Evening star., 1912-11-16
BUSINESS SECTION GROWS
ON PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE
New Commerce and Labor Building at Nine
teenth Street Evidence Of Improvement
in Locality.

A number of buildings at the northeast
corner Of Pennsylvania avenue and 18th
street are to be removed and on this site
is to be an office building for the use OF
the Department of Commerce and Labor
AS compared with the height of buildings
which are to be replaced the new struc-
ture will have the proportions of Sky
scraper, but the outlook will not be
changed and it will stand as the old
structures do now on the edge of
park, which, set In the midst of city
streets is all the more attractive be-
cause of the contrast of the soft masses
of foliage and stretches of green lawn
with the hard lines Of the brick build
ings and the street pavement.
Across this plaza to the east rises the
walls of the Powhatan Hotel, which is
new building this year, while on both the
north and south sides fronting on the
two sides of II street which N a sense
lis bisected, but which in reality is COM
plete, are residences. The change from
business to residences which taxes place
at 18th street and then again at 2oth
street, where the crossing OF the line or
rectangular park space. is no doubt owing
to the influence Of the trees and the
shrubbery and the grass.
OcVOLCu " o064ACoo = IA POoSos
Whatever the cause, Pennsylvania ave-
nue. is none the less attractive because of
these Interruptions in the course of lines
of buildings on both sides devoted to busl-
ness purposes. AS it is the block between
18th and 18th is entirely devoted to such
purposes, and while many of the buildings
are evidently made over and adapted dwell
ings. still number have been especially de-
gned. The influence of such center
as the State War and Navy Department
building in determining the character OF
the business carried on is naturally i'm
portant, for, While that great structure
houses many thousands Of government en-
ployes, yet. in addition, there is the Mills
office building, at the southwest corner
Of Pennsylvania avenue and 18th street.
and the Winder building, at the northwest
corner of 18th and + streets. and other
buildings in the vicinity and around on
New York avenue are used as public Of
fees.
Resumed Again at 10th Street.
But away from this center and after
the interruption in the course of business
along the avenue at 18th street it is re-
sumed again at 18th street where stores
take the place of residences. Here is to
be found a bank, a branch of the United
States Trust Company, which is at the
northeast corner of Pennsylvania avenue
and 10th street. facing on the east side
of the parks. which extend to 21st street.
with the two sides of l street given up
to residences. AS another evidence of a
center in these days, moving picture
show is to be found on the block between
10Th and Goth streets. while at 21st street,
where the business section is resumed, is
to be found another movie" located on
21st street north of the avenue and at
the beginning of row OF one-story
stores that trail down the hill opposite
the Il street market.
Should Be Business Street.
There are two reasons why Pennsyl-
vanfa avenue in this section should be a
business street one of them peculiar, per-