Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-04-04
REAL ESTATE GOSSIP
Changes Made in Expanding
Business.
EXISTING CONDITIONS
THE BUYING OF HOUSES FOR
HOMES A FEATURE.
A New Catholic Church in the South
east Section-Other Matters
of Interest.

"A new DdSaNS1s5S ~ AQ1NS Is 10 De erected
at 1890 New York avenue from plans pre-
pared by Harding & Upman, architects.
The property is owned by Mr.. E. ]. Walsh.
| who has recently gone into the real estate
business in this city. and it is to be oc-
cupied when finished by the National Elec-
trio Supply Company. The structure
will be similar in height to the building
which adjoins it, and which was recently
erected from plans by the same architects
for the firm of Rudolph West & Co. The
frontage will be twenty-three feet and the
depth one hundred and fifty feet to an
alley. 1t will be four stories in height
The first floor will be used as sales rooms
and the second floor for office use, while
the upper floors will be utilized for the pur-
poses of the companys business.
Another business change, an enlargement
of facilities, will be the erection at GA
and adjoining their present establishment
of a three-story building. The plans have
been prepared by Appleton p Clark, jr.,
architect.
Needs of Business.
In order to secure the necessary space
for supplying the demand for structural
iron the firm of C. A. Schneider's Sons,
212 18th street northwest, proposes to
have a separate establishment for that
part of it's business. The firm contemplates
the leasing of the east end of the square
fronting on 18th street northwest between
d and E streets where a building is to
be erected suitable for such purpose.
Some changes are being made in the res
idence of Representative ]. w. Babcock
at the northeast corner of New Jersey ave-
nue. and B street. from plans prepared by
Harding & Upman, architects. In addition
to the alterations some additions will be
made and new dining room added.
A three-story building is to be erected
at the corner of 18th street and Wallach
place by II. R. Kluckhuhn, from plans
prepared by Harding & Upman, architects.
The building is to be thirty by tifty-four
feet, and the first story will be arranged
for use a store and each of the
upper floors Wa. be a fiat.
Homes at Central Heights.
Mrs MARCIA Bray is building house for
her own use in the subdivision made by the
Central Heights Company of this city,
which is in the line of East Capitol street
extended and near the eastern extension
of the Columbia street railway. cottage
is being built there by Mr.. Whiting, which
is nearly completed. and F. w. Weishaupt
is also building home.
Influence of Apartments.
The public attention which is called to
the progress being made in adding to the
number of apartment buildings in this city
we'll the size of these structures, and
other features about them which tend to
more or less notoriety. has naturally given
rise to the impression that individual
houses are not in much demand To
certain extent there is an idea that prac-
tically all people make their homes in flats
or intend to do so. and as a result the
general statements some times heard
about the abandonment of houses find
more or less credence.
a n
erecting rows of houses for sale was first
begun-that is, to any general extent-it
was the opinion of some that the houses
already erected would be injured an in
vestment as naturally those who lived in
rented houses would prefer a and
fresh house to one that had been in use
for some time. This apprehension. as is
we'll known, has not been realized. In fact
a larger number of houses were put up for
sale last season than perhaps at any other
recent period. In spite of the good condi-
ton of the market it is still possible to
hear talk of the alleged overstocking of
houses.
Demand for Houses.
It is argued there must be a larger
number of vacant dwellings in all parts
of the city because of the increase in the
number of apartment houses, and also
of the additions to the number of new
houses. 1t is even possible to hear esti
mate of the number of vacant houses. The
latter statements are IlOl accompanied
with any explanation to how such
census has been taken.
The fact is. however, that dealers and
others who have houses for rent testify
that their lists are remarkably brief and
that they have comparatively few houses
for rent. Last fall was not an especially
favorable time for renting because of the
uncertainty about the coal supply. Other
wise fewer houses would have remained
vacant than was the case. But even with
that drawback the renting season last fall
was an unusually good one.
Home Buyers in Evidence.
There Is no doubt that some houses re-
main vacant, and that fact Is a serious mat
ter to the owners, who, in many cases, de-
pend largely upon the monthly receipts for
their income. It is said by agents that in
some cases there is a reluctance and also
an absolute inability on the part OF land
lords to make repairs and to keep their
property up to the condition of modern
structures In such cases depreciation nat
urally follows, and the owners suffer loss.
There is one thing that stands out as the
main element in the market at this time,
and that is in spite Of the additions to the
number of apartment houses and to the
number of houses-and in both instances
the activity has never perhaps been greater
in any recent period in the history of the
city-the increased accommodation has been
absorbed. and there is a demand for more
buyers are quite a feature of the market.
It is possible to get more for ones money
in a house at the present time than ever
before and the terms of sale are such that
a man with a couple hundred dollars
can start on the road that will bring him
to the goal of a home owner, providing, of
course he has the thrift and the deter
mination. Terms are made easy, so that
the facilities of purchase for what is per-
haps the largest class of home buyers-cer-
tainly the most important men and women
of limited means-are of the most favor
able character.
Those Who Become Home Owners.
There are, of course, more people who are
able to buy homes costing $1,000 and under
than of any other class. Then come those
whose means permit them to own house
that will cost $4,000 and more. AS one
ascends in the scale the class of buyers
naturally dwindles in numbers, so that when
the 500, 600 class is reached there is not
large array of purchasers to be found. Still
they exist, as is illustrated every now and
then, when one of the modern palaces with
which the city is adorned changes owner
ship. After all, it is the buyer of the house
costing under $4,000 that furnishes the
gauge of the condition of the market. II
the home owners are increasing in number
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