The Washington times., 1906-02-18
APARTMENT HOUSE
OVERLOOKING ZOO
The Ontario, Just COmpIet-
ed, Has Fine View.
CITY HAS GROWN OUT TO 1T
Structure Has It's Own Grounds, and
Can Never Be Cramped by
Other Buildings.

One of the largest and most unique
OF the many apartment houses recently
erected in this city is the Ontario, of
which the first section was finished in
January, 1904, and the second section,
completing the building, is now ready
for occupancy.
1t stands upon the summit of a lofty
elevation overlooking the Geological
Park and the beautiful Rock Creek val
ley, in what is known as Lanier
Heights. At the time when its ereC-
tion was begun its location was prac-
tically suburban, but the extension of
the Metropolitan line to Mt Pleasant
and the consequent steady and rapid
progress Of the growth of the city in
the tract lying between Columbia road
and the park have caused a remark
able activity in building in the neigh
borhood of the Ontario, so that its sur
Toundings are rapidly assuming an
urban character.
The Ontario win always retain, how
ever. certain distinctly suburban char
acteTistics. The site is surrounded on
three sides by streets, and the building
IS placed within its own grounds, which
We're formerly those surrounding the
McLachlen residence. There are ample
lawn spaces with trees and shrubbery
on al sides of the building, those on
the south being especially spacious.
To suit the conformation and some
what irregular shape OF the lot. the
building has been planned by the archi-
tects, Hill & Kendall IN an informal
way. with several projections or wings.
so arranged as 10 insure to every room
abundant light and air and to every
apartment an agreeable outlook.
Some Splendid Views.
Some apartments overlook the wooded
valley and hills OF Rock Creek Park
some the city, with the distant Monu-
ment and dor1e of the Capitol, others,
10 the east, Mt. Pleasant and the rap
idly growing section along the recently
extended car line. while those to the
west command the heights Of George
town and the distant University spires.
Many-the majority of the larger
apartments are so planned as to enjoy
two, and some even three, of these en-
chanting prospects
Such is the elevation of the site that
should the surrounding streets become
closely built up. even with as lofty
buildings as the regulations would per-
nit. the views from the Ontario could
not be materially obstructed.
The entrance to the grounds is at the
corner of Ontario and Poplar avenues.
about COO feet or a square and half.
from the street ear line on Columbia
road. Passing between the stone gate
posts, curving driveway and walk
lead to the main entrance of the build
ing. which is the central projection of
the south front
There are secondary entrances in the
east and west wings The main service
entrance is on the north side and ap-
preached from Summit avenue though
there are three other basement en-
frances. in various parts of the build
ing
There are six stories above the base
ment which is in the larger part of the
ground, almost entirely out of the
ground. Here are located the boiler
and coal rooms. storage rooms for each
apartment, the janitor's quarters, a con-
siderable number of rooms intended for
servants. two laundries, with drying
rooms, bath and toilet rooms for the
servants. meter rooms, and other rooms
necessary for the apparatus required
for the operation OF so large an estab-
lishment.
The upper stories contain one hundred
ana twenty apartments. varying from
three to eight rooms the total number