The Washington times., 1911-08-29
TWO BIG RUMORS
STIR WASHINGTON
REAL ESTATE MEN
Talk of Gimbel Brothers, of
/ Philadelphia, Coming
Ia Here.

Two rumors have been agitating
real estate men for the past few days.
One is that Gimbel Brothers, the we'll
known Philadelphia department store
firm, which has recently opened a
great department store in New York.
is coming to Washington and will
erect a huge building for a third
store. The other is that a suit against
the Washington Market Company, to
oust 1t from its location. is contem-
plated.
The first rumor has been especially
persistent, but from sources Of infor-
nation which should be authoritative
come only denials. The story is that
John r. Mclean has leased all Of his
property in the square in which his
city mansion and the Shoreham Hotel
stand for ninety-nine years to Gimoel
Brothers. and that that firm will soon
erect the largest department store In
The city. Mr.. Mclean owns all or the
property in the square with the excep-
tion OF the Shoreham Hotel, which Is
the property Of Levi p. Morton. His
own palatiai city house. which was hp-
ished about four years ago, Is said 20
have been included in the property
leased.
Held to Be Ideal Site.
The property Is pointed out as an
IDEAL site for such a purpose, inasmuch
as the two new ten-story office build
tngs have just been erected opposite
and since plans for the S6,0O0OOo Airing
ton Hotel are we'll advanced.
It is known that such a proposlton
has been nut up just recently by a real
estate broker to both Macy and wanna
maker, other big New York ana Phlla-
delphia department store people, put IN
neither case were they found to be IN
'ferested. one real estate man who car
ried through negotiations recently Tor
one of the largest of the new otnce
buildings, and prominent archltect,
have been busy for some weeks upon pn
what many believe to be the plans for
the new Gimbel store. The whole ne
sotiations, however. are being carefully
guarded. From Philadelphis comes to-
day a denial from Ellis Gimbel that his
firm is interested.
Would Gust Market.
q The other report concerning the
market house that suit is to be in
stituted to test the right Of the
Washington Market Company to its
location, will probably result in no
suit being brought. Officers of the
market company this morning ex-
planned the peculiar position which
the company has been IN since llS or
RanIzation forty-one years ago
In 1870 the ground which the market
now uses, between Seventh and Ninth
and Pennsylvania avenue and b
street, was leased to the company by
the District for market purposes In
consideration of its payment OF S7,50O
annually to the poor fund, and In
addition to this regular taxes upon
the assessed value of the property,
which in all amount now to about
s25. 900 a year, which the company
pays into the District.
The company does not own the land,
but it was given about a century ago
TO the Government with the stipula-
fion that It should always be used for
market purposes. To the Young heirs,
of Kentucky, Il is believed. the prop
erty would revert, should the original
market condition ever be violated.
: AS a matter of fact the ground has
been used as a market place for more
than a century, though the present
company has operated only since 1870.
ANY suit, therefore, 1t is explained
over title to the ground would be be-
tween the Government and the heirs.
Sell Dwelling.
Harry Wardman has sold to Leander
Herman the new two-story dwelling at
6O3 Lamont street northwest, for $3.50.
The purchaser will occupy the house.
The sale was made through The o1ice
of Shannon & IIuchs.