Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-12-11

Inc recent sale OF the property at the
southwest corner Of 18th street and Jeffer-
son place attracted more than the usual
amount of attention, due. OF course, to
the location Of the property and also to
the probable uses for which, in new
| hands, it is intended. While the exact
location given is entirely correct, yet ow-
Ing to the fact that Connecticut avenue
| In its oblique course through the city
passes the tuncture of these two streets
so closely as to bring the property prac.
| tfca1ly on the avenue, it can also be
| spoken of as on that avenue.
This latter fact gives the transaction a
prominence that 1t would not otherwise
have, for Connecticut avenue property is
| just now quite a feature Of the market
Not that 1t is a particularly new phase OF
| such property. for it has existed ever
since the avenue doomed up as a business
| thoroughfare. some ten years and more
ago. What is interesting just now about
that locality is the question as to it's flu
ture. There are some investors and op-
orators in real estate who look upon Con-
necticut avenue as likely to be one Of the
principal. il not the principal business
street Of the city.
In consequence its development is
| watched closely. and the transaction
mentioned above is regarded as OF
Importance for the reason that it is
regarded by some as the first break
of business into the section between NJ
street and Dupont Circle. The price and
the purchaser both appear to indicate
that 1t is business and not residential
uses that are now intended. The i'm
provements on the property consist of a
three-story and basement structure which
for some time has been used as board
ing house. 1t is understood that the
new owner, James NJ. Johnston, intends
to adapt the building to business il there
is an opportunity to use it In that way.
The price paid is said to have been about
S35. 900. The lot is 27.19x124 feet and the
total area is 3,371 feet, running back to
an alley.
Vicinity of Dupont Circle.
Quite recently there we're several trans
actions in the vicinity of Dupont Circle.
In fact fronting on that reservation. A
couple of houses on the west side and
adjoining the house at the southwest
corner of the circle and P street were
purchased by Mr.. Johnston, and it was
stated at the time that the new owner
would change the property for business
paid was about SO per square foot, cal
culating the value as based entirely upon
the ground without regard to the value of
the Improvements.
1t is a Circumstance worthy of note
that about the same time a piece of
vacant ground on the opposite side of
the circle and fronting on New Hamp-
shire avenue was purchased and the price
paid per foot was the same. But there
was no thought In the mind OF Z. b.
Grandin. the purchaser OF the property
last named to use 1t for business pur-
poses, and he is having plans prepared
for residence for his own use to be
erected ihare.
This is a locality of fine houses. as adj
joining on the south the lot referred to
stands the residence of Mrs. Hit, which
has just been completed. Still farther
along Is the ornate Patterson house, while
at the corner of p street and the circle is
the Boardman home and on the triangular
ground opposite is the large Wadsworth
residence. When the Grandin house is
built the only remaining vacant ground
on the circle will be the large lot at the
northwest corner of Connecticut avenue
and the circle. The opposite side of
Connecticut avenue. the point Of the tri-
dwelling, but the building there has
been used for some years for various
business purposes.
Theory Of Observers.
The theory of those who have studied
the situation Is that possibly the property
to some extent at least on the west side
of the circle will ultimately fall into the
channel of business uses, but that this
will not affect the use of the property on
the other side for residences In other
words such a theory is based on the prac-
tice IN this city of business going along
the lines of the car tracks. In this in
stance the tracks turn at the circle and
pass along the west de.
The vacant ground at the southwest
corner of New Hampshire avenue and
Riggs street Is to be improved by the
erection Of a house for Reed Johnson, the
plans for which have been prepared by
Clark Waggaman. The ground Is TRAN
gular in shape. but the stretch on the
street is sufficient to allow a good 'front.'
age for the house. In fact the new struc-
ture vii be almost square. as the depth
has been proportioned so as TO leave a
space at the rear.
The exterior walls will be OF stone OF
light shade. and the treatment will be OF
the prevailing French style, but expressed
In the moderate fashion VIII ch is lus-
trated In the houses which Mr.. Wagga-
man designed, and which have been erect