Evening Star Newspaper, January 1, 1921, Page 13

- Real Estate Investments Part T'o. 2 . WASHINGTON, D. C.,, SATURDAY, "BUSINESS SECTION - The Foening Shar $20,000.000 INVESTED IN NEW BUILDINGS HERE DURING 1920 Amount Exceeds All Previous Yearly Totals; Progress in Relieving Housing Shortage. ; More than $20,000,000 was invested by private interests in new buildings in Washington during the past year, according to a summary based on a survey of records in the office of the ‘building inspector and of statements of builders. The amount of money expended for construction work ex- cveded previous yearly totals by a large amount, due to the increased cost of comstruction. Keal estate men negotiated a total 0 property transactions, the records of the recorder of deeds show. The greatest number of deeds re- corded in_one month was in March, when 1,533 transfers were made: The actual number of buildings erected during the vear fell short of the mumber constructed in 1919, in spite of the fact that more money was spent for 'comstruction work. ¥rom January to December, 1919, 509 Frame houses and 1,953 fireproof huildings were erected. In the same period of 1920 only 256 frame houses were built and 1,154 fireproof struc- tures were constructed. Materials Prices Drop. A review of the building situation liscloses that: considerable progress as made in relieving the housing <hortage -in the District, of Columbia, builders concentrating their attention on a@welling _constructioh. ~ Other classes of construction work aré be- & to share the progress made idence building, and experts y predict resumption along nor- truction _activity lines of comstruction activity mal with the adven!hol the nable weather. !e;gfi*es of building material have to an appreciable degree © Jevels attained several crisis in_the dropped from the s ftho months ago, durin manufacturing industry. Labor diffi culties have in the main been smoothed aver, and few complaints are being heard concerning a shortage of work- men. 3 ‘The pointment of two ecommis- cione aftecting real estate marked the period just passed. The rent commis- Ball act. was carried to the local courts by the attorneys in the Hirsh- lock possession dispute, resulting in the act being deglared “totally void™ by a majority decision of the District Court of Appeals. The decision was appealed and is now awaiting the decision of the highest tribunal in the land. Meantime, | landlord and temant disputes. are being settled in the Municipal Court. The zoning commission was named May 16. Discussion of the soning p-oj- ect did not begifi in full, however, until after the issuance by the commission of a set of “tentative zoning regulations. The proposed regulations precipitated lively discussion in the various real estate, business and civic organizations | and following a number of public hear- ings the original plans were revised in accordance with accredited suggestions. The final regulations fixed a height limit on buildings of 110 feet and laid out designated sections of the city for resi- dential and for business purposes. ‘Buring the year some of the largest real estate transactions in the history of Washington from the standpoint of property valuation were made. Among the biggest deals recorded were: The sale of Wardman Courts; at 14th and Clifton streets northwest, to the | Riker Realty Company for a consider- | ation of about $2.000,000. \ The sale of the Riggs building. later renamed the Albee building, at the corner of 15th and G streets north- west, in which is located Keith's The- ater, to the Claremont Theater Corre- ration, controlling the Keith interests, for a consideration reported as ap- proximating $2,000,000. Northbrook Courts Sold. ‘ner cost about $160,000. ]dilion to the capital's list of hostel- ries, The main building of the Chastleton, at 16th and R streets, was completed in the summer and resump- tion of work on the large addition, fronting on 16th street, has brought the project near the completion point. the Hadleigh and Chastleton buildings suffered from long delays incident to the building crisis. A block from the Chastleton, at 16th and S streets, the Ambassador apart- ment reared itself “overnight.” This building was tenanted before the carpenters and paNnters had collected their tools and departed. The Ma- chinists’ Union building, at 9th and K streets northwest, was finished early in the year at a cost of $300,000. Harry Wardman completed a num- ber of large apartment buildings, principal among them being the two at Connecticut avenue and Woodley road. The building on the northwest corner cost in the neighborhood of $700.000. That on the southeast cor- Other Ward- man apartments were erccted at Con- nectiout avenue and Garfield street at a cost of $285,000; at 28th street and Cathedral avcnue, cost. $150,000; at 1820 California street, cost, $50.000. and at 21st and N streets, at @ cost of $190,000. everal builders broke ground for new structures and proceeded in the construction work. The new home for | the Racquet Club, at 1124 16th street northwest, to cost $500,000, has been under construction for several months, in which time much progress has been recorded. The Theater Building Cor- poration proceeded with the razing of the historic Lyceum Theater building, which was damaged by fire, and in its place they have nearly completed what is reputed to be the second largest theater building in the city, seating 2,000. One of the most imposing resi- dence buildings completed is the le- gation building, at 16th street and Rark road, erected by Mrs. John B. Henderson. President Buys Home. ! Home builders centered their efforts | in the northwest section of the ci from Rock Creek Park to the Soldiers’ Home grounds. The streets crossing 16th and 14th streets and George a nue. above Park road. have been| changed from unimproved thorough- fares to avenues through thriving - communities, with long rows of The sale of Northbrook Courts, atlhouses, many detached, lining each 16th and Newton streets northwest, | side. Outstanding among sales in the by Harry Wardman to E. O. Wagen- horst for a consideration of $725,000. The sale of the recently completed Ambassador apartment-hotel, at the dwelling field was the purchase by the President and Mrs. Wilson of the handsome home of Henry P. Fai banks, at 2340 S street northwest. An- corner of 16th and_S streets north-|other important transaction in this west, to the H. R. Howenstein Com- pany for a large consideration. type of property was the sale of the large residence at 20th street and The sale of the Hotel Gordon, at|Kalorama road, once occupied by ex- 16th and I streets, to 1. D. S. Sands, for | Gov. Shepherd, to Mrs. J. P. Tumuity, a consideration of $185,000. wife of the secretary to the President. sion. created to regulate rents iNyT yniroquction of the co-operative| A large number of building projects the District of Columut d the 200 | ownership plan for apartments result- | lanned by organizations were pur- inf commission, appointed = ¥ _,,:‘ ied in the transfer of a number of the | PoSely delayed to await more favor- District. Commlsfilonu:sh un”exh(“iax % | prominent apartment buildings from g&l: muéléhnx conditions. The United legislation to regulate the use hoER! | orivate holders to corporations oren- | Btates Chamber of Commeree with- and area of proposed buildings Doy tenants. Some of the first|held action on its $2,000.000 home furnished local real estate men Wi much food for thought. The District rent commission was named by the President in January of 1920 in; accordance with provisions of the Ball rent act. The original members were Capt. James F. T, chairman: A. Leftwich Sinclair ‘and Guy Mason. Mr. Mason resigned and was succeeded in May by Mrs. Clara Sears Taylor. The commission handed down its first decision on January 21, 1920, when it denied Oh L. .\ewma.: ssession of property he owned an Which was occupied by J. F. Thomp- son. Commission Cemter of Storm. With the expiration of the Sauls-| bury law in March and the growing oppesition on the purt of =omeé land- jords to its successor, the Ball act, the rent commission began to be the center of agitation in landlord and tenant circles. - Eventually the ques- tion of the constitutionality of the with a bonus. Incorporated. P, view 6f the entire Upshur Streets. | apastments to be thus transf LADIE Learn the Real Estate Business A special inducement, an extra large commis- sion is” offered you for the next three months— It need not interfere with your present employment. We will teach you free of charge Classes will be held every evening at 5 P.M. in the offices of John W. Thompson & Company, 821 15th St. N.W. Under the auspices of the Gibson Bros. NEW HOMES 3rd and Taylor Sts. N.W. SEE THESE MODERN DUNIGAN HOMES Eight rooms and bath; double back porches affording a splendid These homes were built with the object of quality that goes toward making a very comfortable home. A comparison of these houses: will convince you that the price is lower than what you would be asked for many old houses in an un- protected neighborhood. fore it will pay you to see them now. Reasonable Terms Can Be Arranged Sample House, 4106 Third Street N.W. Open and ‘Tighted daily and Sunday until 9 p.m. To inspect, take Soldiers’ Home car to Third and D. J. DUNIGAN 1321 New York Ave. NW. _Main 1267-1268 were - the Avondale, 1734 P northwest; the Toronto. Dupont cir- cle; the Netherlands, 1860 Columbia road northwest; the Stafford, 1781 Lanier place northwest; the Hoyt, 1330 Belmont street northwest. ‘The leasing of the Willard to the Capitol Hotel Company, which it became one of the chain of hotels controlled by the Du Pont in- realtors of W Dlace the name of the old Real Estate prokers’ Association was changed to Hfllhel in 'Y | uniformity fosterea by the Nati Association of Real ‘Eetate Boara. i addition a new regime took the reins in ferred | OPeration, and the City Club took a street | Similar stand with regard to its pro- posed new home on G street. The year will be memorable to ington. In the first Washington Real Estate Boai conformity with the movement fr:‘r is. In terests, will stand out as the foremost | the organization as the result of an rental deal of the year. Another election at the October meeting. H. L. notable deal was the leasing of the|Rust was succeeded by Lee D. Latimer northwest corner of last May. 12th and, ‘F |as president of streets to @ chain of 5 to 50 cent|Petty took over stores, to take effect five years from |quished by former Secretary Shrev Other events which marked the or- the board, and Secretary the duties reli; A number of apartment and office | ganization’s activities were the jour- bulldings were completed by the con- | ney to Kansas ity of the local dele- tractors. ‘Hadleigh Goes Up. The Hadleigh apartment-hotel, at 16th and V streets, was a notable ad- S, 0711 A I, city. and convenience There- gation to.the annual convention of the National Association of Real Estate Boards and the adoption of a stand- ard form of sal contract. r /2 Make a New Year Resolution To Buy an Apartment In the TORONTO 4 Rooms and Bath to 7 Rooms and 2 Baths For Full Particulars See— - THE F. H. SMITH CO. SALES DEPARTMENT 815 15th St. i An Imposing Corner Home in Washingto 2019 19th St. NW. You Can See It Sunday! It vm Be Open for Inspection All Day SHANNON & LUCHS JANUARY 1, Finance (;lassified Ads. 1921 - 1 § PURCHASES WESTINGHOUSE MANSION. The old residence property at 20th street and Massachusetts avenue northwent, facing Dupont Circle, formerly the home of James G. Blaine a; Iater of George Westinghoune, Jr.. of Pittsburgh, has been sold by Gladys O. Mitchell of Maxsachuxetts to Henry B. Spencer of this city. It is understood e conniderntion wax $00,000. WESTINGHOUSE MANSION AT DUPONT CIRCLE SOLD MILLIONS FOR BUILDINGS. $130,196,000 in Awards Made for November. | i Former Home of Blaine Brings $90,000 From Henry B. Spencer. Contracts totaling in value $13 196,000 were awarded in the building industry in the north and east during| November, according to statistics pre- | pared by the F. W. Dodge Company. A total of 3,842 projects were involved, it is stated. Figures for the past eleven months for the same section of the country The old Westinghouse mansion, facing Dupont circle, at 20th street and Massachusetts avenue, has been sold by Giadys O. Mitchell of Arling- ton, Mass, to Henry B. Spencer of |show that contracts totaled $2,466,- | this city. The transaction was ne-| 162,215, with a total of 54,612 projects gotlated through the oflice of Randall | involved. H. Hagner & Company. The consid-| More residential buildings were eration is said to have been $90,000. The property has a frontage of 27.6 feet on P street, 69.6 feet on 20th street and 116.6 feet on Massa- chusetts avenue. The house is con- structed of brick and is four stories in height. The building contains many large rooms, including a spaci- ous reception hall on the main floor, flanked by numerous living and din- ing rooms. A large double staircase leads from the first floor to the second and thence to the upper stories. The woodwork is of solid hardwood construction. An elevator is provided. The luxurious furnishings of ‘the old house were| recently sold at auction. The residence was once the home of James G. Blaine. George Westing- house, jr. of Pittsburgh, later bought the property. During the recent war the house was used as the home of the Officers’ Club. BACK WAY FOR CHILDREN! Tenants of apartments in a building in Cincinnati, Ohio. recently were notified that their children, like bun- dles, must be brought in the rear entrance, or suffer rent increases. The children damage the front entrance, the owners g:serted. EXPECT BUSINESS REVIVAL. A questionnaire sent leaders in busi- ness, commercial, banking and educa-: tional circles by the Review of Re- views, discloses that a widespread re- vival of business in all lines of in- dustry is expected in 1921, erected during the year than any other type, a total of 27,185 buildings for tenants being constructed. Busi- ness buildings were next in number, with 10,249 structures recorded. Other classes of buildings were erected as follows: Educational in- stitutions, 1,945; hospitals, 545; indus- trial buildings, 5.851; military andl naval buildings, 159; public works and public utilities, 493; religious and me- morial buildings, 801; social and rec- reational buildings, 1,227, and mis- cellaneous, 5. SENDS HOLIDAY MESSAGE. Former National Realty Head Gives Good Wishes to Assoclation. Alexander S. Taylor, of Cleveland, O., ex-president of the National As- sociation of Real Estate Boards, has sent a message of good-will to local realtors in a letter received by John L. Weaver. The greeting is as fol- lows: “At this joyous holiday season my thoughts go out to my friends; to wish them prosperity in their under- takings, wisdom for the work, peace for their pathway, friends for the fireside and strength to the last.” Located near Eighteenth on the market today. room for garage—in fine con n Heights Vacant! 50 You can move ‘in_right away. This well-built brick house has 11 rooms and two baths, with hot-water heat and electricity. It has just been redecorated throughout—the condition could not be better. The location (at the corner of 19th and California Sts.) is everything that could be desired in convenience, value and prestige. * If you know values in this exclusive neighborhood, you will be surpriséd at the very moderate price of this home— and agreeable terms will be made. REALTORS 713 14th St. N.W. | may have their clothes pressed, their A DISTINCTIVE " MT. PLEASANT RESIDENC The Best Home Value in this Section HADLEIHHOTEL HAS BEEN FINISHED | Occupies Entire Block, Has 792 Apartments and Rooms, | Accommodates 1,000. Final datails of construction on the new Hadleigh Hotel building. at 16th and V streets, were completed this week. The cquipment for this build- ing incorporates virtually every mod- ern convenience known to apartment | builders, including servidor service, kitchenette receiving cabinets and disappearing beds in the light hou keeping apartments. The Hadleigh occupies an entire block on 16th street, between V and| W streets. It contains 792 apart- ments and guest rooms, with accom- modations for more than 1,000 persons. New Servidor Service. guest room and apartment is equipped with the new servidor service, invisibly installed in the ma- hogany door. This service is provid- ed in the newer hotels of New York and other cities. This device operates ! with little effort on the part of guests. If clothes that need pressing are plac- ed in the servidor in the evening, they will be found ready to wear in the morning. All that is necessary is for the guest to inform the valet that the clothes are in the servidor. . ¥ 5 {veved that if changing conditions ef- to elim- Tenants This_service is designed inate the custom.of tipping. shoes polished, laundry, mail- and newspapers delivered to their rooms without the: annoyance of answering a bell or giving 2 tip. Similar to the servidor arrange- ment is the receiving cabinet in every kitchenette. This furnishes a kitchen service for the delivery of groceries and other packages to the housekeeping apartments. Another modern feature of the hotel are the disappearing beds, built in each liv- ing room of the light housekeeping apartments. The beds are concealed in a dressing closet when not in use. No Servamts Are Necessary. ! Each apartment of this type is laid out so that the servant problem might be eliminated. It is practical- Iy unnecessary for any ome living in the building to leave the premizes to dé6 routine shopping. In the base- ment are a delicatessen and grocery store, drug store, barber shop, valet service, hairdressing and manicuring parlor and geptleman's haberdashery i shop. Doctors’ offices and dining room are on the main floor. & Among social activities arranged by the management for the entertain- ment of the guests are Sunday after- noon musicals and dances at regular intervals: The hotel is owned and operated by Miss M. E. Fritz. who also operates hotels in Boston and New York. SHORT DOWNWARD TREND. Economists who have studied the building situation declare that there is_little reason to believe that the downward price movement will long continue. and Park Road. This de- lightful home is one of the most attractive propositions There are nine large rooms and tiled bath; hot-water heat; front and rear porches; ample dition. This house has been listed at 2 remarkably low fig- ure and in our opinion is a real bargain. EARLY POSSESSION N.L.SANSBURY CO., Inc. “Everything in Real Estate™ 721 13th Street, NW. 'REALTY OFFICES MERGED. | |Eeduction of $1 Month at Govern- 1 | ‘rate charged government employves i United States Housing Corporation {would be pleased to reconsider the | rates in force, the corporation is grati- {fitd to be abie to announce that, due {augurated, as well as the declining | gamated Clothing Workers of Amer- {ica. | Probably noting the work of the 8 Pages - { Charles B. Caywood President of New Corporation. LUNBER PRODUCING Garrett will by cted corporation of Caywood Bros. & Gar- rett, Inc., has been formed and offices have been establishe at 915 New - - York avenuo northwe | Shipments and Orders Light Charles B. @aywood has been made president of the new corporatio - Because of Lack of Re- Other officers are Aurilla S president, and John t . secretary and treasurer. | Both of these concerns have long ail Demand. been jdentiffed with real estate ac-| Lumber production is 60 per cent of tivity in Washington. In 1873 S. Caywood founded his business an: -\""‘:‘\nurm:n according fo a statement is sued by the National Lumber Manu conducted it until the time of his death. in 191%, when his widow, Au-|facturers’ Association. It is pointed rilla S. Caywood. took over his in-|out that the holiday season is in- terests. In 1888 Charles B. Caywoodvariably dull, due to shutdowns of and John P. Garrett formed the part- nership of CayWwood & Garrett and have since been engaged in the reai estate business here CUT RATES IN EFFECT. ° plants for repairs and inventories. Shipments and orders arc light b cause of the seasonal ation of building and the lack of demand upor retail lumber distributors, it is ex plained. The present season is ab normally dull, since liquidation is pro ceding in all lines and » marked aver sion is shown by business men gen erally to make commitments until more promising conditions are sccu Little Increase in Stocks. Shipments are closely approachini production, $o that the volume of stocks is not substantially increasing Further reduction in the output will cecur in the mext few weeks, the as sociation predicts, through the clos ing of more mills in the south and west. However, it is observed, resumption ment Dormitories. A reduction of $1 a month in the at the dormitories on Union station plaza will take effect today. The reduction was announced several weeks ago by President Robert Wat- son of the United States Housing Cor- poration. of building carly in 1921 ‘should re A statement sent the guests read as|Sult in an active demand on the saw- follows: S 22| mills, and operators for the MOst par: “Agreeably with the assurance con- [3T¢ oPtimistic. pal producing regions are making sales at prices at, near, or even be- low, the cost of production. This is not an unprecedented situation, it is stated. but is the natural comse quence of an effort to maintain or- ganizations intact. While curtailing output, manufac- turers are also seeking to be in a position to meet demands expected in the course of a few/weeks. COSLS. including .wages, have been reduced fécted a reduction in cost of opera- tion of the government hotels, the to economies which have been in- prices. of certain commodities, it ap- pears practicable to effect a reduction in the monthly guest rate of $1 a month.” until “bedrock” has been reached . and greater production is not prac- NEW BRAND OF MONEY. |t . — 155 Per Ceat Over 1914. Garment Workers’ Union Conduct. |, IN the south, for instance, lumber is costing approximately $37 a thou- sand feet to producs clare. In 1914 thi was $14.50 a tho: ing Strike on Novel Plan. SNMRer Sen @a . NEW YORK, January 1-—sA new brand of paper money will be put into circulation in New York shortly, it was announced today by the Amal- a_thousand feet st of production in now about 155 per cent the.south js more than what it was in 1914. It is pointed out that prices of many articles enter into the cost of operating a sawmill. These Mclude food for logging and mill crews. tools, steel rails, heavy logging and loading machines, locomotives, cars, horses, mules, tractors, oil and max other items. 'All are necessary in the complex opération of turning timb: into lumber, and each helps to i ~=-~age or decrease the cost of opera- tion as their prices fluctuate. e e DRIVE FOR BUILDING. In the belief that businegs and in- dustry of all kinds depend to a lurge "xtent for success on_ a resumption of building activity throughout the The union, which is directing a strike in the city’s garment facto- ries, plans to open two stores. at which only *“relief money” will be accepted. Printed bills of one, two and five dollars’ value will be issued to strikers, while “small change” in denominations of pennies, nickels, dimes ‘and quarters will be stamped out of cardboard. PHILADELPHIA IS ZONING. zoning commission in Washington, Philadelphia has revived its zoning commission, appointed in 1916, and shortly will undertake. the task of ! i regulating the location, size and|country. a group of businéss men in height of all buildings proposed for that §St. Paul; Minn., are launching a cam- city. paign>for more construction. E wish to express to-our many friends our appreciation of their patronage during the past year and to extend our Best Wishes far a Bright, Prosperous and Hafiéy New YEE". N. L. Sansbury Co., Inc: “Everything in Real Estate” 721 13th Street N.W, Phone M-4985 J ~ Open for Inspection Sunday -~ 9 AM. untl 5 PM. Two Handso In Fxclusive Residential Section of Washington Heights. 1855 and 1857 California.Ave. N.W. These properties will appeal to you: 9 rooms and 2 baths; two floorss large tooms, | suitable for entertaining. The best buy in Washington for the money. TR )11l e Brick Residences ‘Double Garage oseph C. Zirkle 21 Colorado Bus. Hundreds of sawmills in the princi- '