The San Francisco call., 1910-03-12
OAKLAND REALTY
Markets SHOWSWfLL
Opening of Spring Season Finds
Unusually Prosperous COndi=
lion in Sales and Buildings

OAKLAND. March 1.-THE most ac-
tive spring for many years in realty
transactions has opened in Alameda
county. The sales recorded indicate
that money is plentiful and that a
volume OF business approximating a
boom, but without the imitation of
values that usually attend it. viii fol-
low in the next few months.
Several large real estate concerns
have put new tracts upon the market,
the expansion Of the city proper with
the recent annexa ton election having
necessitated the opening up of prop
critics which for many years have
been held as private estates or for
purposes of speculation.
The extensive advertising which the
city has received Of late through the
medium OF eastern magazines and va
rious publicity schemes which have
been fathered by the chamber OF COM
merce, notably the post card day, has
begun 10 display fruition in numerous
and persistent inquiries which are be-
ing made for desirable investments in
Oakland by local and foreign capt.
telists. Plans are now under way for
the construction of a series of big
business blocks in the downtown dis
trict.
TO BUILD AUDITORIUM
A contract was let this week for
the construction OF an Office building
and auditorium at the corner of Tele-
graph avenue and Williams street on
property owned formerly by the estate
-
Gently been purchased by O. Z. Allen
and Walker & Bradhoff, the announced
price being $25,7 The basement will
be fitted out for hammam baths, the
main floor divided into about ~ Offices
and the upper story being devoted to
the auditorium. which is to be AZ by
81 feet in dimension. The total cost
of the building viii approximate $35.-
000- Five hundred dollars per front
foot is the price paid for the land on
Telegraph avenue.
One of the most significant and
convincing illustrations of the recent
progress of Oakland and Alameda
county has been the tremendous ad-
vance recorded in the bank clearings
for the city During the last week
the clearings showed an increase of
Sl.7 per cent over those OF the corre-
spending week of last year. For the
week ending yesterday the clearings
were S3.5l2.0S3.S0 as against S1,932,
292 A year ago.
CHURCH PROPERTY FOR SALE
With the decision of the trustees of
the First Methodist Episcopal church
10 sell their property at the southeast
corner OF Fourteenth and Clay streets
for 5000, 600 as soon as an offer of this
amount is made. and with the prepar-
atiOns OF c ]. Heeseman to erect d
fine class A building in Clay street,
near Thirteenth, the future of Clay
street as a business center seems to
be assured. IN addition to these
transactions the II. c. Capwen com
pany is going ahead with it's prepara-
tions TO build 100000 store on the
property on the east side of Clay
street between Fourteenth and Fif-
teenth. Heeseman has already closed
lease Of his new building TO
the Jackson furniture company. which
is now located in Twelfth street, for
period Of 10 years, with-the privilege
Of renewal The structure is to be
four stories in height. with a base
ment, having a frontage of 1l3 feet ON
CLAY street. so feet on Thirteenth
street and a depth Of 100 feet. The
cost Of the building win approximate
100000.
The enthusiasm with which the citi-
ZenS OF oakland nave ftNtlN6o the psc-
posal Of the progress and prosperity
committee for the construction of
municipal auditorium has quickened
interest in A number of other large en-
terprises of public Importance.
The announcement is made that the
city government can legally and prop
erly undertake the auditorium project,
at least to the extent of authorizing
the issue Of bonds for building pur
poses and arranging for the man
agement under municipal control.
The city administration is as heartily
enlisted in the plan as are the enter
prising citizens who originated the
idea of providing in Oakland for the
accommodat OF the largest state and
national conventions that may come to
the Pacific coast.
cisco bay viii be partakers in the bene-
fits Of the big auditorium is assured by
the admirable transportation facilities
to and from Oakland provided by the
Oakland traction company. the Key
Route. Southern Pacific, Santa Fe and
Western Pacific, with the connecting
ferry lines.
These. with the well paved streets
and boulevards, will give every dis
trict in the bay cities easy and quick
transportation to and from the audi
torium.
project has been but one Of the Incl
dents OF the last week to give testi-
mony to the spirit Of progress which is
abroad in Oakland.
The real estate market has felt the
effects of the announced intention to
provide the auditorium and to complete
other public and semipublic works of
magnitude. Among the large improve
ment works that are to provide en-
ployment for thousands of men and
make a market for immense quantities
of building material during the coming
season are the municipal wharves, the
new city hall, the Bankers hotel. the
Auditorium building and the construc-
ton Of new school buildings and en-
larEement of old ones by the board of
education.
INVESTMENT OF S6,0OO,OO0
The amount of money to be repre-
sented in these Improvement works to
be undertaken and finished this season
is more than $4,000. 900. There is to be
added TO this the large sums necessary
10 carry out the permanent improve
ment of more than 200 blocks of streets
in the downtown section, and many
miles in the recently annexed districts.
When the other expenditures of trans
nil a M Ia hrc