intact IOT q great many 4
years, and, as the policy was followed of
not making improvements except such as
the tenants might be willing to undertake.
the present buildings are not of the mod
ern type.
Connecticut Avenue Bridge.
Progress is being made in the erection
Of the bridge ftock cl,,n Vi. .le
line of Connecticut avenue extended The
foundations on the eastern end are about
tod nd he cir
be done on the western side of the creek
Capt. Beach, the Engineer Commissioner.
who has charge of such work, is of the
opinion that there is money enough avail
able to finish the foundations on the west
side Of the creek, and also to construct a
portion of the piers. When completed this
bridge will be one of the most extensive
structures of the kind in this District
The design is a graceful one and shows
the floor of the bridge carried on a series
OF arches forming what is known as a
viaduct. The piers and arches are to be
Of masonry, and the finished structure will
present handsome appearance. 1t will
span the ravine of Rock Creek valley
when at that point is of considerable
width. The length Of the bridge is some
I,2OO feet, while it's width will be eighty
rect 1t is probable that when completed
It VIII cost between three-quarters and a
million of dollars.
Rock Creek a Barrier.
uC uiIcieuCe III the treatment OF the
problem of crossing Rock creek which has
been adopted at this point and that which
is being followed farther down the stream
at the crossing of Massa chusetts avenue
arises mainly from the fact that at the
Connecticut avenue crossing the public
ownership Of land begins. which continues
without break on both sides of Rock creek
all the way to the District line. South of
the line of Connecticut avenue the land on
each side of the creek is in private owner
ship, and the movement of population and |
the improvements are such that it is quite |
evident the barrier which flowing body of
water offers to the progress of city, es-
pecially when 1t is within the limits of the |
city. is now presented by Rock creek.
For this reason mainly a crossing at
Massachusetts, avenue is now being provid-
ed by means of an arch of concrete which |
will have span Of 80 feet and a length OF |
some 400 feet Upon this arch will be
heaped earth until the ravine is filled up to
the level of the grade desired on both sides,
and in this way a roadway will be made
and at the same time there win be no sepa-