Evening star., 1909-05-29
LIST OF NEW BUILDINGS
INCLUDES OFFICE STRUCTURES
Start Made on Foundations at 9th Street and Grant
Place. Evans Edifice on New York Avenue Ready
for Occupancy " Various Hotel Schemes.

The laying Of the foundations for the
Office building to be erected al the north
west corner of 9th and Grant place has
been begun under the direction of the
contractors, 8. J. Prescott & Co. The
design. by Appleton p. Clark, architect.
is a combination of stone and brick OF
light shade. and the structure, rising to
the full height allowed by law. is ex-
pected to be an ornament to that portion
Of the city.
The new building will have a frontage
Of 40 feet on 9th street and 115 feet on
Grant place, and will be fireproof in con-
struction. Provision has been made for
the use OF the space on the first floor for
store purposes, while the rest of the floors
will be arranged for Offices.
The owner OF the property, Victor J.
Evans. will be a tenant in the new build
ing.
New Evans Office Building.
Seven months after work was begun the
large Office building on the south side of
New York avenue between 14th and 18th
streets northwest is ready for use. Next
Tuesday the building will 60 into COM
mission and the tenants will take posses
sion of their new quarters. and those who
have taken the stores on the first or
ground floor will open for business. The
broad whitestone front Of the structure
has been familiar spectacle for many
weeks as 1t has gradually risen TO its
present height and assumed the archi-
tectural proportions which the designer
intended.
The building is nine stories In height
and of corresponding breadth. An idea
Of its size can be had from the statement
that it contains 15O rooms above the first
floor Like the old structure which IL re-
places. it is known as the Evans building,
but outside of the name there is nothing
in what Is now on that site to suggest
what was there.
The new building is typical OF the
changes which have taken place in the
business needs and requirements of the
city, and is intended TO provide for the
wants of the present generation. just as
it's predecessor performed that Office for
the generation that has gone.
Various Hotel Schemes.
Attention is being given by men who are
on the lookout for chances to find profit
able investments or ways of turning over
their money to schemes for erecting hotel
buildings in this city. Projects for sup
plying a large modern structure adapted
for such uses for the custom which is
supposed Will be found in the vicinity of
such a center as the Union station have
been taken UP from time to time and
given more or less consideration, and at
least in two instances have resulted in the
actual purchase of the land which ii was
announced at the time would be devoted
to such purposes.
Only recently such a transaction was
reported and large site on the west side
of the station was said to have been ac-
quired. Earlier in the history Of the sta
- "a ~ofn hot
portion of the ground at that time used
In connection with the Baltimore and
Ohio depot terminal had been bought and
that the new owners intended to erect a
large hotel building which would occupy
one of the sites overlooking the station
plaza. However. no further steps have
been taken in either instance, but still 1t
is not doubted that such a building or
buildings will grace that locality. and
also that there will be patronage due
almost entirely TO the location.
In Search Of Sites.
Another phase Of the same subject that
covers a wider range perhaps, or at
least up to this time has attracted the
attention of a larger number of men. is
the locality north of Pennsylvania avenue
and west of 18th street. 1t is said that
even now there are men who are looking
around for some place to locate a build
ing or the SORT. ana the very last rumOr
had 1t that a site at the northwest corner
of 18th and f streets or Pennsylvania
avenue was likely to be the choice.
The next corner to the west on that side
of the avenue was actually bought for
such a use a couple OF years age and by
men who are amply able TO finance an
of large character. but since
that time the financial depression has oc-
CURED, and it is said that the same de-
gree Of enthusiasm in regard to the prof.
ect does not now exist. At any rate,
nothing further has been done.
Proposed New Structure.
The recent purchase by the Riggs es-
tate of property adjoining its holdings at
18th and G streets. known as the Riggs
House, followed by the turning of the
interests into an incorporated company.
indicates probable changes. 1t is under
stood that at the expiration of the pres
ent lease the ground will be cleared and
an entirely new structure erected which
will illustrate the ideas of modern hotel
and arrangement. 1t is esti-
mated that such a building on that site
will cost at least three. quarters of
million dollars.
The owner of the Arlington Hotel prop
erty recently purchased the adjoining
property near the corner of Vermont ave-
nue. and III street, as to complete his
holdings, and II was said al the time that