Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-01-30
LARGE NEW HOTEL
On Site of the Academy of the
Visitation.
GIVE CHECK FOR PURCHASE
New York Capitalists Make First
Payment to Sisters.
TOTAL AMOUNT IS $750,000
Fine Modern Structure to Be Ereab-
ed on the East Side of Con-
necticut Avenue.
TOTAL AMOUNT IS $75O,OO0

The negotiations for the purchase of the
property of the Academy of Visitation,
on the east side of Connecticut avenue
between l. and De Sales streets, were
closed yesterday. The purchasers, who
are New York capitalists, intend to erect
on this site hotel building. Their rep
resentative in the transaction, Alexander
Mcneil and Randall H. Hhgner. called yes
terday morning at the academy and hand
ed to Sister Gabrielle. who is in charge, a
certified check for the first payment OF
the purchase money. 1t is said the en-
tire amount to be paid is $7Jo,oOo.
The land that will be conveyed occupies
an entire square bounded by Connecticut
avenue, De Sales street. L. and ltth
streets and comprises 1869 square feet,
and on the basis of the amount paid, the
price per square foot is about S6.Io. Ihe
greatest frontage is on 18th street, where
it extends for distance of 400 feet,
while it fronts on Connecticut avenue
324 feet. 1t is the intention OF the pur-
chasers, whose names are not given, to
at once organize q company for the pur-
pose of holding the property, and also for
improyinr it as stated. The plans for the
proposed building have been prepared by
Goodwin, Starrett & Van Week, archl-
tects, of New York city, and the con-
tract for the construction has been given
to the Thompson-Starr Company.
Costly New Structure.
The expenditure for the contemplated
improvements will be very large, as II is
planned to erect a flreproof structure
extending to the height permitted by the
building regulations. and covering prac-
ticallyq all of this great building site
The hotel building in its interior arrange
ments will be the latest type of structures
of that sort, and will combine one of the
features that has attracted attention to
the Plaza Hotel in New York city. On
some of the floors the arrangement of
the rooms will combine the apartment idea
with that of the hotel, thus providing
suites of rooms for the use of those who
desire that sort of accommodations.
The front of this great building will
not follow the line of the avenue, which
tends gradually to the west, but will fol-
low st aight line drawn from the cor
ner of the square at Connecticut avenue
and L street. This will bring the front
of the hotel at De Sales street some dis
lance east of the building line on Con-
necticut avenue, and the large area thus
provided will be utilized as the site of
rounded projection one-story in height,
which will be known as the orangery.
This semi-circular room, arranged as a
sort of a grove of fruit trees, will be the
cafe of the hotel, and. with it's outlook on
the avenue and southern exposure, will
prove, it is thought, an attractive feature
of the first floor of the hotel, which is to
be devoted to public uses. The approach
to the cafe will be by a wide corridor,
lighted by windows looking out on the
avenue, and intended for a general meet
ing place.
Court Of Large Size.
On the east side of the corridor will be
the offices of the hotel, and back of them
a court of generous proportions arranged
as an Italian garden. There will be din
ing rooms on the north side opening from
corridor leading to the section of the
building fronting on 18th street In this
latter part will be an auditorium of
capacious seating capacity, which also
can be used for balls and social func-
tions.
1t is intended to have a court of such
size that the rooms opening out from it
will have the advantages of light and
air, and will be classed as desirable. as
what are known as outside rooms or
those with windows on the street 1t is
understood that the enterprise has been
thoroughly financed SO that it will be
possible to begin at an early date the