Evening Star Newspaper, December 14, 1929, Page 13

REAL ESTATE WASHINGTON, .D. C, ‘ hz é«ntning %tuf; WITR SUNDAY MORNISO EDITION SATURDAY, DECEMBER 14, 1929. | HOME & GARDEN 13 ‘Home-Owning and Building Section for Washington and Suburbs EASIER BUILDING MONEY IS SEEN BY REALTOR HEAD Improvement in Credit for Construction Is Regarded as Result of Conferences Called by Hoover. An early improvement in credit and money available for construc- | tion, and, as a consequence, for real estate investment, is seen by Her- bert U. Nelson, executive secretary of the National Association of Real Estate Boards, as one of the immediate favorable results of the confer- ence of the Nation's business leaders, called by the United States Chamber of Commerce at the instance of President Hoover. Mr. Nelson and Harry S. Kissell, first vice president of the na- tional association, represented real estate’ interests at the President’s conference here. N “key men” of American industries Mr. Kissell was appointed to the committee of 60 named at the conference. Construction Has Key to Situation. “Construction and maintenance industries, employing, as they do, one-fourth of the labor in the United States, hold the key to the whole present business situation,” Mr. Nelson declared. “The speculative period is over; this is synonomous with saying that we are going out of the period of high interest rates. We are now entering a period of Jower interest rates, and low interest rates will make building and construction go forward.” President Hoover emphasized in his| address to the business leaders that con- tinuity and expansion of construction end maintenance work throughout the country should take up any slack in em- ployment which arises in other direc- tions and offset successfully any tempo- rary depression which might come at e. 1In pointing out this fact to the coun- try's industrial leaders at the confer- ence, President Hoover said: “I believe that with the great back logs which are already assured by the public service in- stitutions and the governmental works you will be able to build up the con- struction and maintenance activities for | 1930 to a higher level than that of 1929, | and that is what we require.” Mr. Nelson viewed the conference as substantial evidence that the repre- sentatives of industries, utilities, busi- ness organizations and governmental agencies are one-minded in working to- ward increasing_activity in the con- struction field. Business leaders in all lines are aware of the need for stimu- | Recognition | lating building activities. of the present situation, combined with the present tendency of the investing public—that of turning from specula- tion to resuming investment in bonds and mortgages—cannot fail to increase activity in real estate, Mr. Nelson point- ed out. Denies Overbuilding. “A conviction on the part of insur- ance companies that the country gen- erally is cverbuilt has been one reason for the restriction of credit for real estate,” Mr. Nelson continued. “In many communities careful survey has proved that this impression is entirely erroneous, that the community is not overbuilt. Fact finding and research on the part of real estate men will bring out the true situation and, with low in- terest rates in view, we should look for a healthy real estate market during 1930. ““The result of the conference in gen- eral will undoubtedly be to bridge over the usual business Jull which follows a crash terminating a speculative era. Al- most invariably the leaders of the 200 basic industries represented at the con- ference reported an increased construc- tion budget for the coming year. The railroads have appropriated $1,050,000,- 000 for additions and betterments of property during 1930. “The public utilities. will invest $1,- 400,000,000 in new construction during 1930. Industrialists and financial in- terests all along the line have shown concrete indication of their willingness to co-operate in avoiding a period of ‘waiting until business recovers from its pessimism induced by the stock market debacle.” DISTRICT ENGINEERS URGED TO REGISTER Plan Is in Effect Now in 26 States and 7 Canadian Provinces. Registration of engineers in the Dis- trict is urged by the Washington Chap- ter of the American Association of Ea- gineers. The action was taken this week fol- lowing an address in support of the - Tegistration plan by C. J. Ullrich, past president of the association, who stated that registration of engineers is in ef- fect in 26 States of this country and 7 provinces in Canada, 30,000 engi- neers being registered under 25 branches of the profession. Mr. Ullrich reported also that laws are under consideration in Ohio, Texas, Washington, Kansas and Nebraska which would require registration of en- gineers “in the interest of general pub- lic welfare, as a means of certifying reliable engineers and weeding out the incompetent.” H. A. Seay Is Elected To Seat in *Change Opening on Monday Harry A. Seay, in real estate investment business in Wash- ington since 1908, has been elected to the right to a seat in the newly organized New York Real Estate Sccurities Exchange, which will be opened formally Monday. ‘The election will give Mr. Seay the privilege of trading on the floor of the exchange, which is organized much along the lines of the New York Stock Exchange. The new exchange has been formed for the purpose of pro- viding a medium for the sale or exchange of mortgages, stocks and bonds secured by real estate holdings and is designed to make more liquid the market for these securities. HOTEL INGLUDED INNEW PROJECTS Building Permits Totaling $585,450 Are Approved During Past Week. Private building construction in Wash- ington for which permits were issued during last week has a total estimated cost of $585,450. Plans for the eight- story residential hotel to be erected at 25 E street by a syndicate headed by Harry R. Loveless, at a cost of $250,000, were included in the list of new work. Mrs. Paul Bastedo obtained permit for construction of a home costing $102,000 at 3055 W street. N. L. Sans- bury Co. revealed plans for construction of seven two-story brick and frame dwellings in the 2900 block of Courtland place, at an estimated cost of $60,000. Permits were issued as follows: Harry R. Loveless, owner; Pierson & Wilson, architects; R. P. Whitty Co., Inc., builders; to erect one 8-story brick hotel, 25 E street (lots 805, 807, 809 and 811, square 628); to cost $250,000. Mrs. Paul Bastedo, owner: Wyeth & Sullivan, architects; Davis, Wick, Rosen- garten Co. Inc., builders; to erect one 3-story brick dwelling, 3055 W street (lots 807 and 812, square 2147); to cost $102,000. N. L. Sansbury Co., owner and build- ers; George P. Santmyer, architect; to erect seven 2-story brick and frame dwellings, 2819 to 2930 Courtland place (part of parcel 54/93, square 2103); to cost, $60,000. Charles Mason Ramey, owner; Smith & Edwards, architects; W. E. Mooney, builder; to erect one 2-story brick dwelling, 2438 Massachusetts avenue (lot 805, square 2500); to cost $44,000. Plan Two Dwellings. W. D. Sterrett, owner, designer and builder; to erect two 2l5-story brick dwellings, 3200 and 3210 Rodman street (lots 32 to 34 and 30 and 31, square 2062) ; to cost $20,000. Mario C. and George A. Didden, own- ers; George A. Didden, designer and builder; to erect one 2-story brick and concrete public garage, 429 New Jersey avenue (lot 61, square 630); to cost $20,000. Francis Colt De Wolf, owner; J. J. ‘Whalen, architect; De Sibour Construc- tion Co., builde: to erect garden wall and uncovered rear porch, 3322 O street (lot 827, square 1229); to cost $10,000. L. E. Breuninger & Sons, owners and builders; H. L. Breuninger, architect; to erect one 2-story brick and stucco dwelling. 7529 Morningside drive (lot 801, square 2774); to cos* $11,500. Jacob Riehl, owner; Julius Wenig, architect; D. Brown, builder; to erect one 2-story brick store and flat, 1024 Ninth street flot 837, square 370); to cost $11,000. Ameriean Ice Co., owners and build- ers; to make repairs, Twelfth and V streets (lot 805, square 304); to cost $10,000). H. R. Howenstein, owner and builder; E. C. Rowzee, designer; to erect one 2- story brick and stucco dwelling, 4000 Twenty-first street northeast) lot 21, square 4229); to cost, $6,000. Frame and Brick House. Edwin Jacobson, owner, designer and builder; to erect one 2-story brick and frame dwellizg, 3209 McKinley street dot 3, square 2022); to cost $8,500. George I. Willis, owner and builder; L. E. Davis, designer; to erect one 2- story brick dwelling, 3609 Jenifer street 0 cost $6.000. ) owners; Charles S. Leopold and James' Berrall, architects: Skinker & Garrett, builders: to make repairs, 2117 Fourteenth street (lot 179, square 235); to cost $4,000. H. L. Ryan, owner, designer and builder; to erect one 1-story brick office, 1920 Benning road northeast (lots 800 and 9, square 4507); to cost $3,000. Hanna T. Donovan, owner; K. W. Ochs, designer; A. L. Titcomb, builder; to erect one 3-story brick addition, 2007 Fourtcenth street (lot 807, square 236); to_cost $2,000. Miss Maude Converse, owner; F. M. McConchie & Co,, builders; to make re- pairs, 1745 Connecticut avenue (lot 16, square 91); to cost $1,000. Frank Small, jr., owner; Davis, Wick, Rosengarten Co., Inc., builders; to con=- struct balcony, 1325 Good Hope road southeast (lots 290 to 293, square 5768) ; to_cost $1,000. Mrs. Cecit R. Stowell, owner; to re- pair roof, 3734 Oliver street (lot 73, square 1865): to cost $1,000. Missachuserrs Park West of Kalorama - Across Rock Creek Mags. Ave. entrance ar 30 St. One Square east of New British Embagsy The National Cathedral on west Sites for Individual Homes Priced from *L50 per sq.ft.up Within 2 miles of White House Huge Oak Embodiedin Designof Welker Home Underoak, the home of Mr. and Mrs. Scott E. Welker, at 4420 Nebraska ave- nue, one of Washington's interesting residences, is a concrete illustration of the principle of planning a house to suit its site. Here the outline of the house and its silhouettes, the landscap- ing and garden walls were “wrapped” around a huge and venerable oak tree on the site. The home, designed by Victor Min- deleff, a fellow of the American Insti- tute of Architects and a past president of the local chapter of the institute, is marked by low, rambling roof lines, which leave the tall oak as the “pre- siding spirit” of the place. The building has characteristics of many of the older English and Norman farm houses. Has Three Street Frontages. The residence is situated on an ex- tensive lot with three street frontages, and from the site there is an extensive panorama of the Virginia hills across the Potomac, which was considered in the placement of the building. ‘The following detailed description of '&hf development is given by Mr. Min- eleff; “The conditions of the situation and | the triangular form of the lot made it perhaps more than ordinarily necessary | to treat house and grounds as a unit, one factor of so dominant a character that it was at once recognized as en- titled to control the whole situation; a huge oak tree. “The architect could do little more than wrap the modest home and gar- den wall around the feet of this presid- ing spirit and subordinate the long low roofs to the vaster shelter of the tree. There remained the task of meeting the needs of modern life with as little of- fense as possible to the majestic note determined by the tree, in a spirit of simplicity. “The angle of the avenue suggested the prayer rug form of the grass panel, 100x200 feet in size, to the east, the more private portion of the grounds. The south lawn was acquired later for protection and as a setting for the tree and house group. South of the liv- ing wing is the intimate walled garden, with roses and perennials and the fs vorite flowers of the owners. Some day it may contain a pool and basin, with a few water lily blooms and leaves. Exposed Rafters Introduced. “The living room has bookcases, cup- boards and a fireplace to the north, with no windows on this side to compete with either the firelight or with the large bay window commanding the western view. The owner’s room, with a book and desk alcove, the former with a western view and the latter with an inside view toward the grass panel by way of the east porch, occupy the south end of the main part of the house. Re- turning to the hall, on either side are the five-foot openings into the living | room and into the dining room. Look- ing into the latter, the ceiling is open to the ridge, with exposed rafters. A high group of short steel casements, with leaded glass in bull's eyes, visible in the illustration of this room, is on the north side, while a much taller group with clear glass occupies the south or garden side of the room. A pantry, well lighted from each end, leads to the spacious kitchen, which also is open to the ridge, but smoothly plastered instead of showing exposed rafters. “This brings us to the arched pas- sageway, which on one side gives ac- cess to the kitchen and on the other to the boiler room and to the laundry, which jn turn leads to a dirt-floored root cellar or half cellar, a few steps lower down. This shows, with its roof descending nearly to the ground. The boiler room is in the ground, deep enough to secure proper circulation for the hot-water system of heat, equipped with a gas-fired boiler, “This room extends full height to the slope of the service wing_roof, afford- ing ample light and air. Beyond is the garage, also showing its loft gable of Erick. The end of this wing is occu- pled by a man’s room and bath and a room for tools. The latter is supple- mented in use by the small tool house at the end of the brick garden wall, emphasizing the end of the brick-in- closed intimate garden. Plain Window Trim. “Returning to the hall, a flight of stairs leads to the second story. The balusters are alternate plain and twisted bar iron, topped with a small wood rail of the same gray finish. The windows are all casement, and as there are no weight boxes to cover, the door and window trim throughout is quite nar- row (about 2 inches) and, in some cases, perfectly plain, “The second floor has three rooms; two of these are open to the ridge, as illustrated, and one, in the center, has full-height level ceiling. Each ' end room has a supplementary high win- dow between flues, and the sofit has a ventilating opening into the chimney hood in addition arranged to open or close. according to season. All ceilings | 1505 Van Buren (Off Upper 16th St.) s % Brick residence of 10 rooms and 2 baths—one square off 16th St. Frigidaire, automatic coal stoker, two-car garage. Owner must sell at once, and PRICED ’ ACCORDINGLY o T Open Sunday, 10 to 6 SASSA NSRRI SRS oS have a double layer of insulation, the face of which forms the finish between the rafters; no paint or other treat- ment. These upper rooms command an even more attractive outlook than the ground floor, as ample glass has been provided. “The interior architectural treatment | of these rooms is one of simplicity, the painted living room, paneled cuphoard doors and mantel being perhaps the most elaborate bit of finish in the house, but that is offset in a measure by the sturdy 6-by-8 exposed ceiling beams of long-leaf pine, slightly grayed with color rubbed in, and finished with wax. The exposed rafters, in the sloped- ceiling rooms, wear the same expression of solidity, being four-by-sixes of the same wood. The doors, of unselected red birch, are similarly treated, with quite a different effect. On birch, this treatment produces beautiful, delicate shadings of grain in driftwood group, reminiscent of Japanese panels. Low, Rambling Appearance. “Exteriorly, the house is designed to convey the low, rambling appearance characteristic of many of the older Eng- lish and Norman French farm houses, Masonry of local seam-faced rock, with considerable variation of warm color, has been largely used in the first-story walls, where it could be handied most | economically. “To blend and warm the general ef- fect still more, the mortar joint is also of a warm tone—cafe au lait. The win- dow sills and places where a thinner wall was needed, such as back of ra- diator or other recesses, and in the gables and the garage, are of brick. They are euphoniously called reclaim- ed brick, but, in plain English, they are second-hand brick. These came from old walls that had some of them originally been painted gray-green, others cream white, others bluish and a few sooted black from having lined flues. But with the most colorful pick- ed out for sills and to flavor stone arches to the passageway, we still had left a mass of gently blended color that harmonized with the varied tones of the stone work. The brick work of the gables is but a slight extension of the necessary brick work of the chimneys, carefully selected for color variation. “So are tied together into one com- posite unit the tree, the house, the gar- dens‘ and the view—but, above all, the tree!” Shea Purchase; i{esiu.ience. ‘William H. Shea has purchased the new semi-detached brick residence built by C. W. Williams at 716 Nichol- son street, it is reported by N. L. Sans- aury Co., which handled the transac- jon. DELIGHTFULLY DIFFERENT 6212 Georgia Street Near Connecticut Avenue $13,250 This new Englhisg t: fully detache hy,:;n e o f brick and stucco, just above Brad- ley Lane, simply must be personally inspected that you may realize. its charm and appoint- ments. Distinctly indi- vidual in design and ab- solutely modern to the minutest detai Drive o ut Connecticut Views of residence of Mr. and Mrs. Scott E. Welker, 4220 Nebraska avenue. Upper view from northwest side of prop- erty; center, north end of living room; and, lower, one of the guest rooms, showing exposed rafters in ceiling. BRIGHTWOOD PARK 5421 Illinois Ave. N.W. $7,500.00 Seven-room, 2-bath modern detached _home, ~double radiation, condition ltke new, large. bright din ing_room, reception hali, 2 coverfed porches, awnings, garage, vard - with owers, street and , ' churches; schools, " stores and " transportation nearby. Reasonable cash and $57.50 monthly payments “including _interest—s35.00 per month income from rcoms and bath on second floor. Inspect Sunday or Phone J. EDWARD LEWIS National 533 612 F St. N. semi- HOME OWNERSHIP PAYS DIVIDENDS IN HAPPINESS Chevy Chase New Detached, All-Brick Home $12,750 This charmi American, all-brick Colonial hame, just being completed, contains 6 very well planned rooms with built-in garage. The lot is unusually attractive, beautifully landscaped, w many shade trees and rus bridge over the small stream in the garden. The home is complete in every detail, including bronze ~ screens. open fireplace, plenty of closet space, and cross ven- tilation in every room. Drive out Wisconsin Avenue to Leland Street (just above Bradley Lane), turn ' east two blocks to 45th Street Banking System Is Reserve.” tion stable. stabilized.” “The construction of homes has by |ar the greatest effect upon all manu- facturing and industry. This construc- tion has been inflated, retarded and made the foot ball of bad business through speculative interests. This, in our judgment, is due to the fact that mortgages have not been made liquid under the banking system of the coun- try, and we believe that system has side-stepped this issue from time im- memorial up to the present. It has provided no proper appraisal methods to put mortgages in a liquid situation and no greater service could be rendered the country than for the Federal Reserve to take up this matter and dispose of it in the best interest of all the people. We shall recommend that the United States Chamber of Com- merce, through the proper committee, take up this matter with the Federal Reserve. “We are creditably informed that the diversion to speculation of money usual- 1y available for the financing of housing is responsible for an 18 per cent reduc- tion this year. We know that accelera- tion of the construction of small homes will be reflected in activity in all lines of industry. After careful consideration, the A. G. C. feels that the financing of such construction has never been on the proper basis; that it is particularly flagrant in relation to small homes, the construction of which has only too often been of bad character, resulting in the deception of the people in the most important investment they can make, namely, the building of homes for families. Ask Change in System. “We shall urge that a statement be made by the United States Chamber of Ce’.merce. through the proper commit- tee, ‘o savings banks, insurance com- pan! . and other distributors of mortgage money of a proper basis for such financ- ing. For purposes of discussion, we shall sugwest that three times the annual income of a family is the proper cost of a home for such family; that the owner BETTER APPRAISAL PLAN FOR MORTGAGES IS URGED Asked to Revi Methods to Aid Real Estate Investors of Nation. e Present “The banking system has provided no proper appraisal methods to put mortgages in a liquid situation and no greater service could be rendered to the country than for the Federal Reserve Board to take up this matter and dispose of it in the best interests of all the people. We shall recommend that the United States Chamber of Commerce, through the proper committee, take up this matter with the Federal This is an outstanding declaration in recommendations to be made to the national chamber by the executive board of the Asso- ciated General Contractors of America, in connection with the indus- trial expansion and stabilization program being planned at the instance of President Hoover, it is announced by T. dent of the contractors’ association. “Well financed uniform construction is prosperity,” Mr. Flagler declares in reporting the suggestions of his organization. suggest to the President and to the United States Chamber of Com- merce that concerted action be immediately taken to make construc- Thus prosperity will be restored and all business T. Flagler, presi- “We shall should have savings available for invest- ment in the home of 20 per cent of the cost; that variation from this last figure ‘would be warranted only by the superior stability of income because stability of income is the basis of all credit. “We shall suggest that lenders of mortgage money insist upon the high character of the builder and that the builder of improperly constructed houses of poor material be denied all credit. We shall suggest also that the staple industries be urged to aid directly or indirectly in the financing of homes for their employes ultimately to be owned by such employe: “The owner, the bank, the architect and the engineer, for purposes of econ- omy and for the stimulation of con- struction enterprises, should be certain that the general contractor has meas- ured up to the requirements of skill, integrity and responsibility.” Young Men’s Shop Renews Its Lease For 13-Year Term The Young Men's Shop, Inc., has renewed for a period of 13 years its lease on the store build- ing property at 1317-19 F street, where the concern has been lo- cated for 17 years, it was report- ed today by Carl G. Rosinski, lo- cal realtor, who handled negotia- tions. ‘The lease for the new period of 13 years, Mr. Rosinski reports, has a total rental consideration of approximately $600,000, indi- cating an advance in rental val- ues in the section. The property has a frontage of 50 feet and a depth of 113 feet. The owners of the property are Johln H. Bartlett and Albert D. Colonial Brick Home Open Sunday Silewnbi Vil 5 Ciabss 1704 Conn. Ave. ¥ Pot. 0830 Corner Morningside Drive and Iris St. N.-W. The Model Home in Shepherd Park To reach—Drive out 16th to Alaska Ave. to Drive, turn left on Drive to this home. See the newest in furnishings Morningside Morningside This residence is situated on a commanding of Colonial : type, perfectly elevation that overlooks the wooded hills of Rock Creek Park. The attractive den on second floor, the cozy breakfast room, the unusual stair hall, the Colonial papers on the walls, the draperies and Colonial furniture, are all features you will want to see. The home is constructed of rough- texture brick, with a Vermont architectural slate roof. It contains 8 large rooms, 2 beautiful baths, lavatory and large 2-car heated garage, which is designed as a St. part of the home. is extended to you. : the n A most cordial invitation to visit this exhibit during the day, and every day next week, Open Daily, 10 AM. to 9 PM Avenue to Bradley Lane, turn right (east) 1 long block to Georgia Street and then turn left V3 block to property, or phone Wisconsin 2489. (] M.@_,Sanslur;y ANY NG Location and contours can never be dublicated in heart of Washington again- Prices ana Data from= MIDDAUGH AND SHANNON Inc 1435 K St. Na8eg5s 5 and north 2 blocks to 4403 Elm Street, or phone Wisconsin 2875 day or evening. M. & R. B. WARREN G Preuninger S Sons INCORPORATED 211 Investment Bldg. National 2040 Washington’s Oldest Established Builders gathered from the city's leading style centers, and embodying the Bteuninger standard of quality 1118 Eve 8t. N.W. Natl, 5004 and workmanship. Ezclusive Agents 4 M. & R. B. WARREN : i