Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-06-22
REAL ESTATE GOSSIP
Suburban Market Has Taken on
ga Normal Aspect.
SUMS APPEARANCE HELPS
Buying In of Large Tracts Con-
tinues.
BRIGHTWOOD ROAD AND 14TH ST.
Activity Across the River in Virginia
Noticeable, But Not as Great
as in Other Sections.
SUMS APPEARANCE HELPS
3RIGHTWOOD ROAD AND 14TH ST.

"After a season which has tried the pa
thence Of all interested in suburban prop
erty and development at last, thanks to
the temperance OF the and the scent
OF summer in the atmosphere. things sub
urban in the real estate line will take
on a more normal aspect" remarked an
operator in this class of property yester-
day land investors and homeseekers
should begin to get busy. even though
the season is two months behind.
Despite the bad weather the develop
ment in suburban property this spring has
been fair. though nothing to what it would
have been had the usual conditions set in
at the usual time. 1t is curious thing.
but the mind of the city dweler does not
turn suburbanward unless IL is warm
while bad and disagreeable days as re-
CARDS the weather il scarcely pays to
take possible buyers into the country. as
the mud. wet and other unfavorable condi-
lions appear to have depressing effect
whereas on bright, clear days the opposite
rule obtains. Consequently most OF the
sales made during the long stretch of bad
weather were those to buyers who were
determined to live in the suburbs. If 1t
rained all summer. which at one time we
all thought it would do.
Building has nevertheless gone on.
though somewhat retarded. from several
of houses in the WOODS on congress
Heights. around the entire suburban cir
cult to the more expensive dwellings and
villas in the northwest There has been a
good demand for villa-site property in this
latter section OF the outlying districts. ana
as the projected dwellings thereon have
ranged from $1,000 to $4,000 in cost. 1t
shows the tendency OF the market In this
direction
Acreage and Villa Property.
while most of the smaller acreage
tracts in this section have been secured
and either laid out into lots or held for that
purpose subsequently. there have neverthe-
less been several sales of this desirable
class of property and at excellent prices
for the acreage seller as we'll as for the
buyer contemplating subdivision improve
ments. Ten years ago tracts of this kind
which could have been bought for cents
foot are now selling at the rate of 10
and 80 cents a foot. 1t is not astonishing.
therefore that the more desirable of this
class of suburban property was seized upon
several years ago. and much Of II held for
future opening and development
This latter Improvement has been started
In many instances this spring with salts
factory results, the weather considered. In
several OF the newer subdivisions the houses
erected thereon have been a once occupied
by tenants. and there have been many
sales. The grading of the streets and the
levelng of the land in other subdivisions
has been hindered by the wet. but these
get their property in presentable shape for
disposal
There has been great deal of improve
ment in lot disposals, new subdivisions and
the erection of homes in that section of the
District paralleling the electric road run
ming out to Hyattsville. Much of this land
IS high and the home sites are many and
inviting. While the character of the dwell
ings as generality is not costly as in
the northwest section to which I have re-
ferred. there are nevertheless many fine and
roll hnt,, ~, Sit
vicinity. The recent improvement in the
train service into the city in this neghbor-
hood has had much to do with the encour-
agement of the homeseekers who may pre-
fer to select II as their abiding places. The
same rule holds true as to the contiguous
suburban settlements OF Brookiand and
University where many excellent street i'm
provements have kept pace with the private
development.
Suburban Improvement General
While the suburban development of the
District has been perhaps more specific in
the northwest section. 1t is true that the
movement may be said to be general in it's
character. West of Georgetown, and par
ticularly along the line of the electric road
paralleling the Potomac an unusually
large number OF new houses may be seen
this spring in the course of erection and
ready for occupancy. In this section the
land also lies high and the drainage is ex-
cellent. while access to the city is now easy
and convenient at all hours
While perhaps the center of suburban
activities may be said to lie In that sec
ton of the northwest between It'll and 14th
streets and south OF the Brightwood road,
the suburban homeseeker can find splendid
opportunities for small large invest
ments in other quarters If there were bet
ter railroad facilities in the outer north
east section this suburb would go ahead
much faster than at present, as the land
lies here so that the drainage and general
location is fine for small homes.
There has been a satisfactory develop
ment in that suburban section lying be-
tween Anacostia and Twinins City. on the
other side of the Eastern branch. and this
is especially true since the trolley line
has been extended over Washington bridge.
Prior to this time the opportunities for eX-
pansiOn We're not so good by reason Of the
lack of adequate car service into the city,
but now that this is possible, any home
seeker or investor who has not lately Wis
tied this section would be surprised to note
the number of houses which have gone up
and the many streets which have been
graded and improved. Most of the residents
here own their own homes, which while
not ostentatiOus, are comfortable and at
tractive. When the Anacostia bridge is
completed decided activity in selling and
building may be expected on this side of
the river. the land slopes well down to
the river. and it may be obtained at a fig
ure which is within the reach OF many who
could not aford 10 buy In the more expen-
s!ve localities.
Even In those sections of Virginia
which are tributary to the District and ad-
Jacent 10 the approaches of the Aqueduct
and the Highway bridges there has been a
satisfactory development in suburban fea-
lures this spring. though net OF such pro-
portions nor Of such relative value as in
the sections heretofore referred to
1t is probable by reason OF the lateness
OF the season this year as regards matters
suburban that the improvements in this
line viii continue much later in the fall
than formerly, and the activities may be
expected to continue until the cold
weather sets in. Some Inconvenience and
delay have resulted this spring in obtain
ing workmen In the outlying sections. but
this difficulty. with the others which have
beset US. may now be considered to have
been overcome. and all interested in these
sections OF the city may from now ex-
pect tc be kept busy"
Frank n. Thomas Residence Sold.
Blundon. O'Brien g. Belt. Inc. real estate