The Washington times., 1909-08-14
Elimination of Grade Cross
ings and Cross Town Car
Lines Help.
BUILD 500 RESIDENCES
SINCE FIRST OF YEAR
Great Demand for Moderate-Priced
Houses-Large Amount of
Property Available.


built in the southeast section of Wash
inEton since the first of the year. OF
the number COMPLETED fully @ per cent
are occunia7
II Is this condition OF affairs that Is
responsible for the preparations that are
being made for the carving out OF an
even more extended building program
during the remainder Of the year. It is
likewise this condition that justifies the
statement that the southeast is TO be
ciassed with the nertEcGs. seCtiOn in the
extent of opportunities for investment
offered, and the safety with which they
NAV be made.
The demand for moderate-priced resi-
dences. which constitutes the founda-
ton Of the general building activity
that has made itself felt in the Capital
since the panic of 1907. has, of course.
been largely. responsible for the growth
OF the southeast section. There is
larEe amount of vacant ground in the
section which has been and stin may be
used 10 satisfy this demand.
In the final analysis, however, a factor
more potent that the mere existence Of
available ground has been back of the
unusual development.
improvements Cause Growth.
Stated briefly, the chief stimulus of
the growth has consisted in the inn
provements made in the section. These
have made it a far more desirable resi-
dental locality than it was even year
ago.
Decidedly improved conditions. which
were ushered in as far back a. the COM
Of eta ed 8
growth of the section as a popular one
with the home-seeker. These have been
augmented by other improvements, com
pleted only during the past Few months,
and having the effect, continuously, OF
bringing 10 light the advantages OF the
section as one I'm which TO live.
For this reason il is probable TO sup
pose that she height Of demand for
homes IN the seeuen has not been
reached, which makes It Fairly certain
that the investor and builder viii incur
less risk now than ever before on specu-
Iations made in southeast property.
Union Station Helps.
The first big Improvement made in the
section, which Immediately set the tide
in toward a demand for homes, came
with the abolition Of the railroad tracks
when the tunnel TO Union station was
completed. This was coineident with
the opening Of the station.
Formerly parents found objection 10
living in the southeast because. in many
instances their children had to cross
the railroad tracks OF the way 10 school
This Was a feature which did not exist
10 such an extent IN some OF the other
sections. and il undoubtedly retarded
the southeasts growth 10 no slight eX-
tent.
When the tracks were taken up and
the objection removed the effect on the
territory adjoining was nouceaple al
once. And the streets themselves aiOnS
which the tracks were laid began to he
improved, so that the demand for houses
upon them recorded a substantial IN
crease. This was especially true OF l.
street and pennsylvania avenue.
Undoubtedly the greatest recent i'm
prOvement, and perhaps the greatest OF
them all, is the CONTRADICTION OF me
crcsstoWn car line. which VIII enable
passengers 70 ride from the Navy Yard
To Chevy Chase While service on this
line has not vet been installed, anttcipa-
ton Of il has already done much toward
increasing property values and bringing
on the semblance Of a building boom IN
the southeast section.
Railway Enhances Property.
The line extends from the Navy yard
70 Eighth street. thence 10 Florida ave
nue., and the loop at Chevy Chase bridge
In every portion OF the territory through
which il passes in the southeast, prop
erty has felt the touch OF an increased
demand which promises 10 become &C
ceutuated when the line is put into
operation.
4 crosstOwu car line already in serv-
ice. which has had practically the same
effect upon the demand for land attend
ed by DO little amount Of the BrooklaHq
lire. This passes Union Station and
connects with the Anacostia line
Another new line is that on II street.
On @ street. increased car facilities
have been installed No section or
Washington has been more improved
during the past year by the enlargement
Of transportation facilities than the
southeast.
AS far as street improvements 90,
however they have not been confined 70
railway extension. Paving has played a
conspicuous part iu the development
An example Of this is afforded by South
Carolina avenue. This street has been
paved as far as Fifteenth street. and
has a width OF 80 feet. A year ago
wagon wheels would sink almost 10 the
hub on this now up-tO-date thorough
fare.
Great Amount Of Building.
spea king generally. the greatest
amount Of building has taken place
where the greatest amount of v5cant
ground has been found closest 10 the
greatest improvements rhis is n1t
very definite. for tic reason That rhC
improvements have been made I'm every
part of the section. and. likewise, tho
building has been carried on in ever
part
Especially, however building ha,
been heavy on Fifteenth. East Cap
ital. and streets. south of Lincoln
Park. The houses constructed In this
section have sold ON an average Ot
from $500 TO sg0ol
In addition, a large UbeT of resi-
dcnces have been constructed on siE
teenth street, Fourth street, near Penn
sFlVaria avenue. p street, between
Thirteenth and Fourteenth stTeets
Second and Third streets, Thirteenth
street near Pennsylvania avenue, anl
p street, between Third and Fourth
streets
Formerly where three or four houses
would be erected ia row, now from
eight TO fifteen ere built. and, i'm nearly
every instance. the aiOrity OF then
have been sold before being completed
Apartments houses have never fguret
10 any great extent iu the southeast
development but recently investors
have been branching out in this class
o. building 10 an unprecedented extent
Half Dozen Apartments.
Two apartments have been built OF
Second street near Eleventh and i'm th'
neiEhb0rhood OF nsIf a dozen dLrins
the past few months on East Caplto