Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-02
INEQU|TY IS SHOWN
IN LAND APPRAISAL
District Tax Assessor Cites
varianceS of Experts in
Concentrations.

Bearing out his contention that as
o blanket proposition the awards OF
condemnation juries or commissions are
not an indication of land values in a
community, William P. Richards, Dis
trict tax assessor, in a radio talk last
night, cited instances showing sur
prlslng differences" in values placed on
Washington properties by so-called
experts.
Mr.. Richards was discussing the TAX
Assessment System of the District of
Columbia" as guest speaker during the
Chamber of Commerce hour over Sta
ton WMAL and classed condemnation
procedure as one of the knottieSt"
problems of his Office
Despite the fact that those who deal
in real estate or handle the most sales
should have the basis for an accurate
determination of its value" Mr..
Richards pointed out, it is not always
that they can agree.
AT very recent condemnation suit
some testimony was offered in court
showing a surprising difference of
opinion among So-called real estate ex-
perts, he said. "A lot near the in
tersection of two great thoroughfares
was valued by one expert at 50 per
and another expert at SIS per square
foot.
Other Experts Differ.
AT recent condemnation in South
washington a square of ground used
for a single purpose was valued by one
expert at less than 81 per square foot,
and by another expert at SIS per square
loot. There is actually a communica-
ton on record, not more than two years
DID, signed by a former owner, that
places its value at less than so cents
q square foot. In another case where
land was condemned in the subdivision
OF Reno, one expert placed a value of
10 cents per square foot on ground
which another expert thought was
worth 40 cents"
1t may be said that building yaIua-
tons present almost as knotty a cues
ton" he added, due to different ideas
as to depreciation or adolescence
BY abSoleScence we mean that a build
ing entirely sound has outlived its use
IulneSs because of the changed condi-
tons OF neighborhood
For example, the very substantial
and expensive residence formerly occm-
pied by Secretary Hay was torn down
70 make way for the larger and more
modern structure now known as the
Hay-Acams House. Likewise a very
celebrated home on K street near Fiji
teenth was removed to make way for
an up-to-date ONCE structure"
In giving an historical ANALYSIS of
what the growth of values NAV mean
Mr.. Richards illustrated his point bv
referring to the price of average lots
on street between Tenth and Fiji
Esentn streets. When the District of
columbia had population of 200 .OO0
ne said, the best interior lots on +
street were worth $40 per square foot,
Increase on F Street,
When it had 100000 people, he
SAID, the same lots on p street vrere
worth $50 per square foot, and now
since the metropolitan Detrict has
gown to 100000 people, F street lots
e worth (omitting corners) from $40
70 $50 per square foot"
Mr; Rlchards said it may be pre-
ulcted that the center of wealth i,ear
Fourteenth and @ streets is rot liI-a1,
% move within the next 20 wears yery
tar from its present location" He
1ooed that 1t is a matter of Interest
tnaC one-half Of the taxes of the r0is.
Tict In land are paid bv land ,S-;r,
WITHIN 5000 feet of the center o7
wealth., which area constitutes lees ty,sr1
ooe.sixIeenth OF the District Land area
a. AS the District increases in non,,la- :
, s.un' ne SAID, land values IN tits area
VIII increase by the same percentage y
ne clCed as an example of what high
cLas business property is worth = ber
compared with the average residen1i ai
property, by taking the area Of homes
ylng between Fourth street and Foi,r.
seenIn street and from Allison street
70. NIcnolson street, comprising some
100000. s0'eSSeo at $z6,-
Two squares within the business coz
lon lying between z and q. Thirtee SeS,
@no Fourteenth streets, nc declared ave-
assessed ct the same amount, =