Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-04-30
DEMAND FOR HIDING SITES
ONE FEATURE OF MARKET
Large Areas Sought Suitable for Rows of Dwell
in2s or Apartments Change in Fee Sys-
tenn Increases District Revenues.

A feature of the realty market at this
time that is brought to the attention OF
brokers is the demand for building sites.
This does not mean what might be termed
single building sites, with space for only
one house of the medium size. but larger
blocks suso eptible Of use either for a row
of dwellings or for an apartment house.
providing. of course, the property is in a
purely residence section.
There is however. a better market for
single building lots than has been the
case for long period. In fact. in some
localities lots have advanced in price. 1T
was not long ago that property of this de-
scription seemed to be dead. There was
no sale for it, as but few individuals were
erecting houses, but instead were buying
those built for sale. A reaction has set
in, to some extent, ct least. and individ-
ual house building is looking up.
In what are regarded as desirable resi-
dence localities the prices Of vacant
ground has been marked up. Five dollars
a foot is not high figure these days for
an inside lot twenty-five feet front. Still
larger prices have been paid in recent
transactions.
Increase in Revenue.
IL Will UOt Uc SUI ptloiiS ~ thoSS " iio
are at all interested in the effect OF the
new building regulations, and especially
of that section which provided for an en-
tire new system of fees, to know that the
latter has resulted in largely increasing
the revenue Of the Office of the building
Inspector. 1t is the opinion of the in
spector, MOI ris Hacker, that the office
during the current year will more than
earn its operating expenses, a condition
which was impossible under the old sys-
tenn which, in other respects, was recog-
reason.
1t Is rather difficult to appreciate sys-
tenn that makes the same charge for
building permit for a structure costing
thousands of dollars as for one where the
outlay might not be thousand dollars.
The anomaly was apparent to every one.
but regarded as only one of a number
of similar governmental inconsistencies
and absurdities which have always ex-
listed in the District, owing In great part
to the somewhat erratic and Spasmodic
method Of legislation followed by Con-
gress in its government of the District.
Based on Cubic Contents.
Since the list of July last. when the
new building regulations went into eff
feet, the zee charged for building per-
init is based on the cubic contents OF
the building. or in the case OF permit
for repairs on the estimated cost Of such
repairs. Before that date the fee for a
building permit was the uniform price
of So, and the significance OF the change
that has been brought about is shown by
the difference in the new and the old
charges. For example. the permit for a
large building may now run up to $50 and
more.
Last year the total revenue Of the build
ing inspectors Office amounted to about
$1,000, while this year, judging from the
Hacker that by the close OF the current
fiscal year. June 30, the receipts OF the
office will be about $4,000. The cost OF
the Office this year will be about 500, 40,
so that the revenues from the building
permits will be sufficient to pay not only