The San Francisco call., 1907-01-12
Assertion Is Made That One-Third of
Burned Area Is Covered Already

The rebuilding of the burned district
has far exceeded the most sanguine
expectations Of realty men. and it is as
serted that one-third of the area that
was destroyed by fire is already under
roof. A view Of the city from the
top OF either the Flood building or the
Union Trust Bank presents an extra
ordinary spectacle of activity. The
portion OF the city to the southeast
seems TO be completely built up, while
the northern end is so compactly COW
cred with houses that IL seems as II II
had never been ravaged by FIRE.
All North Beach from Broadway
north is building up better than it was
before the fire, and when the work of
construction is brought to a close IL
will be found that this district Will
have more houses than before April is
of last year. The district from Meal
lister and Larkin streets, along Meal
lister TO Van Ness avenue. and the cor
responding streets north TO Turk. and
from Polk to Van Ness north up to
Sacramento, is all solidly built up.
Then along Polk from Clay street to
Franklin IL is well built UP. Polk
straight out to Lombard is lined with
houses. and the outer end or Polk
street to the beach is rehabilitated-
In the Mission the rebuilding has
]
Guerrero streets from Market out TO
Twentieth are more closely built since
the fire, and this is also noticeable in
the small streets.
Second, Third and Fourth streets are
a compact mass Of houses. On Rincon
Hill apartment and lodging houses are
being built, and it would not be sur
prising if that part of town again rose
into favor as a residence district. Haw-
thorne. Essex and kindred streets, which
once sheltered the old and rich fami-
Hes are all being rebuilt more soluly
than they were in their palmy days.
This shows that fully one-third Of the
burned area is under roof
RICHMOND AND NORTH BEACH
Real estate men are unanimously Of
the opinion that the best property In
the city today is at Richmond ana
North Beach. BY this is meant that
there is more building going on in
these two sections than in any other
part OF San Francisco. Richmond is
finding favor especially with that class
OF people who are bent on having small
homes. and are purchasing with the
view Of building and not from any de-
sire to indulge in speculation. The
spirit of speculation is strong with
North Beach property.
There is considerable curiosity as TO
"
railroads There is a belief that the
railroad people will put in a ferry SER
vice at the north end, and that VIII
build up business on the beach
A movement which has been started
within the last few days by the mer-
chants Of Van Ness avenue 10 keep
/ business on that thoroughfare is said
TO be growing stronger daily. The
retail merchants. IL is asserted, have
! formed an association OF their own,
the purpose of which is TO stand to-
gether and fight the combine OF down
town owners who persist In asking
higher rents in the downtown district
than they did before the fire. 1t is
reported that when a real estate man
/ looks UP any retail merchant IN
Van Ness avenue and tries to get him
/ to go downtown. his remarks and the
rent he asks are fully reported to the
association, and the question OF rent
is decided by the merchant and not by
the owner of the building. The mer-
chants say they are willing to pay an
equitable rent. but the prices asked are
all out of reason. They declare that
IL they hold together and refuse TO
/ listen TO any proposition which does
not come within the price they have
determined upon, they viii win out
and the downtown owner VIII nnally
realize that he will have to come down
! in his rents.
A weIl-known banker, in discussing
the situation, said: 1T is not reason
able to ask a higher rent now than
before the fire. I think the owners are
making q grave mistake / am as
sured that the merchants intend to
stand firm in their refusal to pay what
they consider exorbitant rentals, and
thew can hardly be blamed. The con-
dition of our streets, the difficulty of
! getting about and then the disinclina-
ton of people to shop in uncomfortable
surroundings should all be taken into
consideration by the owners"
II is reported that the owners of the
site on which the convent stood, at the
corner of Ellis and Taylor streets,
have offered II TO Raphael Well for
the White House. II is not believed
that the proposition has been con-
sidered by him.
OUTSIDE LANDS
There has been revival of leases in
the Mission since the beginning of the
year between Sixteenth and Twenty
fourth streets. The demand is princi-
pally for stores Leases are active
also in Richmond, but the inquiry is
for fats from Sixth and Seventh ave-
nues west. Property in Richmond. on
the north side, and north of Point
Lobos road, west, is commanding good
prices. Lyon & Hoag are opening up
the H. s. Bickell tract. which embraces
several blocks to the west OF tie Pre-
sidio. The land commands a superb
view and will undoubtedly prove a
very attractive residence quarter.
G. H Umbsen, who represents the
Parkside people, reports that the steel
rails have been received for the rail-
road that will start at Nineteenth ave-
nue. and II street II viii run over the
! Nineteenth avenue boulevard south to
T street, then west TO Thirty-ffth ave-
nue., then south on Thirty-ffth avenue
10 w street, then east on w street TO
Ingleside. The Parkside people viii
turn over the railroad when completed
to the United Railroads in considera-
ton OF a through car out to Parkside.
IT is said that 1t will be a forty-minute
service. This company gave a bonus
Of $4,000 to the Spring Valley people
to put in mains and similar amount
TO the gas company. and electric light
4 poles are now being planted to light
M the tract The streets are to be
well built and lined with ornamental
trees.
/ ~r,z~ 49,