Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-03-31
REAL ESTATE GOSSIP
improvements Scheduled to
Follow Buying Activity.
NEAR 18TH AND H STREETS
Plans for Construction of Three Tall
Buildings.
SEASON FOR THE COUNTRY
Some of the Current Transactions in
Lots and in Improved Property
of Various Kinds.

VI various Minus.
Architects and builders are going to be
busy on 10Th street between New York
avenue and H street. As the scene of the
active labors of real estate brokers and
owners that locality has been more or less
prominent in the public eye for some
days past. Now, however, this period of
buying is to be succeeded by one of i'm
provement at least In part. it Is not
meant TO imply that the entire area affected
will be built up with modern buildings, but
what is going to be done In three instances
involves pretty fair proportion of the
entire holding that block.
1t is expected that the Union Trust Com
pany, which recently purchased the Colonial
Hotel property at the southwest corner of
10th and Fl streets. will begin the
work of removing that structure. The entire
site will be cleared in preparation for the
erection there of a fine modern building
The details of getting the plans in shape
have been intrusted to MIR. Bernard r.
Green, member of the board of directors
of the company, who is largely familiar
with work of the kind. He has asso-
ciated with him as architects the firm of
Wood, Dom & Deming, and the latter are
engaged In preparing plans for the pro-
only to provide room for the trust company
but also for office rooms in the upper floors
which will extend to the height allowed by
law.
which has frontage of j3 feet on II street
and 161 on 18th street with an l. extending
| back 145 feet. admirable arrangements can
be made for suitable and roomy quarters
for the company on the first floor, as well
as for the offices of Thomas J. Fisher & Co.
1t is expected that some time in June the
work of putting UP the new building will
! be begun The importance of this under
taking can In a measure be estimated when
ii Is stated that the building alone will
cost about S300,0O0
Two Modern Buildings
Directly across the street from the hotcI,
| on the east side of 18th street is the old
building which in late years was known as
the Barton Hotel This building is to be
removed in order that more modern struct-
ures may take its place. There are two
buildings to go up, and. as the frontage IS
seventy-five feet and is equally divided be-
tween the two, neither will be crampad
for lack of space. The northern half IS
TO be improved with q building which IS
to be put up by the SwartZell Rheem {:
Hensey Company, real estate brokers, .or
their own
Al the present time under their direction
Mr.. Paul j. Pelz. architect is preparing
plans for such a building and as soon
as they are completed 1t Is proposed to
begin the erection of the structure The
exterior will have the appearance of
rather lofty structure, but In fact the
walls win inclose one large room with high
ceiling and specially arranged for the bust
ness of the firm. Owing to the depth of
the lot 1t will be possible to get a room on
one level tina; Will be ample for even a large
business
The adjoining half of this property on the
south is to be built on by w b. HiaJbs &
Co Mr.. IIiobs is having plans prepared
Co. Mr.. Hibbs is having plans prepared
The first floor will be suitably arranged for
the use of the business of Mr. Hibbs and
the upper floors, which are to extend just
as high as the building regulations permit,
viii be fitted UP for use as offices.
18th Street Activity.
The movement in property in the block
on 10Th street between New York avenue
and H street being over for a time at
least. although there may be changes in
some of the present holdings. AS rule
the new owners have acquired for their own
uses and not for speculation There is no
doubt II there had been more property there
that the speculative element would have
been more prominent. 1t should be re-
menlbered that In the entire area there
are only eight distinct pieces of property
including the four corners, thus leaving
only four inside pieces.
1t can readily be understood that the
amount of the material for speculation
on this block was not such as to keep
ouch a movement going for any length
of time.
A Natural Business Growth.
The movement had its origin In a legit-
mate manner. and it might therefore be
concluded that Its progress has been a
wholesome one and its results good
Some have looked upon the prices paid
| as ra ther large, and no doubt when viewed
| In the aggregate the totals appear to run
| into large figures. but that is mainly be-
| cause the properties themselves were in
| large lots. Another reason why the prices
| appear at first sight to be high is that the
| locality is one In which lower figures had
| prevailed and II appeared that this was a
| somewhat sudden recognition of values.
| There is no question but that Immediate
! recognition given soon as attention
was called to this locality as properly a
| part OF the business section of the city and
| likely to become more and more SO in the
| future. In other words, an expansion of
the business section In that direction hats
been looked for for some time past and
to whether the growth would continue up
and along III street.
| Character of the Locality.
There is another thing about some OF the
/ phases of the movement, and that is, while
| the prices paid per foot are about up to
the level OF F street and other business
sections where the most expensive prop
| erty is to be found, yet 1t is not as II those
1 figures were applied to the locality for the
| first time. IL is well known that the old
Riggs Bank corner has been considered for