Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-06-27
REAL ESTATE GOSSIP
Group Plan of Designing City
Houses Described.
LOCAL BUILDING ACTIVITY
More Buildings Going Up Than in
the Early Months.
IMPROVEMENTS IN PROGRESS
Influence Of Lower Prices in the
Building Trades Causing Unusual
Volume Of Business.
IMPROVEMENTS IN PROGRESS

An opportunity Is seldom presented to an
architect. especially in designing city
houses of independent grouping. At the
best in the case of a building to be
erected in residence section of a
city the utmost that can be looked for
ward to is furnishing front that is har-
monious in itself but which may be more
or less affected by the surroundings en-
tirely beyond the control of the architect.
The city residence standing by itself and
with its own setting is rarely to be
found so that a design which otherwise
is effective is impaired by what is about
it and which coming from various hands
and without thought of associating results
in grouping which may be lacking in
unity or harmony. either in form or in
color.
A Group Of Houses.
These conditions which are SO common
with architects Of city houses are not to
be found in the case of the designing Of
two residences which is being done by
Hill & Kendall. architects. The site Sc
cured comprises the whole of a triangular
piece of ground formed by the intersec-
ton Of transverse avenue with rectan-
gular streets. The ground is bounded by
. street. fnelpS place ana p lOFlda avenue,
just west of Connecticut avenue and with
a wide plaza to the east overlooking the
latter avenue.
The long front of the ground is on S
street, which is also the north exposure,
and on that account IS to be treated as
inferior, not INTELLECTUALLY but in the in
terror arrangement of the two houses that
are to occupy this site. The western
portion of the ground is to be occupied
with house designed for Mr.. Runyon,
while on the eastern section will be the
home of Mr. Heath.
Colonial and French.
The former will be built Of brick with
white joints and with stone of light shade
and the woodwork finished in the same
color and will be long low structure, two
stories in height and colonial in design
The other house will have the main en-.
trance at the corner of Florida avenue
and s street and Will be treated in the
French style. the material used in the
exterior being brick and stone of a light
color.
In the case of the latter house there will
be circular entrance han with access TO
the staircase, which will be in the center
with the landing on the main floor in a
hall opening into the suite of rooms
which will have An unbroken sweep
through the entire depth of the house OF
about eighty feet.
Southern Exposure.
In the interior of the house as we'll as
that of the adjoining one the architects
have given to the principal rooms the ad-
vantage of the southern exposure so that
In this particular the main portion fronts
on Phelps place. In the case OF the most
western house the main entrance is into a
veStibule from which on either side are
doors opening into rooms which can be
used as cloak rooms. The main door o!
access Is had to the suite of rooms that
occupy the entire southern front, a stretch
of over sixty feet
Local Building Situation.
Persons who converse With architects
and builders these days and. of course
On the topic of building. are informed
that the cost is much less at presen,
than 1t has been. In other words. the
word has gone out that now is good
time TO put money in brick and mortar
There seems to be no question in the
mind of any one who is familiar with
the situation that more can be done
with money in this line now than at
any time for a number Of ears past.
The prospect from this point of view
alone is without cloud There is nc
doUb; or uncertainty. The Only quail
fication heard IS "Yf you have the
building market just now more than
any o.ner one thing. Whv there should
be such a lack, especially with condi-
tons as they are. Is q question of much
broader scope than the building market
or even the realty market. To find the
mysterious realm Of finance and prob.