Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-08-22
BIG As AN ENTERPRISE
South of the Avenue Scheme
Looks to Be Real.
CHANGE IN THE SITUATION
Practical Effect in Reducing the
Area for Business.
PROBABLE COURSE OF BUYING
Current Indications That Point to
the influence on Other Localities
Of the Plan.
PROBABLE COURSE OF BUYING

The south of the avenue project is by
no means a new one. The purchase by
the government of all the land lying on
that side of the thoroughfare from the
Treasury to the Capitol has been talked
of for years past. At the same time 1t
appeared to be one of those ideals which
was not likely to be realized-very beau
tiful and desirable, no doubt, but hardly
tangible. That has perhaps been the at
titude of the average mind toward this
scheme of civic Improvement.
The situation, however, has changed
materially owing to the enactment at
the last session of Congress of law
providing for the purchase of the tier of
squares fronting on the east side of 18th
street and stretching south from Penn
sylvania avenue to B street or the Mall.
Already the preliminary steps have been
taken toward starting the necessary legal
machinery for gaining possession of the
property through condemnation proceed
ings.
Only the Beginning.
This is a very practical aspect of the
matter. II is no longer as remote as once
seemed to be the case. 1t is now recog-
nized that this is the beginning of Sc
ries of acquisitions of land by the gov
eminent in the same general locality,
which. it is believed, will inevitably end
with tine public ownership of the entire
stretch on the south side of Pennsylvania
avenue from Sd to 18th streets. What
is being done is an object lesson to a
large number of skepticaf and uncertain
citizens that the dreamer's dream is
coming true.
Question Is Practical.
This is a practical question, especially
with those whose business is located in
the section indicated. If the change is
going to be made, some provision must
be devised to find suitable quarters else
where. Quite number of the property
holders have realized the possibilities OF
the situation and have taken time by the
forel0ck and secured other locations. In
fact, so much of this has been done that
many have attributed to it the improving
market that has been noted in recent
years in the region lying west of 18th
street and north of Pennsylvania avenue
with as yet a huctuating and Indefinite
line marking the northern bounds. and
also il may be said the western bounds
Of course. the more recent manifesto
tons of activity in property in that sec
tion has been assigned by some to the
changes in the line of travel brought
about by the location of the Union sta
w
center has had and is going TO have a
profound influence on the direction and
the character of the developments of
property, not merely about that center,
but more particularly to the west of it,
and in the region which lies between ii
and the main business center Of the
city and the main large residence section
still the concentration which will be in
evitabIe from such proposed absorb
ton OF property for public uses has a
potent influence on what is now much
of the current business of the market.
Extent Of Business.
II IL recognized that the growth of Tho
business section is conditioned ON the
capacity OF the city to support interest:
OF that kind. Such expansion depend:
on the increase of the population. for
after all. the commercial and other inter
ests OF The city are mainly supplyin
,ocal wants and is retail in its natur,
rather than wholesale. But here is
case where the locality devoted for Year.
TO business is suddenly lessened i'm area
and I'm it's effects ii Is like an enlarge
ment of the volume Of trade. For il re
suits in increasing the market for prop
erty I'm that portion of the city and il
extending its bounds in much the same
fashion as if there had been actua
growth TO that extent of the bushes
facilities
The effcc, on property values as wei
a. on the number of transactions * Seel
In the pushing to tho north and the ives
of business improvements. Periiap