The Washington times., 1905-12-10
REALTY RETARDED
BY BIG APART MENTS
j. Louis Willige Says They
Lessen Demand for Land.
AFFECTS EXCLUSIVE SECTION
Oversupply Has Discouraged Individ-
ual Speculator From Develop
ing Single Lot
AFFECTS EXCLUSIVE SECTION

]. Louis Willige. of Wllhge, Gibbs &c
Daniel. has some very strong convic-
tions IN the matter Of the effect of the
increased number of apartment houses
on the future Of Washington, and incl
dentaIly on its bearing upon the real
estate business
1t is a well-known fact" said Mr.
Wnlige. that the building of these
larger structures. promiscuously located
In the best improved. as well as in the
least developed. sections of the city. has
a decided tendency toward the congre-
cation Of a very large portion Of the
city's population in restricted area OF
building space. thus directly lessening
the demand for unimproved property for
building purposes. and making it difh-
cult to dispose of otherwise desirable
lots to advantage.
Indeed. the market for unimproved
ground has latterly been confined almost
entirely to larger plots. suited for the
building of rows Of houses, or so shaped
as to command a sale for apartment
house construction. 1t Is a well-known
fact that land purchased by the builders
for the erection of speculative properties
must, in order to enable the owner 10
meet the sharp competition in the prices
OF newly built houses, positively be Sc
cured at a lower figure than the same
land, If subdivided into smaller lots,
would bring from the purchaser who.
on account of certain special consider
ations. wishes TO locate his residence in
a particular locality Cor oftentimes. in
deed. i'm particular block or square,,
and is quite willing for this reason to
have his investment cost him somewhat
more than If he were merely anticipat-
ing the wants OF an intending buyer.
Effect of Real Estate.
1.-The real estate business is materially
affected in another direction by the
present tendency to large construction.
1t has been very difficult for our com
pany. and, doubtless, for other firms. to
supply one-tenth OF the applicants for
well-coniitioned houses. suitable for
family use. at a moderate monthly cost
The anticipated oyersupply Of apart
ments whether With or without real
foundation) has obviously discouraged
the average individual speculator from
developing single lots, and in this way
the proper Improvement of desirable
ground throughout the city has been
seriously retarded OF course. this re-
,ardation cannot be ascribed wholly TO
what is popularity termed the apartment
house movement. since the increased
cost of building material has also had
a notable influence I'm preventing the
wholesome Improvement OF individual
properties.
There is a larger influence of a preju
dicial character. which appeals 10 the
interest of every citizen having a just
pride I'm the Nations Capital City, and
that is the disastrous effect upon the
proper architectural development of the
city The uneven lines produced by
these "sl1y-scrapers." when placed in
juxtaposition TO dwellius and other
improvements of ordinary size, are so
abruptly discernible that they are a
blot on the escutcheon" even TO The lay
man without artistic sense. and offend
the eye Of the visitor before he gets
fairly within the city's portals
And while even now at the very
commencement almost of this character
OF Improvement the effect on the land
scape is decidedly unsatisfactory. this
is not a circumstance TO the general
marring OF the view when. a few years
hence. these buildings begin TO deterloate
and on account of the cheapeniug OF
rents. which Is sure to follow. are not
kept in a first-class condition OF repair.
Attention Will naturally be given first
to the appearance Of the interior. and the
exterior. whose embellishments is in pc
cuniary sense. much larger matter will
De gwen secondary consideration.
Will Check Improvement.
THE most regrettable result. however,
In my opinion. VIII be the check which
Il will work uTon the Improvement of
the fashionable sections OF the city
with homes OF a pretentious and dig
nified character. such as we have been
proud 70 point out 10 visitors as indi-
eating the prOgressivoness OF the Can
itsl The great inducement to locate
large apartment buildings in the most
e&sirable quarters, where by virtue of
THAR location they command an in
creased revenue, is so well recognized
that the man Of wealth who wishes to
establish himself IN a handsome home
may be deferred from doing so by fear
that when his new residence IS com
pleteC, some individual viii erect a
large apartment. either adjoining him
or 50 close At hand TO detract from
the impressiveness Qf not also 10 in
terfere with the light and 9entilationJ
or his own structure.
"Of course, there are two sides to
this question. and there are MANY
Things Ia DC said IN favor or the apart
ment house. IL not only furnishes
homes to Il large number OF families
In a convenient section and at a rental
which would otherwise be impracticable
but enables the occupants TO secure
much handsorler quarters than they
could otherwise afford. II does away
furthermore. with much or the druCgery
or the ordinary home. and enables the
housewife 10 devote more Of her atten-
ton 10 things that are OF a less ephe-
neral character than fioor-scrubbIng
and dish-washing. But when all thiB
has been said, the fact still remains
that this mode of living IS. on account OF
its artificiality, detrimental to the pub
lie health, and devoid or that freedom
which Is the one great attraction OF
the house as opposed 10 the apartment"