The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-02-02

Theatsrs. hotels, railroad stations,
rETKg. CJuTlg, ara TIRE CHpftuf ure
nearly all included within the radius
of few blocks as Is the retail
shopping district and the major por-
ton of the wholesale district.
A Center OF Activity.
Far-sighted business men saw the
possibilities, and among them were
tho powers behind the Virginia Pas
senger and Power company. The an
tiquated rasidence that stood on the
northeast corner OF Seventh and
FRANKLIN has given place to a twelve
story skvscraper, pronounced by
many the handsomest building of its
class in the South, and around this
new home of the great street railway
system will center all of its activi-
tics For che thing. the corner viii
be the most brilliantly illuminated in
the city of Tsfchr1ond. the great fiaYnA
ing electric torches at the top and
electrical devices on the third floor
having been devised by the archi-
tects with this end in view. as the
terminal loop. of the interlacing city
and suburban system the corner and
the block will not be outdone by
any metropolis.
The improvements already under
way, contemplated and whispered for
this section, furnish topics for daily
gossip in real estate circles, and the
remarkable increase in realty values
in this section astound even thee men
-who dabble in real estate. The old
Alhambra hotel, at Eighth and Frank
lin, for example. changed hands less
than nine years ago for a considera-
ton of 80, 500, and was resold recent
~ for $4,000, clear increase of $780,
900 In that period One of the old
residences on Franklin between Sew
enth and Eighth. which was bought
less than three years ago for approx
mately sill, 900, is now held for $780,
600. and the owner VIII get his figure
without trouble, Lease values on
smaller office buildings in this imme-
diate section have exactly doubled in
the past twelve months, In fact, no
one neighborhood within SO small a
compass in the whole city has shown
such remarkable increase In value.
The influence of the Suburban loop"
block is being felt, too, in the adjcin
ing blocks. and both agents and spec
Enlators are becoming interested. Re
Gently the building opposite The Acad-
envy of Music on Eighth street, oc-
cupied by Splitter, the tailor and the
Roanoke hotel, changed hands. and
work is to begin soon on remodeling
the structure into modern business
building. The building at the south
east corner of Franklin and Seventh,
now occupied temporarily by the ex-
press companies, it is planned. will
have three stories added to 1T. The
original plans contemplated suhdivid-
ing this building into stores for retail
merchants, and these will probably
carried out in the near future.
The March of Progress.
The Virginia Passenger and Power
company have purchased the old resi-
dence adjoining their skyscraper on
Franklin street. an dthere are rumors
that they purpose erecting there some
sort of terminal station. with wait
ing rooms and other conveniences for
suburban patrons 1t Is certain that
within a very short time the old resi-
dences in the block between Seventh
and Eighth will all come down to
make way for the march of business
and permanent business structures
will replace them.
1t has been a wonderful develop
ment in so short a period, and the
credit for far-sightedness in picking
the corner as the future hub of Rich
mond probably belongs to j. A. Con-
nelly, more than to any other one
man. Mr.. Connolly figured the thing
out few years ago to his own salts
faction and the results have more
than justified his wisdom. He has
negotiated probably 30 per cent OF the
real estate transfers in the neighbor-
hood and owns much of it himself,
and complaGently watches the old
time residence section giving place to
the march o. progress There is some
satisfaction, too. in seeing ones faith
justified in such short period of
time. AS a rule pioneers who blaze
pathways do not live to see their
hopes contaminated. but Mr.. Con-
nelly's plans simply jumped to
fruition. 4