The Washington herald., 1913-07-20
Big CITY SQUARE
MAY Be SECURED
Valuable Thirteenth Street
Property Held for Own
err Unknown Here.
LOCKPARTLY ACQUIRED
Out-of- Town Syndicate May Erect
Mammoth Structure on
Site.
BLOCK PARTLY ACQUIRED

IN tne mluSt Oh tne OOWntO"H puSihcUs
! section, where rents soar high and where
thousands daily throng. there is an en-
tire row-a fun square long-of vacant
houses and stores.
1t is the east side of Thirteenth Street
Northwest. between and Streets.
The vacant group also includes a number
of stores in F and G Streets, near Thir-
tcenth. The stranger passing by might
well mistake the street for one belonging
to deserted village Windows are
bare, curtains are lacking. furnishings
are removed. signs are taken DOWNFALL is
dead.
Surrounding the desolate vacated build
ings is an atmosphere of mystery, which
for the past year has gradually been
growing more dense. One by one the
stores have closed their doors, and one
by one the rumors have spread abroad.
Some had said this thing, and some have
said that. and none knew what they were
talking about.
Structure to he Built.
But at last the truth is beginning II
make its appearance. Upon the site Of
this vast and valuable property is sooh
to be erected by "a syndicate of proini-
nent out-of-town men an immense struc-
Iture of some kind-ether a department
store or an Office building.
The syndicate is composed principally
OF well-known business men Of Baltimore.
Philadelphia, and New York. The local
agent Is the F. H. Smith Real Estat.
Company. Lee d. Latimer, vice president
Of the company, said last night he did
not know what class of structure wou.i
be erected ON the site, and expressed the
belief that the members of the syndicate
themselves had snot fully decided this
matter
For nearly two years past the Smith
Company has been busily engaged &C
curing additional property in the block
for the syndicate. Recently notices
were issued to all the tenants on Thir-
teenth Street between F and G Streets
requesting them to vacate the premises
by August l. Early In August the work
Of demolishing the present buildings will
commence, and it is expected that by
September the site will be ready for
the builders.
The new structure will be at the west
ern end of the block. extending
down F Street as far as Topham's trunk
store. and along Thirteenth Street from
F nearly to G Streets, as far as 6l9.
Mr. Latimer- declined last night to state
the name Of the syndicate or to give the
names of any of-the men associated
with it. explaining that 1t was their de-
sire to conduct their business for the
time quietly.
There have been numerous rumors con-
corning the property during the past year
or SO. Some have said that Gimbel in
tended building there. others that Saks
others said Wanamaker proposed build
ing an immense department store on the
spot
1t Is evidently the hope of the syndi-
cate eventually to acquire the entire
block. and there are at present many
indications of such a policy. The o. J.
De Moll piano establishment. located at
the northeast corner of the block is soon
to move from the southwest to the north |
west corner of Twelfth and G. One or
two stores on G Street between Twelfth !
and Thirteenth are now unoccupied.
Stores Now Are Vacant.
1t is interesting to follow the vacant |
stores from Topham's along F, around |
Thirteenth, down to G. and around G to |
Miller's barber shop. The former jewelry |
store at III F is vacant as well as Il2l L. |
Tie Kimomo Shop. located at 1223 F. has
a sign posted to the effect that the es-
adjustment will soon be moved. The |
Lace shop at 1225 is vacated, as is like
wise The Little Art Shop on the corner of |
The upper stories of 603 Thirteenth
Street now are unoccupied, although the
Arcade Lunch Room in the basement is
still open.
The former firm. willige, Gibbs, &
Daniels, have moved from COS and at
;o1, H. L. Thornton and d. II. Roland
have moved. as well as Joseph A. Oosti-
net. ]. d. Sullivan. rents and insurance.
IS still occupying the premises at 500,
mo in, h1r
ostrich feather works will vacate their
premises at 6l1 tomorrow.
NJ. Wamaling, electrician, has moved
from SIS Thirteenth Street. and Simp-
sons establishment at s15 is vacant. s.
J. Sheers, merchant tailor. has moved
rom 81. McConville. the tailor, is still
located at 81. but the barber shop Of
}. A. Robinson in the basement in
closed. The Children's Shop at 623 is
racant, and SO is Daavid's old establish
nent at the corner of G Street. The
premises at 1924 G Street are vacant