The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-07-23
Question of Ultimate Status
as Realty Proposition Again
Much Discussed.
PREDICTED SLUMP
FAILS TO ARRIVE
Construction Has Not Outrun
City's Growth, Declares
Leading Builder.

The Ultimate status Of the apartment
house as a realty proposition in the Dis
trict Of Columbia Is a problem 17no1
which many builders and realty oper-
ntOrs are now figuring.
This form Of dwelling has been stead
iIy growing In favor each year durfu-
the past decade. and as this season is
progressing there Is every indication Of
q continuance OF the increase IN 0oDu-
larity. despite the fact that some Of the
more conservative dealers last year pre-
ciCJeG that there wOCId be a uotfcea bic
falling OF IN apartment construction
These same dealers with others added
70 their ranks. are now saying that The
slump IS sure % arrive next year, and
that the number Of new buildings VIII
grow smaller each year thereafter until
the issuance OF a permit for this type
Of building viii be as rare as a horse
car.
Different Views Expressed.
These men argue that the city Is al
ready oversuppIied with apartments.
and that with the many houses being
built each year. the growth in popuIa-
ton does NOT warrant the increase. They
assert that Il is only a question Of a
short time before the apartments built
more than two years ago VIII commence
to reduce rents.
Those men interested III realty who
are Of a more optimistic belief regard
lnE apartment houses. contend that the
present Indications are that there is no
limit 10 this form Of dwelling and that
81 the rate the population is increasing
the present activity IN building can
continue Indefinitely
OF course. II IS admitted that some
- IL
Than three-GIaTrers filed with tenants.
and are not paying more than Der cent
net on the money invested but in the
plore recent ones the owners are de-
upon the Investment
Estimate Based On Census
One prominent builder said that at
the rate WashinEton-s population is
bounding upwards. at least thirty aver
EEe-size apartment houses could be
built each year without the slightest
fear OF overlooking the market or be
coming white elephants so TO speak
According To the census said this
builder W washington IS gazing 5-g1J per-
soHS year Averaging four persons -
2 family. this would mean 1.-50 new
families each year % be housed in some
way or other There are about 900 houses
being built each year. thus leaving
Enough families not provided for which
bouId be taken care of by new apart-
nentS houses.
Figures are convincing. and these
figures would certainly indicate that
there is no occasion for alarm about
the future Of tho Apartment house
Recent Operations
''The houses of this class which have
been built in WashiuEton-beE
with the PorTIanG-and which are be
ing built today. are Of an exception
ally hiEh grade. both in appearance
md construction There is every evil
Eence, too, that they viii grow better
ard more elaborate"
Among the more recent apartment
house operations are the brick StruC-
ture being built at Sixteenth and O
streets northwest that in Eizhtecnth
street. between T and L streets the
Gibraltar, III Eighteenth street be
tween California street auE EaIoraua /
road one OF WaTdmau's, at Tenth and
~ streets northwest, p fOur-story
building at Twelfth and n streets.
two in PeLWOTLh. and q large seven
story structure on Mozart street west
- Columbia road. and another large 1
pne In Seventeenth street, between I
Euclid street and COlum bfa road
Several others have just been com
pleLed IN Columbia Heights. nj Pleas
knI.-and Washington Heights