Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-09-19
IMPROVING THE CITY
EFFECT OF REBUILDING AND
REPAIRING OLD STRUCTURES.

There is one form of city improvement
going on here which, when considered In
the aggregate, constitutes an element which
Is generally overlooked, or not considered
though 1t has very important bearing
upon the structural makeup of the city at
large" said a gentleman actively engaged
in building operations to a Star reporter
II refer to the very gratifying activity
on the part of owners and builders In the
remodeling of old buildings in the various
sections Of the city, but more particularly
in the northwest and in the business sec
ton. These individual instances of re-
modelling are scarcely noticed when COM
pared with the great and larger improve
ments in the way of entirely new and
modern buildings, but 1t is astonishing
how certain blocks and sections have been
and are being improved.
THUS, within sight Of The Star building
I recently counted over score Of indi-
vidual buildings of the old style being de-
molished entirely or remodeled into mod
ern semblance by interior or facade re-
construction, the side and main walls re-
naming intact, or having additional stories
placed thereon. 1 do not refer at all to
the many entirely new buildings upon fresh
foundations going up in this rapidly i'm
proving section of the city.
with this thought In mind in my rides
over the city 1 have made some mental
notes to the end that this method of city
1t will serve an incentive to other own
ers to likewise improve their holdings, as
individual improvements like these will go
great way in the development of the
greater city we are striving for. 1t is pos
sible for small owner to allow the main
walls of his building to stand. and with
the expenditure of a comparatively small
sum transform 1t into a building which
will be credit to the particular neigh
borhood. In the business section these i'm
provements invite rentals which could not
otherwise be obtained, yet the individual
owner, who often cannot afford the expense
Of an entirely new building, contributes his
share to the rebuilding Of the city.
Another improvement in the building
line which passes unnoticed In isolated
cases, but counts to remarkable degree
when tabulated and considered In the ag-
gregate. is the demolition Of old frame
houses and stores, many of them eyesores
by reason of age and lack of repair. and
the erection of brick dwellings. apartment
houses of the smaller class and smaller
business places in their stead. Citizens in
terested in civic Improvement. when riding
on the cars throughout the city, should OBJ
serve this style of improvement with in
tereSt.
II have also observed in this connection
that several of the few remaining old frame
ante bellum buildings the south side
of Pennsylvania avenue have recently
been RACED and new foundations dug prep
aratory to the erection OF entirely new
brick structures. There are but two or
three of these old frames left on this side
of our historic main thoroughfare in the
upper business section, and now that some
of them have gone the way of old lumber,
1t is to be hoped that those left will shortly
be consigned for sale as old material.
Property owners also seem this summer
to have been more liberal than in past sea-
sons in having their holdings repainted, and
this is particularly true in sections of town
where frame dwellings abound. The infec-
ton seems to have spread from owner to
owner on some squares, with the result
that this method of minor improvement
has given fresh and new appearance to
heretofore dingy blocks. In sections Of the
city where owners usually give their prop
erty regular attention in this respect the
many newly painted buildings also no
ticeable. Altogether these minor improve
ments are worthy of more than passing
notice."