Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-10-10
SMALL STREETS IN /.
CENTRAL SECTION IN
GROWING DEMAND
Chances for Owners to Inn
prove Property and Get
Better Returns Shown by
Developments.

The taking up Of properties in the
smaller streets close to the larger and
more expensive ones on prominent thor
oughfares in the central section has ex-
tended very much Of late; Rlttenhouse
street, lying short distance north Of
Spruce street. was taken in hand some
years ago after It became almost i'm
possible to obtain anything in Little
De Lancey place" or Brides Row, lying
between Dist street and 22d street.
Rittenhouse street, from 18th street to
18th street, or the eastern boundary Of
Rittenhouse Square, presented great ad-
vantages. and small dwellings were al
tered and modernized, giving a most
pleasing effect. Today prices are eX-
tremely high for a small street.
Among sales the following are found:
Nos 171S-15, sold April Z, 1902, lot 15.6x6s,
for $500 each; Nos. 1882, sold Febru-
ary TO- 1906, lot 15.ex66, for 500 $780, No 1717,
sold June 3, 1907, 156x6s, $1,000; Nos.
lI09-1l, sold August l3, 1918, each 16x66,
for $4,000, and on May 6, 1914, No I'LL
was resold for $3.50.
About three years ago Rittenhouse
street, between 22d and 23d streets. came
into consideration. No. 22l1 was altered
into neat colonial dwelling No. 2222 has
also been greatly improved on Decem-
ber !, 1902 22l7 was purchased for S50o0
1t had a lot 16x62. was torn down and a
fine colonial dwelling of four stories was
built upon the site. In this street, as late
as July l6. 1906. No. 2214, lot 16x62 sold
for s34o0. In this block 1t is now very
hard to buy an unlmproved dwelling at
double the figure they commanded five
years ago
SAMSON street, between 21st and 22d
streets. on the north side. has for a good
many years contained n row of we'll
built modern small dwellings, which have
been in good demand since the Belgian
blocks were replaced by asphalt Lately,
the demand has extended to the same
street between 10th and 2lst streets,
where No 2020 has been improved by a
red-and-black brick front and modern i'm
provements were made in the dwelling
No. 20ls has the wide. single window
effect and is attractive, and No. zoos has
been improved. Sales in this block are
not numerous. No. 2042 sold December IS,
1905. lot 15X5O, for s31O0 Nos o00O-2OO2 San
som street were sold September 5. 1910.
with Nos. 126-s-3O South goth street, by
Robert G. Lippincott to +. I. Stotesbury
VINO has improved the Goth street dwell
ings and Is now altering the corner 20th
and Sansom streets On March T. 1912,
No 2025 sold for si3.00o and November .,
1910, 2O23 sold for S226OO, lot 0OXlOO, being
a brick garage.
Thus It is evident that buyers are turn
ipg to the smaller streets, where a great
deal of comfort and the advantage of get
ting about quickly can be enjoyed at
moderate cost.
ALTERATIONS AND THEIR COST
Alterations of small properties at times
deter a buyer and make him doubtful
If the result can be obtaned-for example,
a house on a lot, say, Is to 16 feet front
by a depth of 20 feet. the dwelling will
be found to go back about so feet This
can be improved by a new front, new
bath arrangements and other simple ad-
iustments, from $500 to $1,000, including
paint and paper. Care must be exercised
10 have the general construction done in
L way that will please the buyer for IL
nothing will do within the walls it is
better to pull down at once.
A fair proportion of city dwelers will.
is long as possible. occupy homes rather
han apartments. This appeals especially
@ young couples not facing any OF the
roubes of housekeeping.