The Washington herald., 1910-05-04

One Of the largest building prsposi-
tiOns in Washington this year is the re-
building Of the Riggs House into a com
bined hotel and theater at an estimated
cost Of more than $51g10.
While the plans Of the projectors OF
the great building have not as yet been
made public, many Of the details Of the
enterprise have been repeated by per-
sons in one way and another connected
Wi-h the project II is understood that
the principal members OF the Riggs Com
pauy, which viii be the name of the
corporation owning and operating the
building was held last Wednesday. az
which the building plans were gone over
in detail and accepted.
The designs were made by a New York
architect. and are said TO call for the
erection OF a structure ten stories high
Of a beautiful and ornate style. The
site of the new building viii include the
present Riggs House and the property
OF the old Metropolitan Bank, acquired
10y Francis Riggs several months ago.
VIII USe Entire Site.
The entire site viii be utilized in the
construction of a moderH hotel and thea
ter Of which, il is understood. p. 3.
Chase will be the lessee. In addition 10
the theater VIII be a high-class cafe and
a buffet. leases for which are under
.necotiation by persons well known In
those fields of catering 70 the public
taste.
The theate- VIII occupy the greater
part Of the ground floor space 20 the
third story Of the building. This. It IS
understood, viii be at the north side OF
the building. with an imposing entrance
on G. street The hotel Office viii be on
the opposite side, with entrance on Fif-
teenth street. with the cafe and buffet
adjoining. Above the hotel lobby and
mezzaEiDe floors VIII be large parIors and
attractive rooms for the use Of the hotel
patrons. The upper stories viii be de-
voted TO the purposes of the hotel
Built of steel and Granite.
+ The structure win be a huge steel
frame. faced with Iieht-co-ored granite
IN the lower construction. with light
marble and appropriate ornamentatioa
above. II is understood 10 be the pur-
pose OF the corporation to remove both
buildings occupying the site and con-
struct an entirely new building upon
modern lines, strong and durable
The theater, said 20 be the new Chase
theater Will be a vaudeville house OF
large capacity. which will be dtted ont
w--h al the newest and most approved
facilities Of such a structure
Z The hotel viii be Of equally attractive
and useful design. IL being the purpose OF
the corporation 10 establish a house which
viii appeal directly TO the most fastidious
tastes OF the travelling public and invite a
large and wealthy clientele. palm gar
dens and special features Of the modern
hotel viii he installed. and the interior
decorations will be such as 10 compare
favOrably with the best hotels in Wash
ington and other cities.
Roof Garden a Feature.
The entire structure viii be surmounted.
II is said, by a roof garden, which IS in
tended to be one Of the most pleasing
features of the new hosteIry. As Yet no
hotel in Washington is equipped with one
of these summer night accessories, so
popular I'm some Of the Eastern cities.
and which VIII naturally prove a blessing
TO WashiuEtoniaus bound TO the city dur
ing the riSors Of the summer season. II is
understood that this feature viii be in
the nature Of a surprise and a delight 20
the residents of the Capital
The hotel viii be fitted out with about
$50 rooms and suites for the use Of the
travelling public and those who may wish
20 make them more permanent abode.
Each room or suite viii have It's bath.
and special attention has been given in
planning the building 20 the elevator
service and other accessories which endear
hotels 10 a fastidious and eNacting public.
II is understood that the building plans
are now so far advanced that coustruc-
ton work will begin as soon as the
present leases on the Riegs House expire
and possession OF the property can be had
b orporation. Il is likely that the
demolition of the old buildings Will be be-
gun during the coming summer and con-
struction operations started as soon as
feasible thereafter.