Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-05-07
REAL ESTATE 5! GOSSIP
Some Large Building Enter
prises Of the Season.
MILLIONS TO BE SPENT
PROGRESS IN IMPROVEMENTS
AND LAND OWNERSHIP CHANGES
Removal of Banking Building Near
~ Eighty Years Old to Make Room
for a Modern Structure.
MILLIONS TO BE SPENT


drawn plans for a two-story and basement
house to be known as 931 street south
east. 1t is being built for D. K. Meredith
Each floor contains three rooms, and the
two upper stories are each provided with a
bath room, so as to allow their use as fats
If desired
Mr.. Davis has prepared the plans and is
experimenting the carrying out of the
same for the changes and addition to OIL E
street northwest, incidental to changing the
second and third floors of the present
structure into flats. Mr.. w. E. Mooney is
the builder. The structure will be heated
by steam.
He has also prepared plans for two six
room buildings which are under course of
erection for Mr.. c. B. Church, to be known
as $40 and S21 New Jersey avenue south
east.
Plans were also prepared by Mr.. Davis
for the changes and addition made in the
residence Of Dr. p. B. Brooks No. 31S Sd
| street southwest
The same architect prepared the plans for
| changes and bay-window addition now be-
Ing made to No. 1920 G street northwest
Tor Mr.. e. A. Macomber; also for the new
shop and ice house Of the American Ice
Company, located on Water street between
9Th and 10th streets southwest. Mr.. James
Grant Is the contractor for the erection OF
Old-Time Banking Houses.
The old Riggs Bank building, at the
northwest corner of PENNSYLVANIA avenue
and 18th street, is fast disappearing and in
its place will arise a handsome modern
structure, which will be specially adapted
for the banking business. When the old
| building was put up, nearly eighty years
ago. it was designed for use as a banking
cd yra11 rha nfc nf
the business in that day and for many years
| later 1t was erected by the United States
Bank for the use of its branch bank in this
city. Like it's predecessor, the first United
States Bank, which went out of existence
about the year 1915. the establishment in
this city was a rather elaborate affair.
The first bank provided for its branch
Office here not merely a banking building,
but, as was the custom of those days, adj
| joining the banking house was a residence
for the cashier. and a guard house for the
/ watchmen employed for the protection of
the bank.
In the case of the old Riggs Bank build
Ing the house for the cashier remained
standing until few years ago, when 1t
was taken down, and on its site the present
Riggs Bank building was put up. The old
one-story structures fronting on 18th street
were part of the establishment, and were
used either in connection with the domestic
establishment of the cashiers residence or
possibly were occupied by the night guard
of the bank.
The first branch bank was located at the
northeast corner of 18th and F streets and
was equally extensive, as 1t comprised a
two-story banking building a residence
for the cashier fronting on street, ad-
joining the bank, a guard house and other
outbuildings.
This property in the spring of 1918 became
the home of the new branch bank. 1t hav-
ing spent the first year of its existence in
rooms provided in the Treasury Depart
ment. After the lapse of some seven years
the branch bank was removed to the build-
ing which 1t had erected at the northwest
corner of Pennsylvania avenue and 10Th
street. The bank went out of existence and
the building became in the year 1910 Inc
property of Corcoran 4 Riggs and has re-
NAMED in the same line of ownership down
to its recent sale to the American Security
and Trust Company.
New City Buildings.
The amount of building that is done in
this city during the present year, or rather
the amount that is to be begun, having
been authorized at the last session of Con-
gress reaches a considerable aggregate.
In some particulars, however, the coming
year will not be prolific of public work
as is frequently the case. For example,
provision is made for the erection of only
two school houses, whereas for some years
rast the growth of the system has been
such as to make necessary the putting up
each year of quite a number of buildings.
During the coming year authority is given
for buying the ground and erecting two
eight-room school buildings. Money has
been provided for the purchase of ground
adjoining the Magruder School for an ex-
tension and also the Takoma School build
ing is to be enlarged new school build
ing is to be erected in the northeast sec
ton of the city and one at Mount Pleasant.
There is to be an enlargement OF the Po-
lice Court building at the northeast corner
of 9th and D streets, and the money has
hcav, for hn ire l.fS T.
ed space, which will be either on the 9TH
or on the street side of the building.
Another purely municipal expenditure dur
ing the coming year will be the building
for an Industrial home school for colored
children, for which the District Commits
sioners are given authority to procure
plans. The location of the structure is to
be on the 200-acre tract which the District
owns at Shepherds landing on the Poto-
mac opposite Alexandria. This property
was acquired Tor use as the site of the pro-
posed municipal almshouse, for which an
appropriation has been made
Extensive Enterprises.
Perhaps the largest expenditure of public
funds that will be made during the present
year will be for the filtration plant, the APP
preparation for which amounts to 81 5000
Then there is the highway bridge over the
Potomac, which, in connection with the new
railroad bridge, is to take the place of the
present Long bridge. Nearly half mil
lion is available for the construction of the
highway bridge.
In buildings that are to be used by the
general government there is to be con-
siderable amount spent. Progress is to be
made in erecting the Office building for the
use of the House of Representatives. The
location has already been secured, and COM
| prises the entire square to tn, northeast of
the grounds of the Capitol, and bounded bS
New Jersey avenue A and LIST streets
northeast The structure which is to be
erected there, and covering practically the
entire square, is to cost about three mil
lions of dollars.
Millions to Be Spent
On the opposite side Of Capitol square the
general government is to acquire the owner
ship of the square bounded by Delaware
avenue and LIST street northeast, and 'front.'
ing on the Capitol grounds. Three quarters
of million dollars are available for the
purchase of the ground and the prepara-
lions of plans for the building, which is
to cost about 81, 50O,030 This structure
will be smaller thar the one on the oppo-
site side of the square, for the reason that
as the Senate is smaller body than the
Jo,,Sa tbare will he no need for az much