Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-01-20
REAL ESTATE GOSSIP
New Buildings That Are Now
Under Construction.
QUARTERS FOR THE MARINES
Unusual Feature introduced in Pri-
vate House.
USE OF LARGE AND SMALL LOTS
Changes in the Requirements That
Will Affect the Plans of Various
Improvements.

Improvements.
large house is being built by Mr.. James
M. Johnson on the west side of 21st street
between @ and R streets. The location is
about opposite Hillyer place and the lot,
which Is wide one for city house, will
be entirely occupied. at least as far as the
front Is concerned. The plans which have
been prepared by Hornblower & Marshall.
architects, provide for a residence of ample
proportions, which will fill almost the en-
tire depth Of the lot, leaving room, how
ever. for a stable, which will be built at
the rear
Brick laid In white mortar will be used in
the front, and the treatment will suggest
what is known as the colonial in archi-
lecture.
In Place of Old buildings.
Progress is being made in replacing the
buildings at the marine barracks with new
structures. The work that is going on
there has been gradually done, but when
completed il will be found that practically
the entire group has been rebuilt with mod
ern structures, which will be a great i'm
provement on the WORKOUT buildings that
they have replaced
provement was the condition of the old
buildings which We're put up in the early
days of the city and rank with the Capt.
tol and the White House as being the
Oldest buildings in the city. AS will be re-
called, the home of the Marine Corps in this
city consists of a series of barracks and
offices and other buildings about the sides
OF square near the navy yard, and which
Tor the most part are low-ying structures
two stories In height. They form the wall
OF the square on the front, and facing the
interior court were q series of arcades
With Arcaded Fronts
This latter feature and others which
were found to be good in the old buildings
have been retained by the architects,
Messrs. Hornblower & Marshall, in the new
work. The buildings on the east side have
been replaced by new structures of brick
OF brown shade, with an arcade at
the hrst story. On the south side SINH
lar construction is in progress, and it is
the purpose to replace the old buildings on
the west or Sth street side, as far north
as the gate, with modern structures of the
same general plan as those already erected
A Large Music Room.
The unusual feature about the large house
which is being built by Mr. Duncan McKim
at the northeast corner of 18th and r
streets Is the space given to the music
room, in fact 1t might be called the organ
room, for a large instrument has been
erected specially designed for this purpose
and is no doubt the largest instrument of
the sort in a private house in this city
The room which has been designed for its
accommodation is in every way worthy of
1t. 1t practically takes up about half of
the space devoted to the residence of which
1t Is a part.
The music room occupies the eastern half
of the house, while the living rooms occupy
iS hirtyr faa
from the floor and extends through three
stories. This unusual room is finished very
simply but effectively in the boards of
birch, which are placed in the walls and
about the room where a wood finish Is
needed just as they came from the saw
mill, except, of course, a slight Oil finish.
The sections of the walls which are not COW
cred with wood are finished with a rough
coat of plaster. The blending of the UNI
finished boards and the rough plastered
walls gives the effect which is desired.
Light and Air Facilities.
A beginning has been made by the Com
missioners in changing the building regula-
tions so as to overcome the objections to
tall buildings and other evils which are
complained of by citizens and which We're
the subject of a memorial to the District
rulers by a committee of citizens some
months ago.
couple of changes were made in the
building regulations in compliance with
those representa- lions which went into eff
feet last month They relate entirely to
light and ventilation and are especially
aimed at apartment house buildings and
are designed to correct some of the defects
1t is now contrary to the building regula-
tons for any building that is to be erected
to occupy more than 70 per cent of an in
side lot or more than 80 per cent of
corner lot The rear yards must also ex-
tend the entire width of the lots and in
case of lots twenty feet or less the depth
of such rear spaces must not be less than
nine feet.
Large and Small Lots.
1t is further provided that no inclosed
court shall be less than twelve feet square
for building twenty feet or less in height
The restrictions as to the space in the rear
of houses and also as TO the percentage of
the entire area of lots that can be used will
be farreachng, and will affect practically
all classes of property, for the tendency of
those having large lots is to use as much
of the depth as possible. while those who
have shallow lots are to some extent
obliged to use all the space in order to
make the best use of the property. Under
the existing regulations the latter will be
impossible, and that fact will no doubt be
taken into consideration when the purchase
of property of this sort Is under considera-
ton.
The changes are going to make differ
ence in small houses or, rather, In houses on
HdfOW iotS, usually nave DdCh DuIIu-
tngs, for the regulation in regard to area, 1t
Is thought. will make 1t impossible to put
back building on narrow lot; and as far
as the change is in line with an effort which
was avowed both by the citizens pressing for
some modification in the building regula-
tons and by the Commissioners to contrib
ute to public health by insurIng the erec-
ton of buildings that would be more sani-
tary and desirable place of abode, 1t
is quite evident they will meet the entire
approval of the general public.
But Little Criticism.
At the same time, they necessarily re-
strict the owners of property to more or
less extent in the uses to which they can put
their property, and it Is easy to understand
that changes to that extent will meet with
criticism and hostility. Thus far, however,
there has not been much developed along
the latter lines, although undoubtedly as