Evening star., 1935-01-05
NEW HOMES BUILT
IN DECEMBER TOP
PREVIOUS SHOWING
"a One-FamiIy Buildings
Compare With 27 in '33
and az in '32.
RESIDENCES ERECTED
IN YEAR TOTAL 783
Construction Value Is SIS, 100000
for 12.Month Period-Firm
Trend Shown.
BY JAMES Y. NEWTON,

ID NEW
Statements of Capital real estate
leaders to the effect that residential
construction in the city is showing
definite improvement was substan-
tiated today in report of Building
Inspector John w. Oehmann which
showed that more homes were built
last month than in December, 1882,
and 1888 combined.
Oehmann'S report revealed that
permits were issued in December for
erection of IA single-family dwellings.
This number is nearly 300 per cent
greater than the total of 81 for De-
cember, 1888, and almost double the
az residences for which permits we're
issued in the same month two years
ago.
The total construction for the
month, including new buildings, re-
pairs, additions and alterations, was
S7O3,o75 for private projects, while
a permit was issued the District for
construction of new branch library
IN Georgetown, valued at $4,000.
Ihe private construction valuation
OF December, 1888, was S322,S3O.
1873 Residences in 1894.
Capt. Hugh Dram, director of in
spectlon for the District, has complied
an interesting table which analyzes
and compares all forms of building
construction in the city during the
last two years. 1t shows that 783
residential structures, including both
single and multi family dwellings.
were erected in 1884, as compared
with SGT in 1888, an increase of 48.5
per cent in number, and 53.8 per cent
III value. Valuation of residential
construction for the past year is
S5,160,OOO.
Perhaps the next most striking
story told in Capt. Grams table is
that repairs to buildings during 1894
were 64.4 per cent greater than the
year before. The total valuation of
the past years building repairs is
Sl,7l9,23O, as compared with S1,046,-
015 for 1888. This large increase was
Que mainly to the modernization drive
OF the Federal Housing Administra-
ton, which was in full swing during
the last four months of the year,
When, according to the tabulation, the
percentage of increase was most pro-
nounced. November and April were
the peak months for new building.
while August, September and Novem-
ber showed the way in repairs.
More Machinery Installed.
The great popularity OF air condi-
tlonlng is well demonstrated by fig
ures which show that valuation of
machinery installations increased
1902 per cent in 1884 over 1888. The
dollars and cents valuation of ma
chinery installations was S1,O2O.58O
in the past year, and s463, $50 in 1888.
Air conditioning of commercial and
amusement structures showed great
increase during the past year. A
comparatively small number of units
were installed in private dwellings,
Escalators and elevators we're also in
cluded in machinery installed. Esca-
lators were placed in two large de-
partment stores within the year.
Under the head of private garages,
stables and sheds, Capt. Dram found
that structures with value of S122 ,595
were erected last year, as compared
with Sl35,3l5 in 1888, decrease of
30 per cent. This was the only type
OF construction that showed less ia
Vorably during 1884.
The greatest increase of any of the |
separate types of construction was
demonstrated in the class of institu-
tionS, churches and schools, with an |
increase of 124.3 per cent. The val
uation of 1934's crop of churches, |
schools and institutions. according to |
Capt. Dram, is S2,397,725, compared |
with a valuation of $1,068,900 for
1888.
An increase of 93 per cent was
shown in the valuation of stores and !
commercial buildings constructed in
the last year. The table showed a
great increase in this type of construc-
tion during the last months of 1884,
with October and November showing
an increase Of approximately 1000 per
cert over the corresponding months
of 1888 The valuation of stores and
commercial buildings built last year
Is 81 ,492 $50, and for 1888, 81 ,386,150
The totals of all types of construc-
tion on Capt. Grams table revealed a
general increase of 467 per cent for |
1894 over 1888. The valuation of all |
types of building for the past year is
S11,959,130, and s7,468,820 in 1888.
The construction of, or repairs to,
Federal Government buildings was not
included in the tabulations.
A review of Col. Oehmann's report
for December reveals that new build
ing was valued at $567 050, exclusive
of the Georgetown branch library,
while repairs. additions and altera-
tions for the month were valued at
$l36,825. Divided into sections of the
city. the northwest led with a total
new building and repair valuation of
S3al, $50 and $1o2,805, respectively.
The northeast section was second with
valuations for new construction and
repair of $124,500 and SIS, $3.50.