Evening star., 1902-02-22
REAL ESTATE GOSSIP
Weather Conditions Unfavor-
able for Building.
AN UNUSUAL WINTER
THE OUTLOOK FOR THE COMING
SEASON.
pocord of fha ProoroSS of I'm nrOve-
Record Of the Progress Of Improve
ments in Various Sections-New
Structures Proposed.

The proposed change in law fixing the
| height of buildings continues to be topic
of current interest. This Is likely to be
| the case until some definite conclusion is
reached in the matter, which is of far
reaching Importance There are those who
believe that Congress will not disturb the
| existing law. 1t is claimed it affords suf-
| ficient restrictions upon the modern ten
| dency to make of sky spaces.
There are others who believe that seven
! story and eight STORY buildings ought not
| to be permitted, especially in the resi-
dence sections of the city. On the one side
is the aesthetic objection to tall structures
and the other is the commercial argu-
ment in their favor, which is that they
| not only afford inducements for capitalists
| to invest their money here, but also when
they take the form of apartment houses,
| people of limited means can have homes
| in the best sections of the city.
| Elastic Width Of Streets.
| The only development during the week
| was the decision of the city solicitor to the
effect that the width of the street. as gov
| erning the height of a building, was regu-
| lated by the width from building line to
building line. Under the case at issue if
| the owner saw fit to fix his building line
back of the prevailing one, permit could
| be issued to him for structure the
height Of which would be determined by
the width of~<the street from the line as
fixed by the individual lot to the one on
| the opposite side of the street
| The elasticity which is thus given to the
streets of the city in this particular by
| this opinion is recognized The effect, it is
| thought, will be mainly to permit the erec-
ton of taller buildings on narrow streets
than was contemplated by the present reg
ulatiOn.
Cold Weather and Building.
There has been less building done this
winter than for number of years past
during the same season of the year This is
| due Of course, to the cold weather and it's
unusual continuance. Early in December
all building operations were brought to a
close, as, account of the prevailing low
temperature, 1t was found to be impossible
| to lay brick do other kinds of work
! which was liable to be injured by freez-
| ing. Tile setting and other details of within
door work could not be attended to unless
the buildings were heated.
In January the weather moderated for a
time and outside work was resumed, but in
a short time the mercury fell again, and
since then there has been comparatively
little DONE The winter season in this re-
spect has been an unusually long one, and
many structures are far behind what was
expected at the opening of the year. AS
rule a good deal of building is regularly
carried here during the entire winter
season, although such operations are not
as common as at other seasons
The work that in this way has accumu-
lated, together with new enterprises that
are in contemplation, gives promise of
rather busy season among the building
trades. 1t was expected that before this
time some decision would be reached rela-
tive to number of buildings which have
been projected. For some reason no action
has been taken, SO that the amount OF work
klooS &c. n1>n q "a fala in
hands of contractors is not as yet very
large. 1t may be that while the cold
weather continues those who have the
money to invest will not be in a hurry to
give their final decision and that after all
| the coming season will witness the greater
part Of the expected activity.
J. D. McGuire's Residence.
Plans have been prepared by Glenn
Brown, architect, for a residence to be
erected for Mr.. ]. D. MCGUIRE on the west
side of 10Th street between S and streets.
It is to be three stories in height. Brick
and stone are used in carrying out the de-
sign Of the front, which will be pleasing
example of domestic architecture.
More Banking Room.
Mr.. Henning the president Of the Trad
ers' National Bank, has consulted with
Mr. Brown relative to changes which are
contemplated in the building at the north
east corner Of Pennsylvania avenue and
10th street This property is known as the
Vernon building, and the alterations that
are in prospect are such as VIII supply
the needed accommodat atoms for the in
creasing business Of the bank
The Moses Home Site.
It ia the purpose Of Henry c. Moses, who
acquired during the past week fine build
ing site on Massachusetts, avenue over
looking Sheridan Circle to erect residence
there for his own use some time in the
future. The lot is regarded by Mr. Moses
as q specially choice one and SO he bought
1t, and after while he may build on IT,
The frontage Is unusually spacious, being
more than 100 feet, while the narrow por-
ton is in the rear. There is total area
Of 1886 square feet, for which the consider
alton was SIT 800 The lot Is at the north
east corner of Massachusetts avenue and
Sheridan Circle.
The Walsh Office Building.
Contracts will soon be made for the dem
clifton Of the Foundry Church building,
14th and G streets, and the residence ad-
Joining on G. street. On this site Thomas
| F.. Walsh will have erected fine office
building Plans are now being prepared un-
der the direction Of Frederic w. Carlyle,
architect for a nine-story steel frame
architect, for nine-story steel frame
brick. This building will contain eight
stores on the first floor, which can be made
| into two or more If necessary, and about
| 200 offices on the floors above. The princi-
| pal feature Of the design will be the mag
nificent entrance to the office portion 1t is
proposed to have this entrance, the lobby
| and main stairs finished in italian marble.
| The office rooms will be spacious and all
well lighted. The contemplated cost Of the
building will be about half million dol
lars.
Realty at Auction.
Real estate recently sold at auction by
| Thomas ]. Owen & Son, auctioneers, COM
prises the following:
For Albert A. Wilson and John B. Larner,
trustees, No. 1910 9th street northwest lot
Al, in square 400. to the Washington Loan
and Trust Company for s.. 500. !
For Charles w. Fairfax and William A,
Hill, trustees, the three-story and cellar
brick dwelling No. 1927 Harvard street
| northwest, to Gerald M. Johnson for Sc, $50.
| For Henry X. Simpson and John Mckee,
| trustees, the brick and frame store and
| dwelling No. lO3 street northeast. to
| James Cassels for s. 800
For Elkanah ". Waters and Walter Heis-
ton, trustees, the two-stcry frame building