Evening star., 1935-03-30
Records Reveal Increase of
$50 Per Cent Over Same
Period Last Year.
UNOFFICIAL FIGURES
SET VALUE AT S1,554, 1892
Similar Improvement Is Noted in
Arlington and Montgomery
Counties.
BY JAMES Y. NEWTON.

March has been the best month in
three years for private construction
in Washington, showing an improve
ment of $50 per cent over March,
1894, examination of building records
at the District Building revealed.
The increase in building activity,
especially in the home construction
field, has been so great that it amounts
almost to a boom" The building and
real estate industry has shown a
similar improvement in nearby Arllng-
ton County Va, and Montgomery
County. Md, and houses all around
the city are going up at a rate reml-
niscent of the days of the late '20s.
The dollars and cents valuation Of
all types of private construction in
the District for March, unofficial and
exclusive of today, was l,554,9 1882.
The figure for the entire month last
year was $455,645, while in March,
1888, private construction in Wash
ington totaled S302,940. Three years
ago the valuation of the months
operations was $1,258,330. The last
March when construction valuation
exceeded this months figure was
1881, when permits were issued for
three sizable apartments, and a
large warehouse.
Increases Impressive.
Residential building increases during
this month, which ends tomorrow,
have been even more impressive than
the difference shown by its compare
son of valuations. Permits had been
issued through yesterday in March
for 148 one-family dwellings, and so
small apartments and fats. In
March last year permits were OBJ
tanned for AZ one-family dwellings,
and no apartments. while in March,
1888, there were only Is one-family
houses and three small apartments
included in the permits issued by the
office of Building Inspector John w.
Oehmann.
The statistics for March building
appear even more impressive upon
examination Of building records for
former years. In April last year the
valuation of construction was nearly
three times greater than the March
figure. The present month is not
considered by construction men as
one Of the best building months, and
an even more amazing improvement
in the home building field here is
looked for in April. However, the
weather this month has been more
favorable to constructor activity than
the March of 1888 and last year.
Fear tnat the city may again be
overbuilt, a condition that existed
when the depression set in, is dis
counted by real estate brokers, who
declare that sales are keeping stride
with building. An argument that
small homes at least are not to re-
main q drag on the market is fur
nished by Frank A. Simon, builder.
He sold IS 1000 homes like hot cakes" :"
indeed reminiscent of boom times.
Last Sunday Simon opened 20 new
bungalows on Crescent place, out
Massachusetts, Ave. extended. He sold
10 houses opening day, and added four
others to the "sold" list Monday and
Tuesday.
Permits for $443, ,295 in private con-
struction, including new building and
modernization work, were issued by
Building Inspector Oehmann during
the past week. Thirty-five single fam
lily dwellings and 10 fats were includ-
ed in the list. In all, 10 permits were
granted, the largest number since last
Summer.
Meadowbrook, Inc, of Chevy Chase,
Md, obtained permits to build IL
homes in the District. Five of these
will be erected in the 100 block of EN-
(ContinI1ed m Page PA Column I \