Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-06-01
REAL ESTATE GOSSIP
ADDING to the Residence Section
u of the City.
NOT DISTANCE, BUT MINUTES
Tide of Population Sweeping Through
District and Beyond.
GROWTH ABOUT CHEVY CHASE
Market for Houses for Rent and Sale
and the Policy Toward
l, Old Dwellings.
NOT DISTANCE, BUT MINUTES
GROWTH ABOUT CHEVY CHASE

Dirt is rTinE out Chevy Chase way. where
a new subdivision Of land is being made
and streets are being graded and sidewalks
put down in anticipation of the population
that is expected. 1t is quite evident such
an expectation IS not without foundation.
for within the brief time Thos ]. Fisher
& co. have had the property on the
market and the public has had chance to
secure building lots there numbers have
been sold and the new owners intend to
erect houses for their own use.
There is not much grading or work OF
that sort 10 be done in order to adapt the
land to the new uses, for 1t Is a part of
what might be called the tableland which
crowns the ascent from the city. and which
reaches resting place there, a distance of
about four miles from the cltys center.
The climb represents about 400 feet from
the level of the water. but it is per-
formed by a trolley car. the grade is rather
advantage than otherwise.
Minutes, Not Miles.
On that account the distance does not
have the significance 1t might otherwise
possess. In fact, there are very few per-
except of the hazest of the exact distance
separating their homes from their places Of
business in the city. AS long as there is a
street car line, people who buy property
and who locate their homes. no longer
precise about exact figures as to miles. The
modern homeseeker asks, How many
minutes?''
To use another phrase which Is commonly
employed in an entirely different cOnnec-
ton. distance has been annihilated as a
factor in the sale of property. This cir
cumstance Is well illustrated in the develop
ment Of property within and beyond the
bounds of the District. The subdivision re-
ferred to above consists OF land that lies
wholly within the District. 1t is. however.
just the border line. and adjoining 1t
and separated only by an Imaginary line Is
the territory of Maryland.
Spreading Out Into Maryland.
II Is not borne In mind by the residents
on the one side or the other OF the line as
TO the Jurisdiction In which their homes
lie, except. perhaps those annual dates
when they pay taxes. On the Maryland
side lies the town of Chevy Chase. If that
title can be applied to the group of attrac-
tive residences set in the midst of pleasant
lawns and trees and shrubbery. The resi-
dents there have been fortunate enough to
share IN the benefits which have come from
the generous policy pursued by the original
owner OF the land In making all sorts of
permanent Improvements for the general
benefit. In that way they have not noticed
the difference, If any exists. between what
the District government does in that way
and that which Is done by the Maryland
authorities
The spread OF the population in that To-
cality seems to show but little discrimina-
ton to exist because of the Jurisdiction.
All about Chevy Chase on the Maryland
side are to be found houses OF people whose
business is in this city and who. therefore.
may be called suburbanites. The original
collection OF houses has been extended to
the north and the east and also 1t may be
said to the west for only short distance
In that direction are to be found the settle
ments Of Somerset Heights, Friendship,
Drummond and forth.
A Center of Population.
Then there are the various so-called addi-
tons OF Chevy Chase itself. which as the
pioneer In this direction and for whose bene-
At It's founders opened up Connecticut ave-
nue. from Rock Creek through to It's present
terminus and built the electric railroad is
looked upon as the center of the material
development. AS stated. there has already
been a growth TO the north and the north
east In the various additions, as P!nehurst
and other similar subdivisions Of land.
The new subdivision referred to as having
been made just south of the circle while
not the beginning of the building up of the
land in that direction. still marks another
step of Importance In that direction. On
the west side of Connecticut avenue lust
across that thoroughfare from that SUBJ
division is another recent one which has
been opened up by Fulton r. Gordon and
Is known as the Connecticut Avenue Ter
race. Lots are being sold and arrangements
are being made to build houses.
All to Be Built Up.
1t is quite evident that while at the pres
ent time this locality is separated some dis
tauce from the buIlt-up portion OF the city,
Yet it is only matter Of time when the
gap will be filed up. There Is hardly any
one nowadays who has given any thought
TO the possibilities in the future develop
ment OF the city who is not thoroughly
convinced that the entire area of the Dis
trtCt is going to be built UP.
OF course. there Is no limit of time set in
which this is to occur. There Is no one with
any experience who would venture to pre-
diet with eXaCtness IN regard to the progress
OF the growth of the city. At the same time
there is ample reasons for believing that
such a development will take place and that
farm land of today will be city lots OF to-
morrow.
Houses for Rent.
Brokers find that the demand at the
present time for property largely takes
tine form OF wanting houses. and for the
most part those who are looking about
want to buy rather then to rent 1t has
been supposed there is not quite as
much done this year in the building line
as was the case last year. there would be
a sCanty supply OF houses on the market.
Such. however. is not the case. for II must
be borne in mind that the houses which
were in course Of erection during the lat
ter portion OF the last season have been
completed in time for the present season.
In addition there is. OF course, the usual
contribution to the visible supply in the
form OF houses which have been built and
in use for some time past. These houses
are In some instances vacated by tenants,
who leave them in order TO go into new
homes, and there are various reasons
which keep up the number available each
year.
It Regulates Itself.
There Is of course. heard as usual the
complaint OF brokers of the bad Judgment
shown by propertyholders in not keeping
their houses which they want to rent in
better condition. but that Is something
which had TO do with the manner in which
people look after their private affairs
there is not much that can be said from
the point OF view of outsider.
IT, IL lN Ia