Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-07-18
REAL ESTATE GOSSIP
Conditions Caused by Activ-
ity in Building.
VAN NESS SQUARE
EFFECT OF PRICES ON ERECTION
OF SUBURBAN HOMES.
Transformation in the Locality About
the Van Ness Square-Notes
of Interest.

OF Interest.
While the figures of the building in
spector'S office testify as eloquently as
mere figures can to the great activity which
has prevailed in the building line during the
past few months, statistics are not always
either convincing or satisfactory. No one
doubts the evidences of the prosperity OF
the city which such a collection of facts in
dictate, but sometimes it is difficult to
grasp the significance of mere statistics,
and then too, a large class of people never
look at array of figures.
However, most any one can grasp such
fact as the proposed organization of new
force of men to do a specific line of work
that before was done in the intervals of
other duties. This is exactly what the sur
veyor of the city. Major LOCKER, finds will
be necessary for him to do in order that the
examination of the walls of new structures
may be made by his office. as required by
the new section of the building regulations.
A Remarkable Record
During the past two months the force Of
men at the disposal of the surveyor has OK
amined the walls of no less than 300 new
buildings. No further progress is permitted
on walls one foot above the foundation I'M
til certificate is given by the surveyor
that they are In harmony with the required
lines. Therefore it is important that action
on the part of the surveyors office be
prompt in order to avoid delay In the pros
ecution of the work. In ordinary seasons
the force of the office might be able to
handle this portion of it's duties with dis
patch, and at the same time attend to other
work, but during the past two months the
demands made have been extraordinary.
and that fact Is a graphic illustration Of
the extent of the building activities. which
are greater than has been known for some
time past.
To a certain extent the change in the
building regulations, which has just g.lne
into effect, after the usual public notice, has
had something to do with the recent rush
for building permits well as the num-
her of two-story houses that have been
started. AS is well known, this new law
makes 1t impossible to use nine-nch Wall
IN tWo-StOry houses but instead of that a
thirteen-inch wall must be built. This
change is regarded as tending to more sub
stantial construction, and if in other re-
spects the rules of good building are fol-
lowed closely there is no doubt that as far
as building regula tons can bring it about
this city will have a better class of build
ings than will any other city in the coun-
try.
Due to High Prices
In spite of the fact that the amount of
building this season is gratifyingly large
stu there are those who look at current
conditions and realize that a great many
more buildings would go up If the cost was
not so much greater than it was last year
There has been an advance both in the
cost of material and In labor. 1t is be-
lieved, for example that the advance in
lumber has interfered with the carrying
iart 10
thought to be especially true with improve
ments in the suburbs, where, of course,
the houses are usually built of wood.
In some sections, where the growth has
been steady for some time, the check which
the cost of material has caused is very SEN
sihiy felt. large number of people who
intended to erect new houses or to add to
existing buildings have suspended the exc
cution of their plans until the market for
may become more favora BILE. 1t Is
thought with the letting up in business
which always attends a presidential year
hat the high prices of the present time will
disappear, and there will be a return to a
basis that will allow building to proceed
freely.
Changes in a Locality.
The work of examining the title to the
Van Ness square has been completed by
the District Title Company, and the prop
erty will soon pass into the possession of
the comprehensive plans of President Need
ham on this site will be established am
pie buildings for the use of the University
where the students will find homes while
they are pursuing their course of studies
1T was the site of the residence
Of large landed proprietor before the site
Of this city was selected, and at that early
day and for some time afterWard was re-
garded as a desirable and attractive place
Of residence. that has not been the case
possibly within the memory of the present
genera ton.
For many years the property has over
looked deSolate and neglected commons
and all the surroundings were of the
same character it is impossible for those
remember these conditions to under
stand how any man with the liberty of Sc
Letting his place of residence should have
chosen to place his home in such spot.
In Modern Times
The transformation which is still in pro-
gress In this locality began some years ago
when what is known as the White Lot was
rescued from it's fate as dump heap and
into one Of the handsomest
sections of the mall Then came the i'm
provements about the Washington monu-
ment following, of course, the completion
of that structure, and then the reClaming
Of the Potomac flats. Now a roadway is
being built bordering the reclaimed river
Ddnk ana extending from the Long DrluSe
nearly to Georgetown.
There is no doubt that this locality, run
down al the heel for many years as
1t was, is in a fair way to become one Of
the beauty spots of the city. AT any rate
1t will be an attractive place, and will re-
gain much of the beauty of the days when
David Burns selected it the site of his
home. and when his son-n-law, who had
succeeded to his estate, began about the
year 1920, the erection of the large and
stately house which is still standing The
humble one-story and attic frame dwelling
near by where Burns had lived was left
untouched, and 1t was not until the year
1894, when the property was leased by the
Columbia Athletic Club and the space for
a running track was needed, that the old
house was removed.
As Mansion House Square.
Before Mr.. Van Ness betlt the large
house the property was kno.n as Mansion
House Square, and probably derived the
name from the fact that 1t rsas the site of
the home Of the proprietor e the tract of