Evening star., 1909-05-16
AVENUE FRONT VALUES
Commission to WreStle With
High-Priced Land Problem.
HEARING BEGINS MONDAY
Report Of Condemnation Recon-
mendations by July l.
ALL DONE BUT ONE SQUARE
Experts Will Have Submitted Opin-
ions by June Is, Is An
l. ticipation.
ALL DONE BUT ONE SQUARE

Values of land on Pennsylvania avenue
regarded as the most desirable of all in
the five squares between Pennsylvania
avenue and the Mall. 14th and 10Th streets,
: wanted by the government. will be con-
sidered next week before the condemna-
ton commission which is fixing the worth
of the realty In the five squares.
The commission resumes its sessions to-
morrow afternoon in room 13 of the Dis
trict building Experts will take the wit
ness stand to give their opinions as to
the value of the sites and improvements
of the grocery store of G. G. Cornwell at
14l2-1S PENNSYLVANIA avenue. the Regent
Hotel at the corner of 18th street and
Pennsylvania avenue and Chase's Theater
at 10Th and E streets.
Through by July 1.
1t is expected that another month will
Be required to complete the testimony to
be introduced regarding the five squares.
That will mean the ending of the open
sessions OF the commission about June
Is. Shortly after then the commission
probably will make complete report to
the District Supreme Court regarding the
value of the seventy-five parcels of land
in the five squares.
Those in close touch with the commits
missions report in the hands of the court.
Then will begin the transfer of the par
GELS to the United States government.
The commission has already heard all
the testimony regarding the value of
land in four squares. Testimony in re-
gard only 20 the square between Penn
sylvania avenue, E. 14th and 10Th streets
remains to be put in. AS that is re-
valuable parcels in the five squares, some
high values are expected to be placed on
the parcels of the expert witnesses pro-
duced by the owners.
Valuation Set on Land.
An indication of the high value at
which some real estate men place the
property facing on Pennsylvania avenue
between 14th and 18th streets was given
at the last session of the commission,
when the parcel at the intersection of
14th street and the avenue was con-
sidered S. Duncan Bradley, local real
estate man and witness for the owner
OF the property. declared to the commits
sion that the land on that corner. ex-
elusive of improvements, Is worth S37 80
10 $40 per square foot. Z. II. Pillsbury
and John L. Weaver, testifying about the
same corner as witnesses for the owner.
declared that the land is worth $35 per
square foot
The parcel contains 1913 square feet of
ground At the highest figure. S4O per
square foot. that parcel of land would be
valued at $4S.92O. At $50 per square foot
the land would be valued at 42.S05.
Testifying regarding the adjoining par
eel, 14O2 Pennsylvania avenue, Mr. Brad
ley said the land was worth $50 per
square foot; and the other two experts
agreed on q valuation of $3.50 per square
foot. At the higher figure the land would
be valued at S4O,32O; at the lower. at
S31,GSO. This is exclusive of improve
ments.
Regarding the land valuation of the
next parcel. 1404-6 Pennsylvania avenue,
testimony will probably be heard Mon
day. That property is occupied by the
Florentine cafe and barber shop.
Some testimony regarding the land
value Of the site of the plumbing shop at
14O6 Pennsylvania avenue has been
heard. John l.. Weaver, testifying in be-
half of the owner, declared the land to-
be worth $3.50 per square foot.
Worth Of Other Parcels.
The value of the site Of the Baltimore
American Office, at 1410, has been consid-
ereu by the commission, and Mr.. Weaver,
testifying for the owner, declared the land
to be worth $3.50 per square foot. II. L.
Rust, another witness for the owner, es-
timated It's value at from $50 to SO 80
per square foot.
Testimony regarding the value Of the
other parcels facing on Pennsylvania ave-
nue., one belonging to G.. G. Cornwell and
running from 1412 to 141S, the other con-
Meeting VITA the Regent Hotel property
and running from 1870 to the corner of
18th street. will next be presented. The
lana owned by Mr.. Cornwell includes
10.3S0 square feet, and that of the Regent
Hotel property 1857 square feet. An
other large parcel in the square, about
which testimony is soon to be taken, is
that occupied by Chase's Theater, and
that parcel includes 1880 feet.
The testimony regarding the value of
this Pennsylvania avenue property to be
given by the witnesses for the govern
ment will show that others do not value
the property at the high figures set by
the experts who testified In behalf of the
owners.
The commission has also heard wit
nesses for the owners of the property
fronting on 14th street in the square
nearest Pennsylvania avenue. Testifying
as witness for the Darby Printing Com
pany at JOSS 14th street, Mr.. Weaver de-
clared that the land on which that COM
pany's building is placed is worth $50 per
square foot. ]. l.. Heiskell, another wit
ness for the owner, placed it's value at
SIS per square foot. Witnesses for A. j.
Clarke, the owner of the parcel at the
corner Of 18th and E streets, set it's value
at SIT per square foot.