Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-04-18

that some of the owners have fallen into
the habit of late of giving up their homes
for the purpose of getting some of the
high rents that are current
1t is because of this demand. shown
by the existing state of the market. that
the prediction is made Of a movement
toward supplying houses of this sort.
The question is. of course. will it pay to
build houses in the suburbs for rent?
The answer depends upon circumstances
that is. If it is to be answered in the
affirmative. IF the rent to be obtained
is only that which is ordinarily paid for
similar accommodations by those who
take them for the entire year. then. Of
course. ii is evident there would not be
any money in such an investment.
Furnished City Houses.
The houses in the suburbs. perhaps,
whether furnished or not. and which are
only wanted for what is known as the
summer season. that is. the summer
months with such portions OF the spring
and the autumn annexed as suits the
taste and the fancy of the individual.
come very properly in the class with the
furnished houses in the city which are
to be leased for the winter season. This
sort of property is found to he profit
able. even though the renting period is not
more than four or SIX months. for the
reason that the income therefrom is a bout
the same whatever the period of the lease
may be.
1t is probable that in some portions of
the suburbs just now one hundred houses
more than the number that are available
for such purpose could be leased. While.
to a certain extent. the demand for sum-
mer quarters may he felt in one section
more than in another. if there were
houses TO be had In almost any portion
it seems probable that tenants would be
found for them. such is the extent and
the nature of the market i'll this respect.
Suburban Experience.
A situation of this kind. it is conceded,
has but one outcome. The effort will be
made to supply the demand. Houses will
be built in the suburbs for the use of
those who want them for the season only,
and in this way there will be class of
dwellings for that portion of the year
just as there are for the winter season.
This means a new experience for the
suburbs. 1t will. however. be one OF
series which have occurred in recent
years and have about transformed SUBJ
urban life and its conditions. 1t is diff
cult to say whether not RAPID transit
ought to be named as the first and most
important of the influences which have
changed the suburbs
But a question of precedence in this
line does not amount to much. The troll
ley is recognized and necessary agency
in the development OF territory. 1t has
done effective work aud is continuing to
do So With its coming population be-
gins to spread out over unoccupied areas.
and this the municipal authorities have
recognized by extending the facilities
and the conveniences of modern city life
sewers, water and lighting.
Variety in Living.
With such additions to country living
and rapid and comfortable way of
reaching the center of population the
suburbs of this city have taken on a new
lease of life and entered upon A career
Of development which will end in adding
practically to the domain of the city
large tracts of country built up with de-
tached houses and surrounded with lawns.
combining the city in the country and af
fording that variety in living which
enables all to choose the location of their
homes amid such surroundings as their
fancy or their purses may dictate.
Not an Office Locality.
A change in the market in one particu-
lar or at least, return Of market. is
noted by Charles p. Stone of the Stone L.
Fairfax Realty Company. from recent ex-
periences he has had in the sale of prop
erty. He states that during the past year
he has sold some five or six pieces OF
property in the block on + street be-
tween 9th and 18th streets northwest.
He recalls that previous TO the time in
dicated 1t had been difficult TO find mar
ket for holdings in that particular local
ity-that is to say, for several years
prior to that time. This revival in in
terest. as he regards 1t. is attributed by
him to the change which is going on in
the uses of property. Formerly it was
locality of Offices. and the buildings were
mainly used for that purpose. but now
business places are taking the place OF
the offices. and this change he looks upon
as q desirable one from the standpoint of
the property owners. for the reason that
the buildings are more fully occupied for
such purposes and such occupation Is apt
to be more permanent.