Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-05-17
REAL ESTATE GOSSIP
Land Values in a Growing
Business Section.
THEWILLARD BUILDING
SOME IMPROVEMENT NOW IN
PROGRESS.
The Demand for Investment Properties
Continues to Be Feature
of the Market.
THE WILLARD BUILDING

The sale Of the Y. M c. A. property on
the north side of New York avenue be-
tween 18th and 10th streets, which was an
nounced during the week, excited a good
deal of interest in real estate circles, both
because of the price obtained and the sug-
gestion that 1t is the purpose of the new
owners to improve the site by the erection
of a fine business building. 1t is considered
that the value placed on the property, as
indicated by the money consideration, is
that of the ground alone, for the improve
ments are of no consequence in such To-
cality For the eight thousand odd square
feet SIS per foot was the price paid
This transaction is looked upon as indi-
eating that values in that section are hold
ing firmly and also that the growth Of this
business section is receiving no check.
Three years ago over s12 per square foot
was paid for the ground on which the Bond
building, just opposite, Is located. In that
piece there are nearly twelve thousand
square feet of land
Some Recent Sales.
A few months ago SIS per foot was paid
for the Foundry Church property at the
northeast corner of 14th and G streets,
while for the shallow lot at the northwest
corner of the same streets $40 per foot was
given about the same tlme-in fact in the
same month of February last
For lot having frontage of about "
feet and an average depth of 100 feet on
the north side of G street between 14th and
18th streets SIG per square foot was paid
only last month. Eight years ago the
American Security and Trust Company
gave SIS per foot for the frontage on q
street now occupied by a portion of it's Of
flee building, while four years ago so per
foot was given for the ground on which is
located the new Riggs Bank building just
west Of 18th street
Comfort Next to the Roof.
The average space above the top story of
house between the ceiling of the upper
floor and the roof, in the opinion of Mr.. &.
A. Didden an architect who has had con-
siderable experience in building in this To-
cality, Is not Of much value as a protec-
ton from the heat which seems to gather
II, the ordinary tin roof Unless the space
is the height of another story. Mr.. Didden
thinks the so-called air space rather serves
to bottle up the heat from the roof and re-
tain 1t. He is confident that better device,
and one that he has demonstrated by ex-
perience to be more effective, is to guard
against the entrance Of the heat into the
air space below the roof in much the same
fashion as the hot air is excluded from re-
frigerators
inexpensive fashion by laying the ordinary
roof sheathing and then over that a coat
ing OF paper; upon this another layer OF
sheathing and then more paper, the whole
beig finished with slate or tin, or whatever
the roofing material may be.
The hot air OF summer cannot penetrate,
it is claimed, at least to any large extent,
through this layer, and in consequence the
air space does not become charged with
heat, and the occupants of the upper floor
are able to endure the temperature even
during the sweltering days Of summer. MIR.
Didden sees no reason to go to the expense
of increasing the air spaces between the
roof and the top story merely to bring
about relief from the heat that comes from
the roof, as, in the first place, such result
does not follow, and, in the second pla ce,
the method of increasing the roof cover
ings is not as expensive as is an elaborate
air space.
Two Residences.
Plans have been made by w. L. Conley
architetct, for residence for Louis II.
Schneider, to be erected at LAG Kenesaw
avenue. 1t is to be three stories in height
with a slate roof. The material used in the
front will be pressed brick and brown stone