Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-01-17
REAL ESTATE GOSSIP
Recent Purchase of Several
Large Residence Sites.
NEED OF PUBLIC HALL
WHAT IS GOING ON IN VARIOUS
SECTIONS OF DISTRICT.
improvements Noted and Indications
Point to the Increased Demand
for Property.
NEED OF PUBLIC HALL


The number Of residents OF this city
who enjoy the mountain air In the VI
cinity of Bluemont, Va, during the sum-
mer season is to be increased next sea-
son, as several have acquired property IN
that locality. Mr.. w. H. Michael has
bought a tract Of twenty-seven acres and
Mr. Brickenstein has acquired about thirty
five acres A tract of Forty acres has been
bought by Messrs. Grosbeck. Schmidt and
Metzerott. DR.. Wilmer has also acquired
some land there. In each OF these In
stances 1t is understood to be the purpose
to put up houses, so the summer colony OF
Washington people in the section will be
considerably larger during the coming sea-
son than has been the case. Among those
who may now be called old residents OF
these mountains are Mr.. Frank G.. Carpen-
ter, Mr. W: B. King, Prof Kasper and
others.
Need Of Public Hall.
It Is believed that the outlook for posi-
tive action in the near future to supply the
long-recognized need in this city for suit
able place for holding all kinds of public
gatherings is more promising than 1t has
been heretofore One reason for this be-
lief is the lessening of the visible supply by
the absolute withdrawal from such uses OF
church buildings. Under the local regu-
iatdons such structures, when used exclu-
sfvely for religious purposes, are free from
taxes. but it is held that when a revenue
Is derived from them through rental the
property becomes subject to the payment
Of taxes as other realty holdings.
The Congregational Church building Is
case in point. For several years past the
use of that building Cor entertainment pur-
poses has been restricted almost entirely
to the Choral Society, as the author
tiles OF the church recognized the fact
that there was practically no other
use has now been stopped, and the result
Is that the outlook for the coming season,
especially for the Choral Society, Is one
that is giving the managers good deal of
anxiety.
A Serious Situation.
For the present season they are the
guests of the church. but next year the
concerts will have to be given elsewhere.
According to the statements of those inter-
ested there is no place in the city that is
suitable for the concerts of the society, ex-
cept, Of course some one Of the theaters,
and even then the society will be placed at
a much larger expense. owing to the ne
cesstty Of supplying the place OIL the fine
organ by an orchestra. AS the theater can
only be had on an afternoon this resource
does not afford much relief, as it is not
thought the patrons of the society would
find 1t either convenient or possible to come
out in the afternoon.
There is another alternative Of giving the
performances on Sunday evening, but the
choice of that day is not one that would be
made II there seemed to be any option. In
fact, no arrangement Of that sort has as
yet been decided upon, but the situation Is
spoken Of merely to give idea Of the
serious phase OF the public hall need in this
city.
The problem before the Choral Society is
similar to that which confronts all organi-
cations that hold regular meetings.
For the Benefit Of the City.
1t would seem that the situation here is
such that something will have to be done
The subject might be considered with the
view of ascertaining whether in the first
place such a building could not be made
profitable investment, or at least that
would carry itself. If it is found that the
financial return is not as promising as that,
then the. motive of benehttng the city
might prove to be sufficiently powerful to
induce an adequate subscription for such a
purpose. In addition to the local needs
there are many organizations from all por-
tons OF the country which make Wash
1ngton their place of meeting, and such
structure would not only provide for their
needs, but no doubt do much to sustain the
reputation Of Washington as the conven-
ton city OF the country.
Some Suggestive Figures.
An interesting suggestion Of the changes
that have taken place in this city during
the past quarter of a century came to a
citizen the other day in turning over some
of his old papers. Among them he found
what was apparently the first subdivision
OF what is now known as Columbia
Heights. 1t was made about the year 1878
by William Forsyth for Mrs. E. J. Stone
and embraced the entire tract lying be-
tween Florida avenue on the south and
Whitney avenue on the north and bounded
by 14th street on the west. extending as far
east as the extension Of the line of 11th
street. The property was offered for sale
by Thos. 70. Waggaman, whose Office was
then $40 7th street.
The tract was divided into blocks and not
Into lots. and the prices per foot which
were asked are attached to each block
fos example; ~ cents per foot Is marked
as the price for the first block, lying be-
tween Florida avenue and what is now
Chiffon street. but was then called Stone
street. proba bly, because the Stone residence
faced that street. The site Of this house
which Is still standing and is the home of
| Mrs John A. Logan, is indicated on the
| plat. and 1t Is the only building that is
| shown on the entire property: The highest
| price Is asked for the house block-2b cents
| per square foot. The block just to the
north between Roanoke and Yale streets and
between 18th and 18th streets is put down
| at IL cents. From Yale street all the way
cents. The blocks with frontage on 14th
street are evidently regarded as Of higher
value. for the price asked Is Is cents for all
| the land from Clifton street north to CO.
lumbia street and the balance to Whitney
avenue are scaled at 10 cents.
Large Building Sites.
Several expensive residence sites have
| recently been purchased-or at least the me-
gotiations for the purchase have reached
| such stage that they may practically
be pronounced as concluded. It Is stated
! that 1t Is the purpose of the new owners to
| erect handsome residences on these sites,
thus adding to the number Of fine private
! homes In this city which has received
] such notable additions during the past few
| years. AS already stated In The Star, ex-
| Representative Hun has bought large
building site at the northwest corner of
| New Hampshire avenue and @ street, and
| he is having plans prepared by Hornbiower
& Marshall, architects. for a home for HIM
| self. few weeks ago that desirable lot
| at the southwest corner Of Massachusetts
| avenue and 18th street was bought and on
| the site in the near future will be erected
a house for DR.. and Mrs. l.. B. T. johnson.