The Washington times., 1923-01-13
: 1 ( 8 ( 5 {
NE RIDIAN.
MANSIONS
SOLD
Property at 24oo Sixteenth
Street Bought by {.
8 Kirby Smith.

Meridian Mansions Apartment
Hotel, 240O sixteenth street, home
of Congressman, Senators, diplo-
mats, judges and prominent pro-
fessional and business men, has
been sold to E. Kirby Smith, of
this city and Shreveport, Louisiana.
He is understood to have paid
$500, 900 for the property.
Sale Price Huge.
The sale was announced today by
Kennedy Brothers, builders and
owners of the structure. They did
not make public the sale price ex-
cept to say it exceeded by more
than a half million dollars the valua-
ton set upon the building by the
District Rent Commission. Kennedy
Brothers appealed from this valu-
alton and the case Is still pending
In the negotiations for the sale,
Kennedy Brothers were represented
by .Ellwood p. Morey, attorney at
law, and Mr. Smith by ATTORNEY
Enoch A. Chase. No property was
taken in exchange in the deal, it
was said.
Kennedy Brothers also announced
that second offer was made by
other parties a few hours after the
deal with Mr.. Smith was consum.
mated. This offer was for the same
amount the property was sold for.
IT was announced today that Mr..
Kirby plans no changes at this time
in the management of the apartment
hotel and that Frank B. KIeh will
continue as manager.
Plan improvements.
Mr.. Smith, who. is now in Shreye.
port, expects to return to Washing,
ton in the spring. 1t IL said he plans
many improvements, all of which
will be for the benefit of the prop.
erty and the comfort of the guests.
This will be done, it is said. to in.
sure the continuance of Meridian
Mansions as one of the highest grade
properties in the District.
Meridian Mansions is located in
the exclusive residential section OF
Washington, on the most elevated
portion Of Sixteenth street. It con.
tains more than 100000 cubic
feet and is unique in many re.
spects, having its own power plant,
refrigeration plant. and a garage
to accommodate 800 automobiles.
Mr.. Smith, the purchaser, is a
retired banker, having served as
president and vice president OF
some of the largest banks in the
South. He was Glass A director
on the Federal Reserve Board OF
the Eleventh district, Dallas, Tex,
RrNr, eyi< -.
organization of the Federal Reserve
system.
Mr.. Smith has been a leader IN
banking and oil circles in the South
for the past twenty years, where
he has many diversified interests
including the Youree Hotel al
Shreveport, and large holdings OF
producing oil lands in that State
Lives i'm Chevy Chase.
The new hotel owner came - to
Washington two years ago, and with
his wife have lived here since al
their beautiful estate known as Edge
wood. in Chevy Chase. Mr.. Smith
is a member Of the Cosmos, Racquet
| Chevy Chase. Columbia Country and
the Capital Yacht Club here, and the
Bankers Club of New York.
MANY prominent dfCnltectS ana en-
gineers assisted Kennedy Brothers
in the planning and construction Of
Meridian mansions, among them be
ing A. Fl. Sonneman, f. w. Fitzpat
rick. Reginald w. Geare, architects
Fl. F. Lucke, jr.. James Posey anG
Capt. Frederick Enquist, engineers.
Fl. l.. Rust, who swas associated
with Kennedy Brothers in this en-
terprise, sold his .one-third interest
to them about one wear ago.