Evening Star Newspaper, September 14, 1929, Page 13

vy WITH SUNDAY MORNING EDITION nznmg %taf' sA;rnizDAY, SEPTEMBER 14; 1929. | HOME & GARDEN CITY OFFICIAL TO DRAFT ZONING CERTIFICATE PLAN Taliaferro Devising System by Which Sales Con- tracts May Be Augmented by Description. of Possible Legal Uses of Property. 63 STORIES IS HELD LIMIT FOR MAXIMUM PROFITS Experiment Including Skyscn;pers From 8 to 100 : Floors Is Basis of Conclusion of Economie Study. New English Ty Mr. and Mrs, Roberts | [ To Occupy House On Morningside FAMILY NAME PUT ON NEW: PROPERTY BY DON S. WARREN. District Commissioner Taliaferro, who has been urging that & statement as to zoning of property be made a part of a sales contracs How high can a skyscraper be built and still be economically & good investment? This question has repeatedly been raised by 'city planners and other students of building as skyscrapers have been pushed to higher and still higher altitudes in New York and other great metropolitan centers. A statistical study of the matter, made by S. W. Straus & Co., from plans for buildings ranging in size from 8 to 100 stories, as de- signed for a site in a congested, high-land-value area in New York City, showed that a building height of 63 stories was discovered to be the point of maximum economic return. In making public the results of this study, however, W. C. Clark, vice president of the Straus Co., cautioned against any attempt to apply this formula to other cities, where fundamental factors might be different. Discussing the skyscraper and the survey, Mr. Clark sa “Obviously, if it can be conclusively demonstrated that tall buildings as a class are unprofitable or less profitable than low buildings, inventors will cease to erect such structures and legislators will not hesitate to disfourage them. “It was decided, thirefore,, to make a special investigation of the ‘economic height’ of building of a specific site and to make the resvlts available for public consumption afAd criticism. “In undertaking to make this special investigation to determine the most “economic’ development of a given site, we decided upon the following condi- tions and methods: “Plans and specifications were to be prepared for a number of buildings varying in height from, say, 8 to 10 stories to 75 or 100 stories: the cost of construction of each building and the total cost of the property as developed to the varying degrees of intensity was to be determined; and careful estimates of gross revenues, operating expenses, and net income for each property, after adequate allowance for depreciation and obsolescence, were then to be pre- pared. Knowing the total investment and the net income in each case, it was felt that the most economic type a! development would immediately be- come apparent and that from the data secured it would be possible to develop a curve which would probably show & trend toward ‘increasing returns’ up o the point of maximum economic re- turn and thereafter ‘diminishing re- tarns’ until ultimately a height ‘would he reached where net income would ¢lisappear altogether. New York Site Chosen. “The site selected was to be chosen from one of the congested, high-land- value areas of New York City, where, i nnywhere,dtuu buildings would seem 0 be justified. : ”Thé striking fact revealed by this {able is that a height of 63 stories is ! discovered to be the point of maximum economic return. “It is only in the 63-story structure that the total cost assignable to the Jend is for the first time equaled and emceeded by the total cost assignable e the building. In the 75-story ‘build- ime; total building cost exceeds aggre= gate land cost by the extra cost of constructing the last 12 stories and the 1oss in rentable space are so great that the average return upon the. total in- 'vestment slightly- less, than for the 63-story building, namely, 10.06 per cent. 4 “Caution must be used, however, in projecting the curve beyond the limits | of our study, and particularly in at- tempting to apply the formula to other sites. “Nevertheless, of one thing we can be reasonably sure, and that is that no matter what the size or value or loca- tion of the plot or the character of building, the law of diminishing returns will set in at some story height and sooner or later a point will be reached ‘beyond which it will not pay the owner to build under the existing conditions. Importance of Shape. “It is probably safe to say that sec- ond only to land value as a factor in determining the economic height of a building are the size and shape of the plot. Perhaps, indeed, these factors should be ranked as first in importance. “Legal limitations upon the free de- velopment of building sites may be one of the most important factors, deter- mining the economic height of build- ings. If no such arbitrary restrictions. question id: | | Hastings, designers; C. A. CATHOLIC U. TAKES BUILDING PERMIT New Structure to House School- for Liturgical Music Study. Permit for the construction of a new school building at Catholic University, on Harwood road northeast, which will have an estimated cost of $150,000, was issued during the past week by Col. John W. Oehmann, building inspector. The project was the largest in the list of new operations, the total cost of all new work being estimated at $587,000. The new building at Catholic Univer- sity, the gift of Mrs. Justine B. Ward, will house the recently established school of liturgical music. It will con- tain a large auditorium, classrooms, li- brary, practice rooms for piano and or- gan, offices and study rooms. It will be known as Dom Macquereau Hall, after the famous monk of Solemas, France, outstanding scholar of Gregorian chant. ‘The building, designed by Murphy & Olmstead, will be of two stories, of stone and brick construction. R. P. Whitty Co., Inc,, is the builder. Permits for Dwellings. Plans for 16 private dwellings also are in the new list of operations. Among them are plans for the $108,000 home of Senator David A. Reed of Pennsylvania and for the $86,500 home for William R. Castle, jr., Assistant Secretary of State, to be erected at 2210 and ‘2200 S street. Permits were issued as follows: Catholic University of America, own- ers; Murphy & Olmstead, architects; R. P. Whitty Co., Inc., builders; to erect one 2-story brick and stone school building on Harwood road northeast (parcel 134-1, square N-3543); to cost $150,000. David A. Reed, owner; Carrere & Langley Co., builders; to erect one 3-story brick and concrete dwelling, 2210 S street (lots 41 1o 43, square 2517 C. A. Langley Co., builders; to erect one 3-story brick and concrete dwelling, 2200 8 street (lots 44 and 45, square 2517); to cost $86.500. Young Enterprises, owners and build- (Continued on_Fourteenth_Page.) exist ‘and purely economic factors are allowed to govern, true mic height will be found at a some t higher level, probably a considerably higher level. “It is apparent that the degree of efficiency used in designing the build- ing, preparing the plans and specifica- tions. and so forth, will have some bearing upon the point at which the maximum economic return is reached. Inefficiency in this respect will affect all buildings of whatever height, but it will be particularly important in the tall buildings. An inadequate elevator sclution or wasteful floor layout will become increasingly burdensome as height increases.” I EAST RAYMOND ST. One Square North' and Ome Square East of Chevy Chase Country Club % » Open Sunday 9 to 6 and Daily 3 to 6 -~ Lot 100'x208’ TB'IS distinguished home, in one of the prettiest residential squares in the entire Chevy Chase sec- tion, consists of seven rooms and two baths, with two- car tile garage. The grounds artistically landscaped, with privet hedge, flowers, trees and beautiful shrub-. bery, have a variety, of heavy bearing fruit- trees, grapes and vegetable garden. The home, in first-class condition throughout, has baths, screened sleeping four large bedrooms, two porch, house-width front veranda, open fireplace, reception room, large light living and dining rooms, Frigidaire, pantry, large attic, hot-water heat, radio aerial, service porch, etc. ’ A 3 R Priced at $19,000, this property is unquestionably one of today's outstanding values. AL L Sarfi'fiu@ ’ 1418 Eye St. N.W, Exclusive Agents = Nat'l 5904 Brick and Stucco Give Old-World Feeling to Their Residence. A large, English-type house of im ing character has been completed at 7601 Morningside drive, in the Shepherd Park section, overlooking Rock Creek Park, by L. E. Breuninger & Sons as the new home of Mr. and Mrs. Edward L. Roberts. Mr. Roberts, who is general manager and secretary of the National League of Commission Merchants, has given to the residence the unusual name of Ciltreflys, a family name carried -down for many generations from the old homestead in Wales. He explains that according to historical records during ancient Britons Welsh soldiers rallied and camped around their ruling prince on the old homestead or farm, and the place was given the name of Ciltreflys, m”r‘t‘m' the home or place of the royal court. English feeling is given the house by its brick and stucco construction, with ‘weather-stained trim and panel effects in the series of windows in the first and second stories on the south front. The center-hall entrance, placed at the juncture of the two main wings, is reached by a curving brick walk from Morningside drive. To the left of the entrance hall is a spacious living room with French doors giving onto a covered porch. To the right is the dining room which is con- nected by a butler's pantry with a kitch®n. There is a commodious break- fast room also on this floor. On the second floor is & den or library built over a two-car garage. It ex- posed ridge pole and beams of chestnut and tinted rough cast walls. Other rooms on this floor are a master bed- room and two baths. K STREET PROPERTY LEASED FOR 10 YEARS Store Space Taken by Former Pro- prietor of Pharmacy in Cathedral Mansions. Pirst-floor store space in the building at 1432 K street has been leased for a period of 10 years by John M. Thal, who formerly operated a pharmacy in Cathedral Mansions, it was announced today by J. F. M. Bowie of the R. L. Rust Co., which acted in Eelofll!kma. The rental consideraf was hot made public. The premises, having frontages on both K and Fifteenth streets, contains lp?mxlmlkly 1,400 square feet. Mr. Thal will open there a luncheonette and pharmacy, it is an- nounced. _——— 3 One authority computes that authors seem to attain the peak of their cre- ative powers at or about the age of 42. Pinanciers and business men gen- erally reach their zenith at 53. 508 Tower Building New residence at 7601 Morningside drive, Shepherd Park, recently completed by L. E. Breuninger & Sons for Mr. and Mrs. Edward L. Roberts, which is to be called Ciltreflys. APARTMENT PLANS WIN JURY APPROVAL Hampshire Gardens Co-operative Project Is Studied by Council Group. A jury of the Architect’s Advisory Council has commended the design of buildings in the Hampshire® Gardens co-operative apartment project located between Emerson and Farragut streets along New Hampshire avenue. The two buildings studied are a part of the first unit of the proposed 5-acre project of the Hampshire Gardens De- velopment Corp., J. B. Shapiro, presi- dent, designed by James E. Cooper and George T. Santmyers. ‘The jury also gave a “commended” ratiig to a dwelling, 2254 Decatur place, Horace W. Peaslee, architect, Frederick A. Delano, owner; dwelling, 5101 Thirty-ninth street, C. N. Norton, architect, Alfred T. Newbold, owner; dwelling, 3414 Twenty-ninth street, Gilbert L. Rodier, architect, S. G. Lind- holm, owner; dwelling, 4517 Garfield street, G. E. MacNeil, architect, W. C. & A. N. Miller, owner; 12 dwellings, 1536 to 54 Forty-fourth street, 4400-02 Q street, James E. Cooper, architect, Boss & Phelps, owner. The jury approved plans for the new plant of the General Baking Co. being erected at 2146 Georgia avenue, de- by C. B. Comstock, and plans for an apartment house for 2514-16 Fourteenth street, designed by Milburn- Helster & Co. for the Clifton Manor Corp. - Lumber Shipments Show Gain. During the second quarter of the current year lumber shipments gained, according to a report recently issued by the National Lumber Manufac- turers’ Association. This report shows estimated rail shipments of lumber to have been 8,074,208,000 board feet, as against shipments of 7,613,262,000 feet for the same period in 1928. 7617 12th STREET N.W. Corner Alaska Avenue “16th St. Heights” First showing today of this unusually at- tractive center hall plan Colonial brick. Nine spacious rooms, 2 tile baths, 2-car detached ‘The home is exceptionally well planned and the construction far above the average, and includes all the features that make it a real home. THE PRICE IS THE REAL FEATURE Open for Inspection Sunday and’'Daily—Inspect Today Drive out 16th Street to Alaska Ave., across Alaska Ave. to 12th Street and the property faces you on the right. MITCHELL QUICK Metropolitan 3788 07 West Bradley Lane " Opposite Chévy Chase Club Grounds , turn west to east io property, or FALL CLEAN-UP SOON DUE With National Fire Prevention week, October 7-12, in the offing, it is timely to select that annual occasion for launching Fall Clean- , Paint-Up and Fix-Up activities “ to get ready for the indoor months.” Progressive communities in all parts of the country are now emphasizing Clean-up and Paint-Up campaigns in the Fall as well as in the Spring, and giving special emphasis to inspections for fire hazards, re-wiring, overhaul- ing of elecirical equipment and heating apparatus, repairing roofs, sealing the exteriors of houses against the coming onslaughts of the elements, by the a] plication of fresh paint, weather-stri ping, doors and windows and gener- ally making things tight and d&y for the Winter. FIRM LEASES STORE Shop After Completion of Remodeling Work. open a new shop there, nounced today The lease is to run for five years. to nearly $25,000 for the period. 4700 Willow Lane, Chevy Chase, Md. +Lot 35 ft. frontage by 180 ft. deep $11.000 A charming colonial home on & lot we purchased nearly eleven years ;fi. which means the price is below the possibility of duplica- tion, well arranged rooms, complete in every detail, including open ;\::E::ce, large side porch, bronze screens, tiled bath with shower and Drive out Wisconsin Avenue to Leland Street (just beyond Bradley Lane), turn east on Leland Street one block to 46th Street and morth-one block to Willow Lane, or phone Wisconsin 2875, M. & R. B. WARREN An English fltppt Resgidence on a hiflh elevation overlookinfi -BEAUTIFUL WESLEY HEIGHTS . Built of brick and stone; slate roof, insulated with Balsam wool;. copper gutters and downspouts; cypress exterior woodwork; Textone wall finish'; chestnut trim; beautiful colored-tile baths and first-floor lavatory. _ A central hall extends conveniently to the driveway at t!me rear. of the house.: To one who knows good construc- tion the. price will: seem- surprisingly low. Open Sunday from 10 AM. to 9 P.M. Drive out Cathedral Avenus to 46th Street; then one block north. " HENRY J. CONNOR ‘5?21‘ Comtn. A-ve. .Ww73”_, 3 5 ON SEVENTH STREET Men’s Clothing Concern to Open Business property at 609 Seventh street has been. leased to a men’s cloth- ing store concern, which shortly will it was an- by Carl G. Rosinski, realtor, who negotiated the transaction. ‘The consideration was reported to amount orner 46th and Klingle Streets . Cleve. 4859 the executive office of the Zoning describing restrictions on propert; tions, it was learned today. Commissioner Taliaferro plans to call Tax Assessor Richards into consultation regarding the plan. It is pointed out that the District, now, on application, issues certificates as to taxes which may be outstanding against a property. This tax information service is to be studied by the Commissioner in rela- tion to its legal background and appli- | cation, as a guide to the new service | which he hopes to see instituted here. He indicated that if a regulation by the board of Districc Commissioners is needed, he would seek to have one adopted, or to recommend to the board of Commissioners an appeal to Congress for authority, if legislation is found to be needed. Consideration is to be given to the question as to whether the District should charge a nominal fee for the proposed zoning certification service. This service, of course, would be aval able on application and its success would be predicated on public demands for such information in connection with pending realty transfers. The active, up-to-date real estate operator is, of course, well aware of the effect of the zoning classifications of property he owns or plans to purchase, but because zoning is a rather comp! cated matter it is difficult for the aver- age individual to understand its appli- cation, Commissioner Taliaferro points | out. West of M3, Including furniture, silver THE HOUSE— Most attractive 5-room garage to match house. out. Awnings, screens, beautiful street. The furnishings jnclude e bed linens and all the ful move in. or title certificate, has set to work to draft a detailed plan by whic! Commission could issue. certificates y under existing zoning classifica= If this plan is carried to fruition, private property owners, rea;g brokers or title companies could obtain quickly an accurate and cial statement of tg Xt 4 . involved in a sales transaction. e fundamental zoning restrictions on property The Commissioner believes that if title companies were to make liberal use of such a system they would be performing a real public service. 4 In fact, experiences related to tie Zoning Commission ‘Seem to indicatg, the Commissioner statés, that many in- dividuals buying-property do not make a thorough study of the zening classiff- cations of property before -sales trans- actions are consummated, q@ at least, do mot fully understand the effect of zoning. He therefore believes: that the proposed certification service would il a need. A RESERVE COMMISSION GIVEN REALTOR HEAD Harry H. Culver to Be Assigned to Assistant War Secretary-for Special Duty. Lieutenant colonel in the Officers’ Re- serve Corps, United States Army. That is the new title which has been confer- red by the War Department upon Harry H. Culver of Culver City and Los Ange- les, Calif., president of the National As- socllqlfloél (i)f Rej:l 'Esll;le'e Boards. < r. Culver assigned to the ;Aesrsvifct:m Secretary of Wa‘rm;m- special Massacauserrs Park Kalorama -Across Rock Creek. Mass. Ave. entrance at 30™ St. One Square east of New British Embassy The National Cathedral on west Sites for Individual Homes Priced from %150 per sq.ft. up Within 2 miles of White Flouse Location and contours can never be dublicated in heart Prices ana Mmmuefl AND SHANNON Inc, g‘;\hhin_grm again- 5 K St. This Lovely Home Completely Furnished FOR o 58,950 and linens and on terms of purchase to suit your convenience. Immediate sale is imperative. Owner has already left city and has empow- ered us to offer this attractive place at a sacrifice price. 1208 RIDGE ROAD NORTH WOODSIDE, MD. bungalow with modern bath and In new house condition inside and etc. Handsohely planted lot on THE FURNISHINGS— verything—piano, -silver, table and rniture—nothing else to buy—just Open for Inspection All Day Sunday From 11 AM. Till Dark Motor out 16th Street, turning into Alaska A Dist: Line at Georgia Avenue, North under the viaduet :?n":n”m ‘riics tho-flu stone entrance to North Woodside on the left, thenes to 1208 e /[ e a " Rébert L. McKeever, Pres. Earl E. Goss, V. Pres. S. E. Godden, Sales Manager 1415 K Street National 4750