Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-02
REAL ESTATE GOSSIP
Beginning of the Seasons
Building Activity.
OPERATIONS UNDER WAY
Restrictions as to the Erection Of
Private Stables.
AN INCREASE IN THE DEMAND
Recent Addition to the Number of
Large Private Residences
and the Results.
AN INCREASE IN THE DEMAND

house which he Is building on the east
side of the street just north of the cor
ner of X street is not yet fully complet-
ed
Mr. Bliss has had plans prepared for
three story house to be built on lot on
the west side of the street between M
street and Scott Circle. Brick of light
shade will be used in the exterior, which
will rise to a height of three stories.
The apartment house which Mr.. Bliss Is
building at the southwest corner of LIST
and b streets facing the ground about
the Capitol and across the street from
the one he built several years ago, is
nearing completion.
wiIIige. Gibbs & Daniel, real estate
brokers. have just sold to Mr.. Harry
Wardman the builder, a triangular lot
at the intersection of 14th street and
Iowa avenue. having an area of approx
mately $500 feet The price paid for the
lot WAS in the neighbOrhood of $4,000,
and it is Mr.. Wardman's intention to
build at once on the site a residence for
his own use. at a cost of 100000 This Is
the first large improvement in this sec
ton. although plans are being drawn for
two other residences. which will occupy
adjacent lots, and which are to be built
for well-known citizens.
In addition to these larger projects,
ground has been broken for eight de-
tached dwellings on Decatur and Della
field streets. which will be constructed
by Mr.. Wardman for the Saul estate and
which it is expected will be ready for the
market in the early summer. When these
are completed twenty-seven residences
VIII have been built at SaH's addition.
Recently Farm Lands.
Now that the resurfacing and regarding
has been finished the streets will be macad-
amized and the cutters paved at once. so
that when spring opens this new addition
to the city will present an attractive and
artistic appearance. Visitors to this new
suburb will be astonished at the changes
which have been wrought within the past
few months in this hitherto unexpected
area. One can scarcely believe that only
twelve months ago this land was part of
the Saul nursery farm
1t is reported that Wilige, Gibbs & Dan
lei have a list of people to purchase resi-
dences at Sauls addition fast as Mr..
Wardman s forces can build them.
The further development of this subdivi-
sion will practically complete the improve
ment of the land lying along the west side
OF the new extension of the 14th street car
line from Decatur to and beyond Emerson
street and far westward as the Piney
Branch road.
As to City Stables.
The location OF private stables to the
satisfaction of every one concerned Is a
problem that presents a good many diff
calties. IN the office of the building in
SpeCtOr Sucn prODlelnS arise more frequent
iy than anywhere else, and in acute cases
they find their way to the Commissioners.
AS a rule Mr.. Ashford manages to har-
monize the wishes of the man who wants
to build a stable with the building regu-
lations and also with the notions of the
people who own the adjoining property.
For some years past the regulation gov
erning the erection Of stables have been
growing more stringent, so that today it
Is not possible to make use Of every lot
for such a purpose The right of the in
dividual to do with his own as he pleases
Is considerably restricted when 1t comes
to getting permit for the erection of
private stable. In the opinion of some peo-
pie the restrictions are not rigorous enough
and according to their View Of the matter
IL no stables were permitted within the city
limits everybody would be happier, at
least they think they would be happier.
Public Health and Safety.
1t Is likely that the revised regulations
which are now being prepared and which
will probably be completed some time dur
ing the present season will show some
change in regard to the erection of private
stables. At the present time stable can
not be put up within fifty feet of the front
building line of the lot nor within twenty
feet OF a residence These restrictions
have their legal force because they are sup
posed to conserve the health or the safety
of the public or both.
Both of these objects ID is thought would
20 II the were chang
ed so as to prohibit the erection of a sta
BILE within less than fifty feet of a house
Owing to the variety in the size of the lots
within the city II is not easy to determine
what effect exactly such modification
would have on the value or the uses of
property, 20
Not Property Values
But according to the experience of those
who have to do with such regulations the
lat
court IN passing upon their legal force
Unless il can be shown that the health or
the safety of the community is in some
way involved or affected. then there Is
nothing in Il regulation that finds justifica-
ton in the eyes Of the law. 1t. therefore.
follows, IL the commission now engaged In
going over the building regulations becomes
convinced such objects would be conserved
by more stringent regulation. then it is
likely 1t VIII be in the new code.
In the meantime while the restrictions
against the erection OF buildings for such
uses are growing more stringent each year,
or rather period the demand for them seems
to be on the increase. There are more peo-
pie who want private stables than ever be-
fore. and in connection with that comes the
new and expanding demand for automobile
houses.
Effect of Large Houses.
People who build fine houses also want, as
a rule a stable. either attached to the
residences or IL the building site does
not permit of that, at least In the near
neighborhood. The former Is not always
possible In fact, it may be said that
there are comparatively few building lots
OF such dimensions that there Is room for
Il good-sized house and also a stable. The
size of the house is what Is cutting out
places for stables, for it is increasingly diff
iicult to find n lot with its rear end any
considerable distance from residence.
The fashion of houses covering a good
portion OF the building space has evidently
become a permanent feature of building
IN this city. When in addition people want
a place for a big stable, 1t is quite evil
dent that the size of building lots will
have to be enlarged by the buying OF more
ground. II is believed to be mistake, es-
pecially In this climate. to occupy most of
the lot with the house leaving but limit
ed space for light and air. The building
regulations also touch upon that question,
which comes TO be one of great Importance
in the cheaper class of house. where, IL left
without restrictions. the tendency is to car
ry such buildings to the verge of injury TO
the health OF the occupants.
Some Large Residences.
Just as the present time several houses
OF the larger type are either projected or
actually under way. and in consequence a
good deal OF attention has been called to
that class of building. When a man puts
several hundred thousand dollars into a
building which he intends for a home there