Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-01-29
Decline in Demand for Lots.


ture OF the market. as the form of realty
most largely and generally dealt in,
whether for investment or for specula-
ton. they fell to second and then to third
place. The shading off in prices was
however, marked even more SO than their
disappearance as an element in the active
demand. Lots which figured on the books
OF real estate Offices as worth between
one and two dollars a foot and more were
marked down repeatedly until the prices
were recorded in cents and not in dollars.
While this quiet revolution in values
was going on within the section of the
city south of Florida avenue there was
rapid advance of the strictly urban con-
struct1on to the north of that original
boundary line of the city until the great
tracts OF land We're covered with houses
AS rule this course of the city'S growth
followed the line of the trolley reads, and
as the demand for house accommodation
continued TO be felt building activity was
turned again To the wide stretch of land
lying between the closely built up portion
Of the city and Florida avenue. Here the
competition in the market had had its
effect. and it was found that land could
probably be bought for use either for
houses or for apartment houses. Hence
Il happened that the older section became
also the scene of a portion of the great
building activity that has been such a
marked characteristic of the city's devel-
opment
One result of what has been done dur
ing the past few years has been to I'LL
up with houses the stretches of commons
that formerly lay TO the east OF the Capt.
tol. as well as the many vacant spaces
in the northern sections. At the present
time land is in demand for the purpose of
Improving IL, and its speculative charac-
ter is confined mainly to acreage property
beyond the closely built up sections of
the city Another change is the increase
IN the use OF property in Maryland and
Virginia by those whose business inter
ests and occupation lie in the city.
There is at the present time what might
be described as a fringe of settlements
lying along the boundary of the District
within the borders of both states. while
between them and the streets OF the city
lined with rows of houses are ranges of
unoccupied and unimproyed land. The
situation OF this outlying land in its re-
lation TO the center of the city IS now
compared by close observers TO that of
the belt of unoccuped land within the
original bounds of the city and known as
the commons at time when Mount
Pleasant, Columbia Heights and Wash
ington Heights began TO be developed into
resident sections.
Sale of Sites for Homes.
1t would be mistake to suppose that
the market for single building lots has
entirely disappeared, as large business
is still done and is likely to be done in
subdividing acreage property into build
ing lots and then placing the latter on
the market. In several cases the pro-
motors of these enterprises have by ex-
tensive advertising brought such prop
crty to the attention Of people through
out the country and in that way large
number OF sales have been made. 1t is
also possible to dispose of lots to those
who live here, but for the most part 1t
is now the fashion for those who make
subdivisions also to build houses.
IL is improbable the time will ever