The Washington herald., 1921-08-07
DISTRICT RECORD
FOR YEAR SO FAR
SHOWSNCREASE
July, However, Shows
General Is Per Cent
Drop.
FIGURES FOR REGION
Contracts Let tin Middle At
lantic States s1S6,000
Since Jan. 1.
FIGURES FOR REGION

Last month witnessed the sharp
est downward break in real estate
movements of the past twelve
months. The decrease IN DuiIos
activities. which was unexpected
sfter the busy Eve months prior to
Juhr. il estimated by the F. W.
Dodge Company in its review as
is per cent
whether this reversion may be
blamed upon the summer season or
the general conditions prevalent
throughout the nation have exerted
sheir influence on the District or
Columbia, the result remains the
same.
July building contracts In the
Middle Atlantic States, of which the
District of Columbia Is the pivot
State, amounted to more than s2S'-
600 900, which sum Is Is per cent
less than June figures
Comparative Figures.
The July total was divided as
follows: s7,362. .000.- or % per cent
for public works and utilities: ST.
10000, or, q per cent, for residen-
tiaI buildings; S4,356.000, or IT per
cent, for business buildings, and
G-,Dl
eational buildings.
From January to August ],
1921, the total value Of contracts
let in this region has amounted to
SIS6.6T5, 900, which is practically
aaual to the average for the first
seven months of the preceding i've
years.
During July. 1921. contemplated
new work in the region was re-
ported to the amount OF S3s,765. 900,
bringing the total amount OF con-
templated work reported since the
first Of January up to $43S.723.oOO,
nearly two and a half times the
volume of contracts awarded in the
same period.
500 New Homes.
Home building activity during
the first seven months of this year
has resulted in added living accom-
modations for at least 500 more
Washington families, according to
estimates in the office of the Dis
trict building inspector. During
the same period last year approx
mateIy 500 families had been
housed.
From January to August l of this
year a total, of 746 single and null
ti-famiIy dwellings were gotten un-
der way. Last year the same period
produced but $50 dwellings. OF the
T46 dwellings. seven were of the
multi-family type. providing living
charters for probably 100 families
With District records showing an
increase Of more than 500 in the
number of building projects of all
KINDS for the first seven months of
10
local builders are beginning to
view with satisfaction the outcome
of the concerted effort this spring
to relieve the housing shortage in
Washington.
Money Goes Farther.
Figures show a total increase
during this period of more than
three-quarters of a million dollars.
Taking into consideration, however,
the fact that building materials
dropped substantially in price as
the spring building program was
launched, making il much cheaper
TO build houses this year than last.
IL is etimated that a given invest
ment this year went anywhere from
40 70 so per cent further in produc-
ing buildings than the same amount
in 1920.
In spite of the marked increase in
number Of dwellings erected so far
this year. the actual cost to the va
rious, investors has been more than
half a million dollars less than it
cost in seven months last year to
build 200 fewer structures, figures
in the office of the District building
inspector indicate.
The total estimated cost of home
building projects was $5.647, 900 TO
date. while a year ago the records
point to an Investment of more than
S6,2S5.0Oo.
swung Out In April.
This years e-buildlng drive
did not get FUZZY started yhtil April.
due to poor weather conditions and
unfavorable material prices. Dur
ing the first three months of the
year a total OF 10 dwellings, in
GLIDING three apartments. totaling
in cost S13O.00O. were begun. In
April, howeyr, a sudden jump is
noted in building figures, with a
total of 157 residential buildings,
including one 100000 apartment
house, provided for. Since April
home construction has been ad-
vancing with steady strides. May
saw 1871 homes started: June saw
$50 and three apartments, and July
closed with 1870 started.
A drastic difference in the amount
of home building done during the
same period in 1920 is shown by
District records. In April, the
month which brought such a boom
this year. fewer than 100 houses
went up; in May, 1920, the total
dropped to 81. in June to 2S and in
July to an Insignificant 81.
While home builders were busy
this spring on the problem of fur
nishing adequate living accommo-
dations for washington's citizenry,
other investors turned their atten-
ton to business and commercial
structures, even office buildings
were planned and realized, repre-
senting an aggregate cost of
s237.000.
Figures Last Year.
A year ago at this time but four
Office buildings had been started,
costing less than 100000. More
store buildings were erected last
year at this time than have been
eAis year. Seventy-two stores, cost
tsg' nearly $1,000, 100000, were
!, aErted at that time, while only E6,
Aessting less than s5oo.0o0. have
been projected the first half Of
1921.
Next to home building! more
money has been invested this year
in. remodeling enterprises than in
any other line of construction ac-