Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-06-29
|STORES imp ROvED.
Better Business Fronts Are Co.
ing Up Downtown.
UNIFORMITY IN DESIGN
But Some Owners Are Still Indiffer-
ent.
RENTS GREATLY INCREASED
General Appearance Of Business Dis
trict Very Much Improved, But
Much Remains to Be Done.
RENTS GREATLY INCREASED

speaking about the many and diversified
improvements which may be seen going on
tn various parts of the city," remarked an
operator in realty, there Is one worthy Of
specific attention even though it does not
compare with the great volume Of building
of the town.
II refer to the Improvement in the remod-
cling of individual store properties. and an
excellent Illustration may be found at the
northeast corner of F and 10th streets
northwest This building was formerly one
Of the old-style. front windowed stores, with
the regulation Office or apartment floors
above. Without disturbing the exterior
walls the entire appearance Of the struct-
ure on the outside has been changed by the
addition Of large and commodious front and
side window effects. with a corresponding
enlarged and improved interior.
THAT many progressive property owners
have awakened to the fact that ii does not
pay to maintain their holdings in the form
Of the old-style store exteriors and interiors
Is shown in this instance and in two others
in the near neighborhood. at 9th and @
streets and at 7th and g streets.
Similar improvements.
There are. of course, many other similar
improvements being made throughout the
entire business section Of the city to greater
or less degree. depending upon the location
and the character Of the respective proper
ties. but there is still room for many more
Of the Same kind. By reason Of the fact
that the front and side retaining walls may
be utilized. and frequently the interior par
titions, this important class OF store i'm
provement ought to be undertaken by
owners more generally than II is, as sub
stantially new building with modern ap-
ho ,hrti rfod
and at moderate cost compared with an
entirely new building where foundation
must be dug and new walls put up
Increased Rentals Accruing.
THE increased rentals aecruing upon
such new and up-to-date store improve
ments are such that they ought to form
tempting means for investment. whether
upon the part of the old or new owners.
the latter seeing opportunities which are
not at the time visible to the old owners.
In this manner the appearance of portions
nothing like the initial cost of absolutely
new structures, yet the metamorphosed
stores will rent as well as IL they were en-
irely new.
Indifferent Owners.
Zone of the great hindrances to this
class of Improvement Is the Indifferent
owner who refuses to fall into line with his
more progressive nsighbors. and. though
these structures stand out in sharp contrast
with the more recently improved around
them, nevertheless their owners cannot
seem to bring themselves to accept more
modern view of the times, despite the GER
tain increase which Is sure to follow in
rentals.
1.-The same rule holds true as to the many
individual improvements in the rapidly ex-
banding business section OF the city on the
north Of G street northwest In these inter-
secting streets running east and west and
north and south the fronts of many build
ings formerly occupied as dwellings are
being torn out and store and office struc-
lures completed. Scores OF these improve
ments are under way. while during the past
year many have been completed. All are
rented. and owners should look to the future
In these improvements and make their
changes and engagements ample and com
modious."