Evening star., 1921-12-31
NEW REAL ESTATE AND BUILDING
RECORD MADE IN DISTRICT IN 1921
Permits for Construction to Cost $685.
100000 Issued During Year-2,50O
Buildings Erected.

Real estate and building activity in
the District of Columbia during 1921
set a record far surprising previous
years activities. according to figures
compiled from public records and
statements by local real estate men.
Figures in the Office of the District
building inspector show that during
the year. of 1921, just coming to a
close, permits for construction work
having an estimated value of more
than s23.O0O.00O were taken out by
local contractors and builders. When
1t is considered that the initial eSti-
mate of cost made in applying for a
permit more often than not turns out
to be lower than the actual completed
cost of construction. due to unfore-
seen circumstances which arise. it is
evident that the building inspectors
records do not adequately represent
the total amount of money invested
in building here the past year.
The combination of transportation
and labor troubles which early in the
year tended to retard building and re-
suited in much higher building costs
than original estimates called for. ac-
counted for several millions of dollars
mated. In, view of this fact real es-
tate men and builders have expressed
the opinion that more than $25.OOO.OOO
of investors money went into con-
struction work of a private nature in
the District Of Columbia during 1921.
5000 Permits Issued.
Since the records in the District
building on which this opinion is
based do not include any public i'm
provements. such as federal build
ings. schools, park extensions, etc,
an amount. believed to be many mil
lions of dollars. should be added to
the figure set forth in order to cover
the entire construction field in Wash
ington.
a total of about 5000 building per-
mits were issued by Inspector Healy
and his force during the year for
new construction and for repairs and
remodeling projects. The total cost
of the new building enterprises
amounted to more than s1S.000.O00.
More than $500 buildings of va
riouS types were erected during the
season, l.400 of these structures
being dwellings, and costing approxi-
mately Sl0.0o0.0o0. Taking as
basis one family for each home COM
pleted. it is estimated that 2.400~ fam
lilies were housed in new buildings,
relieving the shortage of living quar-
ters in Washington to that extent
A majority of the dwellings were
of the row, or attached type. and
were erected in the northwest sec
ton of the city, particularly in the
territory lying from the Soldiers
Home grounds west to Rock Creek
lark and in Chevy Chase. One of
the larger operations in row homes.
however. was that projected by
Harry Wardman in the vicinity of
I'd and Bryant streets northeast
where seventy-two dwellings were
put up.
Many Fine Residences.
Many individuals erected fine resi-
dences here during the year. among
them Irwin Laughlin, Pittsburgh steel
magnate, who built a half-Inillion-dol-
lar home at 1928 Crescent place, near
the Henderson castle" on 18th street.
Mrs John B. Henderson erected the
large Breckenridge Long home. at the
southwest correr of 18th street ard Park
road. and is completing another building
designed for legation purposes on the
opposite side of the street. two blocks
below. SylNanus Stokes is erecting a
massive home on Massachusetts avenue
northwest, near 24th street. and group
of half a dozen fine homes is being
finished Pm the heart of Massachusetts
Avenue Park for small colony of per-
sons, including H. l.. Rust, jr.. and other
local business men. Apartment and
hotel construction has gone forward at
an unusual rate. total of about twenty
apartment buildings and several hotels
being started or completed. Among these
ware the addition to the ChaStleton, at
18th and r streets; the Lee house. at
18th and l. streets northwest; the New
Hamilton Hotel, at the northeast corner