Evening star., 1922-03-04
HOW TO DEVELOP
| AN ACREAGE TRACT
R. E. Heater Tells Y. M. c. A.
Realty Class of Subdivision
Development.

Subdivision development was ex-
planned to members of the Y. NJ c. A.
real estate class this week by Robert
E. Heater. Complete steps in bringing
an acreage tract into q finished home
community were described.
Mr.. Heater pointed out that many
people have had the idea that sub
acquiring a tract Of land, specifically
marking out certain lots and streets
and then going forth looking for vic
Tins. The only difference between the
operator who did this and Jesse James
is that the latter rode a horse and
feature even. it is an improbable
proposition to attempt to market a
subdivision that has not been care
fully studied and scientifically laid
out.
The value Of the acreage tract
speaker said. "for mistake in this
instance would result in a losing
proposition for the developer from the
beginning.
Factors that enter largely into the
value are location, topography. sur
the city. transportation facilities, de-
velopment requirements and the char
acter and cost of improvements An
other important factor which is gen.
orally overlooked by the layman is the
quantity Of land that has to be de-
cation as streets and alleys. This has
to be taken into account mathemati-
cally in order to determine the net
land available for sale.
Subdivisions within tho District Of
Columbia must now be laid out in
conformity with the general scheme
of streets that has been desig. ated
by the highway commission. The plan
adopted by the commission has in
mind fixing all permanent roadways
for the purpose Of uniformity as the
city gradually develops.
"All first-class subdivisions usually
have installed all improvements be-
fore the property is marketed. One
of the first improvements after the
land has been properly surveyed and
graded is the laying out and improv-
ing of streets, cutters and sidewalks.
Subdivisions within the District Of
Columbia are connected up with the
main sewer and water systems, and
are tapped when the development of
homes begins"
What Owner Pays.
1t is not generally understood, Mr..
Heater stated, that all improvements
such as streets, sidewalks, sewers
the planting of shrubbery. etc. are
paid by the property owner. The
only item that is not chargeable to
the property owner being the install
lation of a lighting system. this being
done by the District government as
the building of homes progresses.
Some operators, it was explained,
calculate the entire cost of all i'm
provements and add that to the pur-
chase price and other carrying
charges of the land for the purpose
of determining the sale price. In
some cases. however. this is not done
and certain Improvements are charge
able to the subsequent owners of In
dividual lots. In this connection Mr.
Heater. laid stress on the Importance
of Incorporating in the contract of
sale a complete reference to the items
of expense. so that purchasers would
know absolutely what they would
have to pay for Improvements. there
by avoiding subsequent misunder-
standings.
At the next meeting Of the class
Methods of Taxation" will be dis
cussed by william P. Richards,
assessor of the District OF Columbia.