Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-04-06
REAL ESTATE GOSSIP
As to the Erection of Homes and
Some of Its Phases.
FEATURES OF HOUSE PLANS
Upstairs Kitchen and Well-Lighted
Dining Room.
ATTENTION GIVEN BY BUILDERS
What is Going on in the Market
How Demand for Property
is Being Met.
ATTENTION GIVEN BY BUILDERS

was purchased by MiddalIah- &, Shannon.
There was so much land that. while 1t had
been subdivided and streets laid out. yet
no houses had been built there. and it was
looked upon as acreage property. On that
basis the amount of land purchased was
about nine acres -r- ,.y,.<.
At this time scarcely twelve months since
the property was acquired, there remain
only eleven lots which are not built upon or
for which plans are not prepared for houses
to be built during the coming season. What
Is more all the houses that have been put
up. as well as those which are now in
course of erection numbering iii all about
100 have been sold. In one sense this is
an unusual experience. but It is not sur
prising one for this firm, as it had Just
come fresh from it's experience in the
Boomingdale region, which lies along list
street north of Rhode Island avenue.
Building of Houses.
In that locality the firm built, during the
seven or eight years they have been de-
veloping the property, about 500 houses,
and. what is more, they have sold every
one. OF course, there have been other men
building there. and all the houses in Bloom
ingdale not Middaugh & Shannon
houses. but without regard to who built. the
mere fact about the rise of Bloomingdale
section of the city out or the commons and
the waste stretches of land and in such
compa IA lively brief period of time is gem
orally recognized one of the most aston
fishing and remarkable phases in the recent
development of the city.
In the home-buying movement which has
been such feature of the general market
in recent Years Bloomingdale and its
growth have of rights taken a prominent
place. 1t is natural to infer that Middaugh
& Shannon got some experience from their
operations there which was of value, and
that such was the case finds its best proof
in the practical completion of the building
up of the new subdivision.
A Handsome Setting.
The surroundings of Park road which is
the main approach to the grounds of the
Soldiers Home that side. have been COM
pletely changed the outcome of these
Improvements. On each side the new homes
standing amid lawns and with the porches
and other features of what is known as the
colonial in house designing. have made the
driveway attractive. and the immediate sur
roundingS harmonic much Is posi-
BILE in the building of city houses with the
rural beauty which is found beyond the ad
Joining hedge in the park of the Soldiers
Home.
In order to accomplish this the houses
have been set back from the building line
and a good parking provided. and besides,
there are lawns between each pair OF some
twenty-s feet. and these features, in con-
nection with the generous back yards
which are put down in grass and orna-
mented with shrubbery furnishes setting
which is unusual for a city house.
Result of Wide Lots.
All the houses are not in pairs Some of
them on the streets to the north and south
OF Park road are in rows. but in all cases
there are no back buildings, and in conse-
.
throughout the interiors. This plan of ar
rangcment is made possible by having the
lot for each house twenty feet in width,
and in this way the dining room and the
kitchen can be placed side by side in the
width of the house.
The problem of having an upstairs
kitchen and at the same time a dining
room that is not cut off from an ample
supply Of light and air has been solved by
using wider lots.
Building Sites
The owners of the property formerly
known Tunlaw Heights, near the inter-
section of Massachusetts avenue with the
Tenleytown road or Wisconsin avenue.
have decided to make some improvements,
such as laying concrete walks and pro-
viding for sewer and water connections and
other facilities which are needed in places
where people expect to live
In addition. they expect to build several
houses. The property has been placed In
the hands of William F. Matterson, real
estate broker. The location is one that ap-
parcntly is looked upon as coming into
prominence, owing mainly to the fact that
Massachusetts avenue Is to be opened west
Of Wisconsin avenue.
On the east side of Wisconsin avenue are
grounds of the Cathedral foundation and
where is located a school for girls and
also where Is being built a structure to be
used school for boys.
Some New Houses.
The ground at the southeast corner OF
I'D and streets has been sold by George
w. McLanahan, through Peachy & Hagner,
real estate brokers. to Gen. John W. Kear-
ney. The frontage on r street Is so feet
and on 22d street 100 feet The price paid
was 81 per square foot
II Is said TO be the intention of the pur-
chaser 10 improve the property by the
erection OF house.
Further along on r street to the west
and on the north side is to be built by Mrs
Barney a house which has been leased to
Representative Olmsted OF New York
The residence which is to be built by
MIS- Henderson on 18th street near the
home of Secretary Straus Is to he com
p!eted next fall. 1t has been leased for the
use Of the French embassy.
Money and Building.
The opening of the season as far as active
building operations are concerned seems 10
be rather slow and deliberate At the pres
ent time the explanation given for the small
amount of work. comparatively speaking
that has come out is the difficulty In get
ting money. According to the experience
or those who have sought loans for such a
purpose, there is disposition among those
who control the funds to wait awhile be-
fore making any commitments of this char.
acter-that is. at least, OF any considerable
amounts.
This policy or tendency, or whatever II
may be called. is looked upon merely as an
Indication Of a conservative habit OF mind
rather than as a symptom of market condi
tons. IL is not because of any doubt as tc
the future. but ii seems to be thought Just
as well to wait awhile In order to see what
will turn up. Unless the unexpected Is &c
happen IL Is believed this will not continue
long, and as soon as money can be had
quite number of enterprises will be
started.
Mr.. Dulin's Residence.
The residence which Mr. T. c. Dublin In
tends to build on Park road, near 18th
street. has been designed by Harding q
Upman. architects. along the broad lines
OF comfort which are Characteristic M
what are known colonial houses The
first essential, of course Is a liberal h,ild
t. a.