Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-02-04
REAL ESTATE GOSSIP
Prospects for an Active
Market in Spring.
CASH FOR INVESTMENT
UNIMPRovED PROPERTY LIKELY
TO BECOME A FACTOR.
Severe Weather Brings Out Defects in
House Observation-Disclosures of
General Interest.

The prospects for an active market dur
ing the coming months appear to men who
are familiar with the situa ton to be grow
ing brighter. 1t is not believed there is
much likelihood of boom in real estate,
but there is strong feeling of confidence
of the coming of period when business is
going to be not only good. but excellent.
Already the Indications as pointed out in
this column several weeks ago of revival
in the building of apartment houses have
been realized, at least to some extent, and
even at this early stage in the season
definite announcements have been made
that at least four buildings of this charac-
ter, and none of them very small will be
erected during the coming season.
In addition. arrangements have been
made by builders to erect houses in various
sections of the city SO that the outlook
is there will be large number put up
during the next few months. All this is
based on the belief that the city is not over
built. manifested by the excellent mar
ket for houses and apartments that has
been the feature of the past two renting
seasons. In general way it may be
stated that everything used for human
habitation is now occupied and this has
been the case for some time past. 1t is
not surprising, therefore, that an effort
fest demand arising from the increase In
the population Of the city.
Money for Investment.
In the other phase of the market, name
ly, the sales department., there is also a
good prospect ahead. 1t Is the experience
of real estate dealers that the inquiries
from people who want to buy property
either as an investment or for homes are
coming to their offices at q rather unpre-
cedented rate. This latter fact is regarded
as of great consequence for it shows a
genuine buying market that is gradually
developing in its scope. 1t is not at all
unlikely there will be a revival of the de-
mand for unimproved property and that
class will come in for share of the atten-
tion of buyers along with business and resi-
dence property. Some new subdivisions of
land will in all probability be made in
order to provide opportunities either for in
vestment or for speculation.
A Business Improvement.
An improvement of some consequence in
the business section of the city is pro-
posed for the near future or as soon as the
lease on the building at the southeast cor
ner of 9Th and D streets northwest is end
ed Then the new owner. Mr.. B. w. Guy
of the firm of Guy, Curran & Co., will Sc
cure possession of the property His pur-
chase includes not only the corner store
but also the adjoining one, which Is occu-
pied by his business as an addition to the
establishment which adjoins on the south.
The real estate thus acquired formerly be-
longed to c. c. Duncanson and Is where he
carried on an auction business for num-
Der of years.
1t has a frontage of almost forty feet
on 9th street and depth of seventy-f1ve
feet to an alley. Adjoining this property
on the south is the building owned by the
firm, which has a frontage OF over twenty
eight feet and a similar depth. The entire
hi lnnI ytdf no
and that recently acquired by Mr. Guy, has
a frontage Of nearly sixty-eight feet 1T
Is probable the entire site will be occupied
by building that will be designed for the
business of this firm The price paid for
the Duncanson property reached a little
over $13 per square foot.
Building for Cold Weather.
The low temperatures that have prevailed
here for some days past and, in fact at In
tervals during the entire winter are con-
sidered as unusual in this latitude and, ac-
cording to the best recollection of residents
as well as the actual record, such is ac-
tuaNy the case. 1t is seldom. however, that
the winter months pass without giving some
experience of what people in more north
ern climate call cold weather. The TACT
that the cold days are sandwiched in with
days of bright sunlight and moderate tenn
peratures only serves to give Importance to
the periods of the severer temperatures. At
any rate people are apt to remember cold
days and especially those who come here
with their ideas fixed more on the south
ern phase of the climate than anything
else.
In spite Of the character of the climate,
which ought to be pretty well established
by this time, a great many people persist
in building houses almost as If they were
located In tropical latitude. They are as
careless about making them tight as If
there were no cold winds to search out the
openings and the crannies. making the
interiors like barns during the severe
weather in spite of the liberal use of coal
and even gas. This defect serves also to
make the inmates uncomfortable In sum-
mer for it is we'll known that where cold
enters there also is g. way for neat, SO
that the carelessness of builders in neglect
ing such details of house is visited upon
those vino live in it in additional discomfort
both IL summer and in winter.
Protecting the Window.
great source of low temperatures in
houses arises from the open spaces left
about the window openings. The frames
of the windows are set in the brick walls
but are not brought close up to the walls.
for that takes time, and time in building as
well as elsewhere. means money. AS re-
suit there are openings all around the win
dows between frames and the brick work.
A little plaster applied at the time the house
Is going up so as to I'LL in the spaces will
make the openings tight, and the expense,
which will be slight. will be more than
made UP If not in the saving of coal. at
least in the increased comfort of the people
who live in the house. AS 1t Is at the pres
emit time in the ordinary house it is almost
impossible for any one to sit near win
dow during a period of real cold weather
without actual discomfort to such an ex-
tent does the outside air pour into the
house along the sides of the windows.
In one way this condition Is useful as II
aids In the ventilation of the house and
tends to improve the air. But 1t is probable
the same result could be reached without
actual discomfort. 30 that consideration is
more of an apparent advantage than a
real one. At any rate that Is not the pur-
pose In leaving these openings as they are
rather the signs of hasty construction and
for that reason alone they ought to be
condemned.
Proposed Large improvements.
During the past week an announcement