Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-05-11
REAL ESTATE GOSSIP
Review of the Work Going on
Throughout City
IN WAY OF NEW BUILDINGS
Care for All Details in Municipal
Housekeeping.
CHANGES MADE IN STRUCTURES
District Workers Well Occupied, AL
though There Is No Boom in
That Line.
CHANGES MADE IN STRUCTURES

are torn up ana the Slut0dlhS nave uASoP-
peared. then those w.njse minds are on
other subjects THAI such material ones as
new buildings and new street pavements
are obliged to take notice.
Such is the condition of things in this city
at this time. Public work on the streets
for the year has begun. and what is au-
thorized in the way of new pavements and
sidewalks has been started at least in part.
and from now on for a good part of the
summer 1t may be expected the streets of
the city will be more or less torn up.
The Avenue Improvement.
The biggest undertaking OF the kind is
the repaving of Pennsylvania avenue, and
when the width and the length OF that
thoroughfare are taken into consideration it
be easily realized that, covering such
great surface with new paving material is
not only long but an expensive process.
Something like a half million dollars is to
be spent the avenue between now and
the fall months when the work is expected
to be completed.
The outlay for street repairs and i'm
provements of all kinds during the present
season will be large, as is generally the
case. for the housekeeping of the national
capital is after the most approved type.
and far as possible the aim is to keep
everything in neat and orderly condition.
Condition of the Streets.
1t is for that reason the streets of the
city do not have that run down -at-the- heel
and neglected look which is common in
other cities where the curbing is allowed to
fall over and become uneven and the pave
ment is permitted to go along without nee
essary repairs. OF course there are places
here and there in the city which have been
neglected, but they are evidently not of long
standing, and as a rule the streets are kept
in on RI
sons are made with Similar conditions in
other places. 80. .....I . ...--
While the public work is in full blast and
is prominently called to the general atten-
ton because mainly the pIssers-by are
obliged TO walk around piles s,sf debris and
pick their way over the rough; places. there
is at the same. thine considerable going on.
due to the progress of private wsrk. 1t
would be surprising to a good many, who
have an idea that there is not much being
done just now'ein the way Of new con-
in the area of their 1fafty routine of travel
from business to their h9peesa, .v...
Adding to Buildings.
1t is probable a little observation of the
sort will convince anyssdne..that a good
many additions will te made to the number
of buildings of various kinds In this city
before the close, of thespresent season. The
erection of new structWres does, not include
all the activity in building that is going on
for no reference is made to the enlaEging
and improving of existing structures The
latter is a. feature. of the work OF the pres
ent season which has an Importance that
perhaps it never assumed before.
The most notable Instance of adding to
structure that can be found in current op-
erations is what is being sdone to the resi-
dence of Mr.. John r. Mclean. at the
southwest corner"of 18th and streets. AS
is we'll known, this house, which was
famous in former days as the residence of
Hamilton Fish when he was Secretary of
State. occupies the entire frontage of the
square between 18th street and Vermont
avenue and has charming outlook on Nc
Pherson Square. .-.g
The italian Style.
The garden or lawn inclosed by brick
wall which extended along street and also
along the Vermont avenue front, is now to
be completely occupied with an extension
of the house, which will add an area that
will be equal to If not greater than that
of the old house The entire exterior is to
be changed The face bricks are being re-
moved from the walls that have been left
standing. and their places are to be taken
by bricks of another shade of color.
The alterations are designed in the italian
style of architecture, and it is expected the
finished result will be as effective as such
q mass might be expected to be. The ex-
tent of what Is being done may be realized
better when 1t is stated that the amount
is in the neighborhood of $50 600
The Old Spanish Patio.
The suggestion is made to the architects
asked to compete in furnishing plans for
the building for the American republics, to
be erected on the old Van Ness square.
that provision might be made for a court in
the center of the interior of the building
1t followed naturally the discussion of
the type of architecture to be adopted and
the conclusion reached that as the South
American republics were Jointly interested
In the bureau for which this home Is to be
provided the Spanish type might be found
to be best adapted. or at least more appro-
pirate than anything else.
OF course. II the architecture of such
building is to be Spanish that characteristic
feature of the house of the people in nearly
all Spanish-speaking countries. namely, the
patio. or interior court, could hardly be
omitted But even II such condition did
not exist that method of planning a build
ing. and especially large one and one,
too. that Is to be used for the purposes of
public structure, has good deal to COM
mend it.
Pension Office Court.
AS an independent proposition. without
regard 10 the requirements OF what is known
as the Spanish type In architecture, the in
terror court is good thing In this climate
A practical demonstration of this Is found
in the Pension Office building, which has
the reputation of being the best ventilated
and the best lighted building occupied for
public uses in this city. These admirable
qualities are attributed to the fact that
the building is series of rooms three tiers
high. built about rectangular court. This
court has a permanent roof of iron and
glass.
Access to the office rooms in the three
tiers is by means of galleries which extend
around the court. The court is well lighted.
and the rooms. extending through from the
do oil Of thn httil1 ino To fha nllrt
have light well air from both sides.
There are no interior corridors and dark
and badly lighted passageways in this
building, while the decorative quality of
the court. with it's great pillars supporting
the weight of the roof. has been fully dem
onstrated on occasions when the building
has been used for inaugural balls.
A New Subdivision.
The work of laying out new subdivision
OF ground is to be started during the
present season under the direction of
Thomas ]. Fisher & Co., the agents of the
Chevy Chase Company. 1t Is the intention
OF the latter corporation TO make avail