The San Francisco call., 1908-10-05
BUILDING ACTIVITY
IN CITY OF OAKS
More Houses in Course OF Com
structiOn Than at Any
Previous Time
Opening of Taft & PennOyer's
Fine Store Important
Business Event

JAkLAND, Oct Unusual ACTIVITY
aas been manifest in the real estate
market during the last week. Build
ing records show that there are more
houses in course Of construction in
this city now than at any other time in
its history. while the number of un-
usually large buildings that are near
ing completion is extraordinary.
one of the most important events of
the week in the eyes of the business
and real estate world was the occu-
pancy OF their magnificent new store,
at the corner Of Fourteenth and Clay
streets, by the firm of Taft & Pen
noyer. The new Taft & Pennoyer
building, while not the largest, is one
OF the best appointed and best planned
dry goods stores IN the United States.
Before the plans We're drawn H. c.
Taft travelled through the largest cities
of this country, seeking the very best
ideas. He found some in New York,
some in Chicago, some in Los Angeles.
but he drew the greatest portion Of his
plans from the magnificent McCreery
store at Pittsburg. which is credited
with being the most perfect dry goods
store in the country. The new Taft
: d Pennoyer building contains many
improvements on the Pittsburg model.
HANDY FOR SHOPPERS
Five years ago, when Taft & Pen
nOger bought the present site. it was
thought that the locality was too far
removed from the business center to
be available for successful store.
The trend Of business during the last
few years has dissipated this idea and
the big Taft & Pennoyer block is as
handy to shoppers as any block in the
city. From West Oakland. from San
Pablo avenue, from Fourteenth street
and from Washington street il is most
conveniently reached. Although the
store has only been open a few days.
the confidence that Taft & Pennoyer
have in Oakland has been accorded
gratifying tribute by the shopping
public.
FINE APARTMENT HOUSES
Among the other large buildings
which viii soons be ready for occupancy
is the spacious Madison Park apartment
house, which viii be thrown open TO
the public October Is. The building is
located at the corner of Ninth and Oak
streets and IS one of the largest and
most thoroughly equipped structures
Of its kind ia the United States. The
most impressive features from the out
SIDE are its great size, the excellent
provisions for lighting and Ventila-
tion and the attractiveness of the
erchitecturaf design. There are in the
outer walls Of the building S25 win
dows, j is I'VE stories high and con-
talns 100 apartments. Each suite is
fitted with a private telephone, steam
heat hot and cold water and bath. All
Of the furnishings for the house have
been ordered from Oakland firms. The
owner is G. n MacGregor.
Herbert c ChiVers, the local archi-
tect has prepared plans for one of the
handsomest homes on this side of the
-
medera avenue, directly east of the
entrance TO Piedmont park.
BUILT LIKE A CASTLE
The house will be three stories, To-
veil back on 4 high terraced lot,
V-r. deep embankment at the lower
edge. mere garage viii be located
and an underground passageway will
be con tructed TO the basement of the
residence. The architectural design
Will be simple but effective in the
the exterior finished in frame veneered
in rough clinker brick
The construction OF apartment houses
continues 10 be feature or local build
ug operations. Among the new fats
which are now or VIII soon be in
course Of construction are those to be
of Berkeley. Plans have been drawn
FOR the building by Architect c. NJ.
cook. The cost of the fats will be
$4,000. Architect Cook has also pre-
pared plans for two fat buildings to
be put up for Hugh Flynn in Eighth
street between Linden and Chestnut.
The cost viii be $4,000.
BUILDING PERMITS
Permits for the following fat build
fngs were granted last week by the
board Of public works:
. G. A. Young two story. II rooms east side
o. Fourth avenue south Of East Fifteenth street
$3.50 f. N. Hinch. two story. i rooms east
side Of Piedmont avenue north OF Randwick
street. So 500; Neary & Hincb. three story il
rooms. northeast Of Moss and Leighton
streets 81. 750; W. T. Rhodes. two story nine
rooms. north side Of FOrty-frst street west Of
Telegraph avenue. $4,000.
A fine new building is being erected
by the Porter hall company. an organi-
"a ton connected with Porter lodge No.
2s2, Independent Order Of Odd Fellows
Ct the corner Of Nineteenth and Grove
streets The building. which will be
occupied by the lodge, is to be three
stories in height. with basement and
viii be fitted with all of the con-
veniences required for lodge comfort.
The following figures We're issued by
the chamber Of commerce this week.
Building permits for month-New build
ings 163. at a cost Of $3.50, 1885, Sc: altera
tions 161 at q cost Of sS4757: total
B24. at a cost OF $465.142.Ss.