Evening star., 1905-11-11
REAL ESTATE GOSSIP
Spacious Interiors Of Modern
City Homes.
DEMAND FOR HOUSES
INDICATIONS IN REGARD TO THE
SUPPLY OF BUILDINGS.
Question of Where the People Come
From Still Unanswered, but
the Tide Continues.

A house that will take rank among the
large private residences of the city Is the
one that is being butt by Mr.. w. p. Emo
on street, just opposite to the Church
of the Covenant. It Is expected that it will
be ready for use about the first of the
year Owing to the plainness of the design
empha sized by the material used, which is
ordinary brick laid In white mortar, the
house needs to be completely finished be-
fore 1T will be possible to form a good
Judgment of its appearance. At present
1t reminds one somewhat OF huge square
structure that looms up from the street
front with only the quality of highness and
also to some extent of awkwardness.
The design Is colonial. modified to meet
modern requirements, and in consequence
it goes higher in the air than 1t was usual
to build houses a hundred years or more
ago. The house has one merit. and that Is
1t does not give the air of compress sion
which is such a part of the average city
home. The windows are broad and tall,
especially in the first story, while the side
yard gives an opportunity for an ab'ln-
dance of openings. The interior arrange
ment Is marked by a spactousness that is
very attractive.
Very Large Rooms.
Although the house is about 100 feet in
uns back solidly. there are only three
rooms on the first floor. The library, a
great space. in fact. 26 by Al feet. occu-
pies the front, sharing that part of the
house with the parlor, while the entire
rear portion of this floor is taken UP with
the dining room, which is another spacious
room.
The architect. Mr. Lemuel Norris, has
made ample provision for a large estab-
lishment, and in the portion set aside for
the servants there are no less than :our-
teen bed rooms. The interior is to be fin
ished in white. with mahogany doors. The
builder is Mr.. John s. Larcombe.
The Demand for Houses.
The renting season is about over. accord
ing to the calendar, except, of course, In
the case of furnished houses. The demand
for the latter does not begin until rather
late in the season and it is sometimes well
into December before that sort of business
is over In regard to the phase of the real
estate business which consists In finding
tenants for houses of all grades. there is
some difference of opinion as to whether
the season is over or not Some brokers
are of the opinion that while the supply has
diminished, there are people who are not
yet settled for the winter and are In search
of place to live, whether in an independ-
ent house or an apartment.
On the other hand, it is said that the ac-
tive business for the season has come to an
end Whatever the views in regard to the
volume of business for the past few months.
there seems to be practically no difference
as to the character of whit has been done.
The Season a Good One.
1t is said by some that the demand for
houses and apartments was never SO great,
while some claim that the business of the
past season Is not quite up to that of last
year which, as will be recalled, was a very
active one. Still, however. the comparison
may be. of course, 1t can only be based
on conjecture, for there is no way of ascer-
tanning precisely how many houses were
rented this year and how many were rent
ed the year before. There is a general una
nirnity of opinion that the past few months
have been exceedingly favorable in this re-
spect.
The large number of new houses and
apartments which Were placed on the mar
ket as the result OF an unusual active build
ing season, following one of a similar char
acter of the year before. have been taken
to an extent that is surprising to every one
who has had anything to do with the mar
ket. There are those who are sure that the
market Is not overbuilt and will give you
convincing figures based on what has been
done during the past few months.
AS to Apartment Houses.
In conversation with Mr.. William A.
yesterday the other day as to apartment
houses, a representative of The Star was
told that in the eight large apartment
houses which he had charge of as agent
there were but few vacant suites. The
buildings spoken of are, of course, OF vary
Ing size, but rank among the large build
ings of the city, containing from thirty
suites and upward. In the case of one
building, which is not to be finished before
next month Mr.. Easterday stated that
about half OF its large number OF suites
have already been taken.
1t is Mr. yesterdays experience that as
fast as suites in apartment houses that
have been built for some time are given up,
new tenants come in, so that while there is
constant shifting going on, owing to the
change of the same tenants from old build
ings to the new, there are but few vacan-
cies. 1t Is a great mystery TO real estate
brokers who come directly in contact with
1t, as well as with all others who are at
all interested in the situation, as TO where
all the people come from that are filling
up the houses and the apartments 1t does