Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-05
BIG BUILDING OPERATIONS
IN PROGRESS AT PRESENT
Plans Considered for Large Apartment House at
South End of Connecticut Avenue Bridge-Resu1t
of Two Twists in Line of Thoroughfare.

A'he residence at the southwest corner
of Connecticut avenue and I street, hav-
ing wide frontages on 1 street or Far
ragut square, as well as on the avenue.
is being remodeled so that the first floor
will be suitable for use for business pur-
poses. The upper floors will be arranged
as bachelor apartments. The property is
owned by H NJ. Wilson of New York,
who purchased it recently through Horace
S. Westcott, real estate broker, from Rev.
Mr.. Howell.
1t is understood the price paid was in
the neighborhood of $4,000. The lot Is
wedge-shape with the blunt end in the
rear. The total area is about 1 900 square
feet.
Large Building Operations.
The building operations of Harry Ward
man continue on a large scale. In addl-
ton to the houses which he is now build
ing and which are estimated to number
about one hundred, he is erecting several
apartment houses. One of these, at the
southwest corner of 18th street and Flori-
da avenue, is now about completed. 1t
is in fact two buildings, as the sections
are separated by an intervening court or
space.
Another structure of the same charac-
ter is being built on the north side of V
street between 18th and 18th streets with
a frontage of seventy-five feet. An eX-
tensive building is the one going up on
the east side of 18th street just north of
Columbia road. The ground extends
through to old 10th street, thus giving
TWO frontages of about 10 feet each.
Big Apartment House.
A much larger apartment building en-
terprise than any of those mentioned is
ing of building at the southwest corner
OF Connecticut and Kalorama avenues an
apartment house seven stories in height
and of fireproof construction throughout.
The site is large one, the ground
plan area of the building will be on an
extensive scale.
In order to make such an improvement
the old frame house now there will be
taken down. The adjoining ground TO
the west is also to be improved by the
erection of d large residence.
Both of these properties overlook the
plaza which has been formed at the south
entrance of the new Connecticut Avenue
bridge over Rock creek, and on that ac-
count their situation and surroundings
have been much improved since the COM
p!etlon of the bridge Instead of the
usual outlook which Is afforded by To-
cation on the average city street this
property commands in the Immediate
foreground the wide plaza of the bridge
entrance, and then view across the
bridge and the gorge of Rock creek. In
turn whatever improvements are erected
there will close the view from the bridge
itself. which is now continuation of
Connecticut avenue.
Plan of City Disregarded.
In the latter particular one of the main
features Of the plan of the city has been
set aside. as in no place where the origi-
nal design is followed are the vistas of
streets and of avenues closed by back
ground Of private property. On the con-
trary, park or statue some place
which remains within the control of the
public is to be found at such points of
vantage. so that the decorative effects in
the street plans are not left TO the taste
and to the Judgment of individuals
In this instance il is regarded as nos
s,ble that the buildings which will be
erected on the properties mentioned, and
which will be in full view of those drv-
Ing across the bridge moving toward
the center of the city will be worthy of
such conspicuous situation.
A Twist in the Avenue.
On the other hand that is a matter that
lies entirely within the discretion of the
individual owners and about which the
public can exercise no control. This sit
uation. SO different from that which OBJ
tains in other sections of the city. is
brought about by turn in the straight
continuation of the line of Connecticut
avenue. One such deviation was made
at the foot of the hill. where the avenue
meets Columbia road, and the result is
quite apparent by a glance up and
down the broad expanse of that thorough
fare.
There is an obtrusiveness about the
buildings which is not to he found else
ere and the Mcclellan statue has or
have. a background. not the foil
age and the graceful proportions Of a