Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-26

be tiers of lots. each containing one acre.
Each plot is intended as a separate and dis
tinct building site.
These acre plots are to be placed on the
market at $3.50 each, so that each purchaser
for that sum of money Will be able to Sc
cure an acre Of ground and have space for
a garden for other uses which are found
desirable In the country.
Growth of a Business Section.
The property adjoining the office occu-
pied by Stone & Fairfax. on the south
side of New York avenue, just around the
corner from 18th street. is being remod-
eIed for business uses. The building was
purchased a few weeks ago by Stone &
Fairfax from DIR. McFarlan. who was oc-
oupyiug it at that time as his residence,
and now 1 II undergoing the changes
which has befallen practically every build
Ing on that side OF the block. In many
cases the old structures were entirely re-
moved and new buildings took their places.
The change that is being made has
significance from the fact that II is the
last of the buildings on that side of the
block to be used for residential purposes.
Those who recall that only a short tissse
ego this entire block. with the exception
OF the corner building made up of
dwelling houses. will be able to have some
idea of the growth of this section OF the
business area of the city.
Sales and improvements.
The advance OF commercial establish
ments from street north along 14th
street began slowly. and then seemed to
go ahead by leaps and bounds. astonishing
every one with the progress made and the
prices which were paid. The building of
the Colorado Office building served to give
impetus to the improvements. SO that it
was not long before the movement had
gone up 18th street as far New York
avenue.
81, 1p$ hat fH0-
eughfare and went east for a block, and
new IL seems that IL has gone on the other
side OF the avenue. If the demand for prop
efty and the transactions that have al
ready taken place are any indications of
the state OF the market. Two OF the pieces
of property on the north side of New York
sv enue, between 18th and 14th streets,
have already changed hands. and inquiries
have been made for the church property
which occupies the eastern end Of the
square.
Some Recent Prices.
On the square to the north and at the
corner OF I4th and II streets the hotel
property has changed hands on the basis
OF the new level of values, which was SAL
80 have been about $50 per square foot.
As giving some indication of the condition
of the market il may be stated as a mat
ter of common rumor that the owner of
the frontage on the east side of 18th
street between New York avenue and III
street asks $50 per square foot, which
would aggregate s2o0Ov0 for the rather
narrow strip OF land. having, however.
frontages on three streets.
There is some discussion of the question
as TO whether the demand for business
property. or rather the current values, will
keep on up 18th street stop short at II
street as is re case ON 9th street when "
street Is reached. While of course enough
progress In the present movement has not
been made as yet 20 determine that with
any certainty. still it seems TO close OBJ
servers that II is likely TIE block north OF
II street on 14th street win be largely at
fected. Already $40 per square foot has
been paid for property in that block, and
there are other reasons for supposing that
the new business territory that is being
created will comprise that much OF 1ith
street within its area.
The Probable Course.
II Is supposed tat this Will not inter
rupt what is regarded as the westward
tendency OF development of the basi-
ness section OF The city. but that it will con-
tnpe along II street as far at least as
Vermont avenue. where Lafayette Square
begins The latter e-tends along the
south side OF IL street for two blocks
There is nothing impracticable to many
minds In the thought that the extension OF
the business district viii skip this section
and leap over these blocks. resuming again
where Connecticut avenue merges into the