The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-12-11
RED LIGHT BELT
 SCENE OF REAL
 ESTATE SECRET
Announcement of Abolition of Houses of Vice Dis
 closes Big Deals. HALF MILLION IN REALTY INVOLVED
  Identity of Prospective Buy CT is Not Revealed By
 Operators.

Real estate circles were in an uproar today when,A for the first time, the fact was disclosed that almost simu1- l taneousIy with order issued by the ad- ministration against the inhabitants of the Red Light district, it has been announced that options tota1ling $120,- 0GO have been procured on property there.
 With a suddenness that it startling, options that amount to more than one hundred thousand are made known while well informed real estate dealers assert that $500 600 is nearer the cor rect figure.
 The options, it would appear, were obtained while the property value was not changed by the prospect of evac- uation by the Red Light district den izens! Would4be purchasers have been busy for several weeks.
 Among the options, taken on. Main street property alone are:
 Properties of C.. Drouve, including the house at the northeast corner Of Main, and Tulip streets, the factory and storage buildings on Tulip extend ing to Water street; $50,00
 John weldon property. 724-2e Main street; $2O. 900.
 George E. Edwards homestead, on Main street, fronting Tulip; s2o,o0o.
 Three-story apartment block, 668-70- 72 Main street, northwest corner South P-SscV1S Anderson.
 Three stores owned by La Croix 6 Anderson, 659 Main street; S7,ooo-
 Little information could be gleaned today from those whose options had been granted MT. Drouve said: 'T was approached recently by agents who asked me to set a figure on my property. was told that improve nents were contemplated in the dis trict which 5as long been known as the Red Light section. did not care to sell, but finally gave options on all the property T own in this section. have not the least idea what is pro- jected and did not know that other op- tions had been taken in this district.
 Walter Anderson of-the firm of La Crofx 6 Anderson. wholesale liquor dealers on South Main street, said: When I was asked this week to give options on some of the properties we control here, was told that it was intended to develop rapidly this sec ton of Bridgeport. swasx appealed to as a public spirited man to aid in the regeneration of this part of the, city. I was glad to set prices on some of the Main street properties as should be elated to see development started. I believe that the First. Bridgeport National Bank may have large interests in the development or that it may be a. move to extend the business sec4on this way and reduce congestion near Fairfield avenue and Main streets.''
 Officers of the First-Bridgepor Na- tionaI Bank. which was .c1oHed at noon time today, could not be reached by telephone for possible e1ucidation-
 "A N Dannenburg, of the Danne- burg Realty Co., whose name was prominently mentioned in the gather ing of options in that section, seen at his office in the Warner building to- day admitted procuring the options erurnerated by The Farmer. He re-, fused to make public the locations of other options procured He further refused to reveal the name or names
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