Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-08-22
REAL ESTATE GOSSIP
improvements Proposed in a
Business Section.
PLANS FOR new BUILDING
Progress Made in Providing Accom-
moda6ons for Commercial Uses.
OUTLOOK FOR RENTAL SEASON
Builders Busy in Furnishing Esti-
mates for Those Attracted
by Lowering Of Prices.

During the past week announcement
was made Of the intention to demolish
the Evans Office building on the south
side of New York avenue between 14th
and 18th streets. On the site is to be
erected building designed for use as
offices which will be nine stories in height
and of fireproof construction. The struc-
ture which is to be removed is five stories
in height and represents the type of build
ing that was erected for Office purposes
about twenty years ago.
The change to be made in the improve
ment of the property is in keeping with
the development of the section where it
more and more centered. The new struc-
ture will adjoin on the east the building
Of the r. 0. Hoffman real estate Office
which was erected quite recently for that
business. 1t will have a frontage of
eighty-five feet and the ground on the
east side has depth of ninety-one feet
and on the west side seventy-fOur feet.
The Lehman Building.
To the east Of the new structure and
occupying the corner of New York avenue
and 18th street is the Bond building, while
on the 18th street corner is a large build
ing which is used for business purposes
on the first floor and as a hotel in the
upper stories. Across the street is the
! Lehman building, adjoining the home of
the National Savings and Trust Company,
the latter occupying the northeast corner
of New York avenue and 18th street. 1t
Is understood that the Lehman building
Is going to pass into the control OF the
trust company. and 1t is supposed when
that happens some changes and improve
mentS will be made.
The holdings Of Thomas F.. Walsh occupy
a wide frontage on New York avenue, be-
ginning al it's northwest corner with 14th
street, but Mr.. Walsh has no plans under
consideration for doing nything in the
line of building.
Large New Structure.
On the east side of 18th street and the
north side Of New York avenue the old
houses 13l7-19 New York avenue are be-
ing removed by order of the owners
Messrs Chesley & Chesley, and on the
site, which has a frontage of fifty feet
and extends through the block to III street.
is IL be erected large building, which will
occupy the entire width and depth OF the
lot. 1t will be three stories on New York
avenue and two on III street, the walls
being so built 10 make il possible TO
run them up in the future if there should
be any occasion to do so. At the present
on the ground floor. which will have en-
frances from both streets. while the sec
ond floor will be arranged for use as Of
fees and on the third floor there will be
one large room, which will be convenient
for lodges meetings of any sort.
With the completion of the building the
entire frontage of that block on New
York avenue will be changed into build
ings adapted for modern uses. with the
exception of one that is still occupied as
residence. The other buildings on the
block. with. of course, the exception of
the New York Avenue Church building
which is at the east end, were up to the
last few years still in use as residences.
No Longer Residence Street.
During this period the two properties to
the east OF the Chesey property have
passed into other hands and changed into
structures suitable for business. one be-
ing owned by Christian Heurich and the
other by Owen Owen. Similar changes
of the same character have been made in
the property on the opposite side of the
block and extending from 14th street
practically to 18th street. But these were
the pioneers In the movement which has
had such results and which ended in MAX
ing that block one of business rather than
one of residences.
Still farther progress i'm that direction
is promised for the near future, large
pieces of land on both sides of the plaza
formed u the coming together of New
York avenue and ii street have been pur-
chased, the one on the north side with
the avowed purpose OF erecting there