Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-29
REAL ESTATE GOSSIP
Business Continues Good in
Spite of the Season.
INQUIRIES FOR REALTY
CHANGES TAKING PLACE IN
VARIOUS LOCALITIES.
Expansion of Business Causes En-
croachments on the Resident
Sections Of the City.

Nine lots have been bought by A. R.
Townshend through Walter S. Hopkins OF
the real estate office of c. G. Simons. The
ground is al the southwest corner of 18TH
and streets northwest. and it. is the in
tcntiou of the purchaser to build there
nine two-story apartment houses
Of Interest to Property Holders.
The changes that are going in vari-
Gus localities in the city are of much in
terest to property owners and investors, as
well to those whose standpoint OF ooser-
va ton is merely that of householders. or
course. the progress of improvements are
noted to a greater or less degree by all the
classes referred to, and when new build
ings are projected or are in course of con-
struction the details are followed with
much interest by the residents OF the en-
tire locality.
But by changes are not meant improve
ments, though the words are sometimes
used INTERCHANGEABLE. There are sections
of the city. or, rather, localities, which seem
To have been completed some years ago and
there is no room for additional buildings,
and those already up are too good TO De
torn down, SO that naturally there comes
period when nothing new in the shape OF
buildings is done.
This does not prevent changes from GO
ing on. and that such progress is main
tanned there IS no doubt in the minds Of
any one whose recollection enables him
to compare the work of a few years in most
any section of the city. The difficulty with
most people in regard 10 the place where
they live is that they are apt TO take but
little notice of the familiar surroundings OF
their daily lives. The experience OF the gem
crafty is like that of a man who was talk
ing not long ago TO a friend He said that
he had been living in one house for some
twenty years. When he came to that par
ticuiar locality he was surrounded by peo-
pie whom he knew and he found the neigh
borhood a very pleasant one.
A Shifting of Population.
He became absorbed in his business, and
finally he was awakened to the fact that
the location of his home has changed rad
ically in character. The people who for
merry had their homes there have moved
to other parts of the city, and he finds that
to some extent he is stranger in his own
home. Now that he Is conscious OF the
transformation that has been going on
about his own home he is rather puzzled
10 know exactly what has happened and
why.
He would like to know for example. why
people who used to live there have moved
away, but he finds that 1t is hard to answer
such question. for really there Is good
reason. except, perhaps. the rather unsat-
isfactory and to some extent meaningless
one-that the locality is longer fash
ionable. The tendency Of people TO go in
In the matter of locating ones home as in
selecting the style of garments.
Influence on Values
At any rate there is moving of the de-
srable center of things, and a change
which 1t seems people must follow and
which has its influence on property and it's
values. Because of transformations in
cities and the pressure from the business
area for more room there must be growth
and liberty to expand. and In a city like
this which is similar in this particular to
all cities, the resident sections form a
fringe about the business part, and when
the latter Is undergoing the process of be-
ing stretched out then, of course the do
main of the homes is invaded
Warning of what is going to happen is
conveyed some times years before the actual
invasion takes place and so it is that on
the edge of the commercial portion of the
city one sees the changes that are going on
in property from its use for purely resi-
Dental purposes to that of boarding houses
and professional purposes, until finally it
is enguIfed by the incoming wave of bust
ness. Both of the processes are in opera
ton in this city, and to very marked de-
gree. owing to the development of the bust
ness of the city and also to the extension
of the resident sections
What is Now Going On.
Just now the portion of the city north of
course of change. In fact that has been
the case for some time,~Au Ii IS more man
ifest just now and more attention Is being
paid to IT, and efforts are being made to
read the signs so as TO judge of the future
and its effects. To a certain extent this
movement may be attributed to the Shift
ing which Is about to be made in the CEN
ter Of the passenger traffic of the city.
which is to be north of the Capitol
AS the direct thoroughfares connecting
the proposed new depot with the business
center are farther north than at present
there Is a good deal of speculation to the
influence which that change will make in
property along G and III streets. In some
cases this problem has been solved, and the
purchases of likely pieces have follower
with the view of holding them for future
profit.
Improving a Residence.
The residence known as 1907 Rhode Island
avenue has been bought by Mrs. Augusta
V. Hare through the office of Westcott &
Story. real estate brokers' The price paid
was In the nelghborhood OF $4,000. 1t is
the intention of the new owner to IKE ex-
teusive changes and alterations in the
building. and a contract has been made
with Richardson & Burgess to do the work.
The high entrance is to be removed and a
charge will be made to the English base
ment style.
The 14th Street Extension.