Evening Star Newspaper, December 27, 1930, Page 13

\ v way with preliminary work r REAL ESTAT E WASHINGTON, D0, he A% ) [3 Fy JITH SUNDAY MORNING EDITI enin g %fuf‘ SATURDAY, DECEMBER 2 - a BUILDING NEWS 1930. PROGRESS MARKS 1930 REALTY BUSINESS IN GREATER WASHINGTON L CONDITIONS 'FUNDAMENTA SHOW. REMARKABLE GAINS Fewer New Unsold Than Year Ago Vacancies Are BY DON S Real Estate, Edif Houses on Market and Apartment at Low Point. . WARREN, tor of The Star. HE stock market slump, national business depression and the drought to the contrary, industry of Greater Washi the past year, and many imj were added to the physical develo) prog: Jevels for 1929 were not nearly as the real estate and construction ngton made real progress during pressive and lasting improvements pment of the Capital. While general conditions served to depress private construction rams and sales transactions to some degree, the declines from great as many feared and, in fact, fundamental conditions showed remarkable improvement that augurs well for the new year. The supply of new, fower than at the close of vacai terials is down, the supply of bul unsold houses on the market is considerably f 1929, the percentage of apartment house ncies is the lowest since post-war days, costs of building ma- ilding tradesmen is adequate and the growth of population continues and standards of living are being maintained. year, though not of the size or chi Exclusive of the Federal build- ing projects, the cost of which runs into millions of dollars, private construction programs in the District approved by the Dis- trict building inspector during | 1930 cost an estimated total of $28,804,452. This does not include | the comparatively small figure: ¥or plans which may be approved | during the last five days of the Year. This figure, however, does not | represent the full total of private operations actually started dur- ing the year, since three large projects, running to an estimated total of $6,625,000 now are under in rogress, although the projects ave not been approved in full by the building inspector and there- fore not included in the official | total. Including these projects as part of Greater Activity Seen. All this leads observers to predict increased activity for the n ew aracter that connotes a “bo b ALy oal L e | veys show, 957 houses were started, costing $7,482,500 as compared with 11,403 houses costing $11,124,032 started | during the year 1929. April Biggest Month. How private building operations pro- gressed during the past year is shown in the official monthly statements issued by Col. John W. Oehmann, building inspector, as follows: | January . | February | March April . May June July August September . October . November . : December (incomplete) . . $4,540,170 857,170 3,083,040 4,778,720 3,032,412 1,613.055 2,356,570 2,396,620 1,077,810 2,191.665 1,477,220 1,400,000 $28,804,452 This total does not include the three ' has put in 12 miles of water exten- projects now actually under way, but |sions, at an approximate cost of $155,- which are not included in the official 000, thereby increasing the demand for ARLINGTON PLANS B REALTY YEAR 1930 Behind Previous Period in Building, With Schools Heading List. BY LESTER N. INSKEEP, Staff Correspondent of The Star ARLINGTON COUNTY COURT HOUSE, Va., December 27.—Arlington County approaches the end of the year somewhat behind last year's building mark, but with what local realtors term as a “bright outlook” for the coming year. The largest building program at- tempted during the year is in the hands of the School Board, which is erecting additions to the Washington-Lee High School and four of the elementary schools that will cost more than $300,- 000. The funds for this purpose were | made available through a bond issue | that carried by a large majority. Several New Churches. ‘There have been several churches constructed, among which are a Baptist | church in Virginia Highlands and a | Presbyterian church in Arlington. There | also have been improvements and ad- ditions to several religious institutions | throughout the county. The Jargest privately owned building Ierecf,ed during_the year is the new structure in Clarendon in which is | housed the Clarendon branch of the | Washington Post Office. The Ballston | branch “also has been provided with | mew quarters. | . Among the new business activities are | the formation of the Rucker Lumber | Co. at Rosslyn, and also the purchase of an extensive building there by Rose’| Brothers of Washington. The htbel" firm is moving its roofing business to the Virginia terminus of the Key | | Bridge. | The ~ Army-Navy Country Club at| Arlington has erected two large exten- | sions during the year and now has one |of tke largest club buildings in the | vicinity of Washington. Spurred on by the continuous drought, the county water department | | 'BUILDING PACE BY WILLIAM S. TARVER, Btaff Correspondent of The Star. Building operations in suburban Montgomery County continued on an even keel during 1930, apparently but little affected by the general business depression, with permits for almost $2,000,000 worth of construction work issued by building inspectors of the two metropolitan districts, Takoma Park and Kensington. Road construction remained almost at a standstill, although the $200,000 Bethesda-Silver Spring highway, almost completed in 1929, was formally opened to traffic early in 1930. The only other | notable highway development was the 1.4 miles of road, built by the Maryland- National Capital Park and Planning Commission, which opens up the eastern end of Sligo Valley in Montgomery County for park use. The road. con- nects Takoma Park and Silver Spring, paralleling the creek, and will cost about $25,000 when it is finished shortly after January 1, according to official estimates. Private operations west of Rock Creek, which divides the two metropolitan dis- tricts, far exceeded in value develop- ments on the eastern side of the county, IN SUBURBAN MONTGOMERY| Permits Issued for Nearly $2,000.000 in| Construction Projects for Two ‘ Metropolitan Districts. MAINTAINED | although the individual projects were almost equal in number. Approximately $1,124,000 worth of building permits were issued by J. Fred Imirie, building inspector for the west- ern district, while Martin Iverson, in- spector for the eastern district, author- ized operations costing $602,110. In ad- dition, building in Takoma Park and Kensington, both of which are incorpo- rated towns, amounted to approximately $100,000 in value. The largest single project during the year was the Baptist Memorial Home for Children in Alta Vista, which is to cost $150,000 when completed. A resi-) dence on the Rockville pike about half a mile north of Bethesda is to cost $150,000. ‘The most costly enterprise in the eastern district was the Episcopal Church of the Ascension, on Blair road, which cost approximately $40,000. Probably the most important develop- ment planned for 1931 is the conver- sion of the southern end of Rock Creek Valley in Montgomery County into a | park to connect with Rock Creek Park | in the District of Columbia. The Mary- land-National Capital Park and Pla | ning Commission expects to have the section opened up as far as Wisconsin | | avenue near Garrett Park before the | | year ends. ROGKVLLE SES BULDING REGOR Construction of Court House, Banks and Church Bring Total to New High. ALEXANDRIA SEES CROWING ACTIVITES Private Construction - for| 1930 Shows D}rop—Big Proj- | ects Will Start Soon. SEE0.000 BUILDING 1930 COUNTY MARK Prince Georges Much En- hanced, Though Slightly Under 1929 Record. BY GEORGE PORTER, Staff Correspondent of The Star UPPER.-MARLBORO, Md., December 27.—Construction programs, public and | private, although not attaining the vol- ume reached in 1929, brought perma- | nent improvements to Prince Georges County during the past year that en- hanced the physical appearance of the area. The total value of buildings au- thorized is estimated at $550,000. Public and semi-public building en- terprises were quite n@merous during the year. High school buildings were erected in Mount Rainier and Bladens burg, while addition were made to pub- lic school buildings in several commun- ities. At the University of Maryland a large, new library and a power plant were built. New Church Erseted. A new Ebiscopal church was erected in Coilege Park and a Sunday school hall was added to the Mount Rainier Methodist Church. The Stephens Citizens’ Association completed its community hall, while fire department buildings, which also are used for community gatherings, were erected or are under way at Glen- dale, Oxon Hill, Branchville and Tuxedo. ' iPROGRAM OF GOVERNMENT SPURS PRIVATE BUILDING | | N New Stores, Office Buildings, Churches, Apartments and Schools Bring Total to Millions of Dollars. BY VINCENT TUTCHING. HE gigantic public buildings program of the Federal Govern- ment, which in itself has contributed much to the beautifica- tion of the Capital City, has also performed the dual function of stimulating private construction and realty transactions in Washington during the year now ending. . | As the Government has acquired more and more private prop- | erties, so also have scores of residences and business houses been | forced from the area which is to form the site of the Federal | development. | Considerable increase was thus brought to private activities dur- ing the year. At the same time private industry and private insti- tutions have proceeded steadily with construction projests to lend impetus to the transformation of the skyline of the city. New Municipal Center. : The District government, which will be forced from its present | location by the Federal program, has proceeded with the acquisition of properties in the new municipal center site—between Third and Sixth streets, Pennsylvania, Louisiana and Indiana avenues—and | razing operations preparatory to its construction work there are to be started during the New Year. An outgrowth of the Govem-’i' | ment's acquisition of the property | acaulred by the Government for fuas | development. on the south side of l“tmrteex‘n'.h‘.l New units were added to the Wasu- | | ington Cathedral on Mount St. Alban street at C street, which was pur- | ToCr Lo lldings in Brook chased from the Potomac Electric | land belonging to Catholic institutions, Power Co. in connection with the| including the National Shrine of the | triangle development program, Immaculate Conception and the Holy Name College Building. | thy tion at Tenth and The Odd Fellows completed a hall at | Was the erection at Tenth and E Bowie, while onc fraternity and one |Streets of the new $1,100,000 office sorority house were built in College | building of the power company. Park. ‘Work on Highways. ‘The largest public building operations were carried on by the State Roads Commission, which widened the Balti- more_boulevard to a width of 40 feet, the Defense Highway to about 22 feet, and now is erecting a new $125,000 bridge that will eliminate the danger- ous curve and bridge over the Penn- sylvania Rallroad track at Lanham. As in 1929, there was practically no speculative building and comparatively few commercial structures were erected. The largest of these was the new Hy- attsville office of the Chesapeake & Po- In addition, the power firm spent | $300,000 for the construction of a | 4-story service building at Tenth | street and Florida avenue. Garfinckel Store Outstanding. Many smaller concerns having plants | |and office headquarters south of Penn- sylvania avenue in the path of the Fed- eral building program have moved else- where, to the end that many new build- | ings have been erected and are contem- | plated in various sections of the city. Constituting a high point in the phys- |ical development of downtown Wash- | ington, Julius Garfinckel & Co. this New Apartment Buildings. New apartment houses and new busi- ness structures were among some of the outstanding projects started or com- pleted during the year. Progress was continued in the development of resi- dential sections in the District and there was added growth to the suburban sec- tions in Greater Washington outside the District boundaries. Other major private building projects (Continued on Sixth Page. EEERRERRENNEN Buy a Home permit total because plans have not| water to the 1,000,000-gallon daily ca- Bl Jutiate constrction that has Geen Which | pacity of the main from the Federal | BY HOWARD M. BAGGETT, BY CAREY KINGDON, tomac Telephone Co. of Baltimore, | year completed its new department store With All Conveniences completed or started during the past| year, the total is brought up to $35.-| 429,452, or but about $700,000 less than llgl;sw'.l.l of $36,129,765 for the year a : The three large projects, now in pre- liminary state of construction, but for which official permits have not yet been approved, are the huge apartment hotel being erected by Kenney-Warren, Inc., | on a large site on the east side of Con- | necticut avenue, near Klingle Valley | Bridge, the construction cost being estimated at $3,250,000; the third building of the Westchester Apartments | - development on the 28-acre tract along Cathedral avenue between Thirty-ninth street and Glover Parkway, estimated | to cost $3,000,000; and the church| building for the Latter Day Saints be- ing erected on the southwest corner of Sixteenth street and Columbia road at | @ cost estimated at $400,000. Conditions Are Tmproved. Improvements in fundamental condi- tions in the real estate business during| the past year is clearly shown in sur- wveys made by Rufus S. Lusk, Inc., local | Btatistical organization headed by Rufus . Lusk, the secretary of the Operative Builders’ Association. | ‘These surveys show as of the first of | December, this year, there was a smaller number of new, unsold houses on the market than at the same time | last year, and a considerably lower per- | centage of vacancies in apartments, due to the growth of the population and the decline in new residential construction during the past two years. This is a good thing for the public %nd the city as a whole, as well as in- Vestors in real estate, since an unwield- 1y oversupply of housing, while serving usually to force down sale and rent prices, reacts in depressing property wvalues generally. That there is a normal quantity of unsold new houses and vacant apart- ments on hand also is regarded as a good thing for the public, since if the demand is greater than the supply of housing, the usual tendency is a rise dn prices and rents which may not ac- curately reflect the rise in property values. 7.1 Per Cent Apartment Vacancy. The current surveys by Lusk show that 7.1 per cent of apartment units in ‘Washington were vacant and that there were 984 new, unsold houses on the market. The survey of apartment va- cancies covers the majority of all \ been approved as an entity, brings the total of work started in 1930 to $35,429,452. Official totals for the preceding 11 | years are as folfows: Estimated Value of Work 20,300,000 . 19,500,000 . 24,400,000 . 49,000,000 © 50,500,000 . 46,800,000 . 64,610,513 . 63,499,330 ... 36,321,450 . 51,255,080 . 36,129,765 Numbers of large real estate transac- tions took place, some of which are listed here. - At the start of the year Parker-Bridget Co., veteran Washing- ton clothlers, signed a lease for first- floor space in the Washington Building, which it has since occupied. The In- vestment Building, Fifteenth and K streets, was acquired by the Continental Building, Inc., from the Washington Building Corporation for a considera- tion reported to exceed $3,000,000; James B. Sparks was reported the pur- chaser of the large commercial garage interests associated with the Comme; cial National Bank acquired the for- mer Union Savings Bank Building at 710 Fourteenth street; tte Waillard | Apartment Co., Inc., purchased the | large Chalfonte Apartments, formerly known Phillips Terrace, for a con- sideration reported to be $1,500,000; the Shell Eastern Petroleum Products Co. entered the local field with the acquisi- tion of a large number of filling station properties; the American Oil Co. pur- chased 65 service stations in or near Washington for a large consideration, and the Texas Co. purchased approxi- mately a dozen filling station prop- ertles. Big Building Sold. One of the largest reaity deals was the purchase of the Shoreham -Office Building, northwest corner of Fifteenth and H streets, on the site of the famous old Shoreham Hotel, by Joseph Irwin Cromwell, Southwest oil magnate, fo» a reported consideration of $3,750,000. The business property at 1307 F street was purchased for a consideration of $300,000 by John H. Hartlett, former Governor of New Hampshire. The apartments in the city and the house survey covers all new houses started during the year. These figures reveal an encouraging change from conditions that existed at the first of December, last year, when| Hurley-Wright Building, 12-story office | structure on the southwest corner of | Eighteenth street and Pennsylvania | avenue, was purchased from Patrick J. Hurley, now Secretary of War, by a group of local investors. Presaging a new development for | building at Twenty-first and L streets; | - | ceived here. reservoir. | County road work has included the surface treating of approximately 50 miles of already existing roads and | streets and the construction of 3 miles | of new roads. Most of this development | | has taken place in Jefferson district, | where a large proportion of the' half | miilion dollars received from Alexan- | dria in the annexation proceedings will | be expended. Pike Is Improved. | The State Highway Commission wid- ened and rebuilt the Washington-Alex- | andria pike from South Washington to | Four Mile Run, the new corporate lim- |its of Alexandria, and surface treated | Glebe road from Columbia pike to the | Alexandria line. An additional $100,000 | has been allocated for the Lee Boule- vard construction, bringing the total amount appropriated for this work to date to $200,000. There has been a decided improve- {ment during the year at the Virginia end of the Highway Bridge, largely through the construction program of | the Washington Airport, which has |done away with the old amusement | |park there and generally eliminated eyesores of years' standing. | | - R. D. KOHN HONORED | Robert D. Kohn, president of the | American Institute of Architects, has| been elected an honorary corresponding | member of the Royal Institute of Brit- ish Architects, according to word re- Staff Correspondent of The Star ROCKVILLE, Md., December 27.— The aggregate value of construction 1930 is in excess of best previous figures attained in the history of the town, a compilation of the year’s building activ- ities reveals. Public building projects, principally in the form of the $400,000 combination | work undertaken in Rockville during Staft Corfespondent of The Star. ALEXANDRIA, Va., December 27.— This city, at the conclusion of a suc- cessful year in the real estate fleld, is looking forward to unprecedented a tivity in building construction during the next 12 months, with work on the projected Mount Vernon Boulevard | forming an outstanding phase of the| program. Private building construction work during the past year court house and jail, started during the | and _repairs i year, constituted the major portion of reached an aggregate value of almost| the high total of between $700,000 and | $500,000. The “total value of permits $800,000 worth of new projects. | issued for 1929, however, was $876,848. Ranking second in importance to the | In addition, a new Alexandria post | court house is the new structure erected | office and Federal building, represent- by the Farmers' Banking & Trust Co. |ing an outlay of $250,000, has been o ,000. on e Mon! gomery County National Bank, coupled | Will be the establishment of the by- with extensive improvements being un- (Continued on_Sixth Page.) dertaken on the present building, rep- | — — resents an expenditure of approximately | $50,000. A handsome church edifice in the form of a naw home for the Presby- terian Church here was erected during the year at a cost of more than $25,000. Extensive remodeling and improve- ment_work was undertaken during the year by a number of private concerns, | including the Brosius, Gormley & Bro- sius, automobile dealers, establishment, which represented an outlay of several thousand dollars. Many private resi- dences were erected or improved and | renovation work undertaken on many of the town’s important business houses. | Dovble-Front English Group Homes FOXALL and Eight Rooms, one. two and three baths. $10.950 to $15,050 Model Home, 4400 Volta Place N.W. R. S IATL 1040 WAVERLY TAYLO 1392 K STREET N Start | The New Year Right i Cafritz Lifetime Home An Incomparable Value 20 ft. wide—lot 142V ft. deef Big rooms—3 large porches Screened throughout Hardwood trim, cedar closet | Kelvinator—Garage T I Start the New Year Right I | BUY | A Home of Your Own That Is Built to Endure TWO CHOICE LOCATIONS 1702 C St. N.E. 1223 Owen P1. N.E. I e e e In the new Trinidad section, just north of 12th and Florida ave. Six large rooms, tiled bath, garage. Street and alley paved. Substan- tially bullt, and artistically finished. Open Daily Until 9 P.M. Low Price, Small Cash Payment ad- spacious shower; _garage. nished,” with eled ~walls, Frigidaire. rooms. Attractively oors, rdw pan- handsome fiXtu: res, and which' was completed during the year. The building which housed the old Hyattsville exchange was razed and now is being replaced by a modern drug | store. A few other stores were erected in the suburban area, and one or two apartment houses. During the past month a $60,000 ho- tel and office building for College Park was authorized. Most of the other building licenses .were issued for private residences and alterations to existing structures. building at Fourteenth and F streets, representing one of the largest private undertakings in the central part of the city in recent years, A development of monumental char- acter which will add a new and impres- sive landmark to the private develop- | ments of the Natfonal Capital is the | Shakespeare Memorial Library Building, crected by Henry C. Folger at 201 East | Capitol street at a cost of $1.450,000. | The edifice is adjacent to the Congres- ! sional Library and to properties recently $7,650 SAMPLE HOUSE 1825 Bay St. S.E. Detween 18th. 10th, B & C Sts. S.E. Near Eastern High School Open For Inspection 6 P.M. to 9 P.M. Daily And All Day Sundays 1504 D Dgsigned and built by architectural standards. selected materials of the ! furnished by skilled mecha construction of these homes. 7 large rooms, tile bath with built-in tub and shower, extra large porches front and rear, natural wood trim, Frigidaire and [Ask the Family Open for Wm. M. Throckmorton 208 Investment Bldg. THE BEST BUY In Northeast Washington Jameson Built Homes experts according to the best 6 rooms and bath Glass sleeping porch Front and rear porches Bath—colored tile and shower Built-in tub Built-in_wall safe Mirror door Bauilt-in hone closef Built-in f ironing Cedar-lined closet G. E. electric clock Hot-water heat Hot-water storage tank One-piece washing tub Panel wall paper Hardwood floors Hardwood trim Frigidaire Walker electric dishwashgr Hardinge oil burner GARAGE TERMS—$500 Cash $60 a Month (Includes Interest on Both Trusts) Steuart Brothers " Real Estate Construction 138 12th St. N.E. t St. . 5 t. N.E. 'Nothing but carefully lghest quality and labor nics, have gone into the h built-in garage. Who Owns One!] Inspection mfii\“\&\\mmms\‘\\\\&\“s\‘\wvm\x\\r District 6093 esley IHeights % K 3e THE GARDEN SPOT OF WASHINSTON, An Evening Drivé throug}t $500 Cash Easy Monthly Payments Exhibit Home 422 Farragut St. NW.| Open until 9 P.M. the vacancies in apartments was found | p, to be 9.9 per cent and the number of | ¢ o, 4 ronting on the east side of Thirteenth unsold new houses on the market to| i oot and extend! g along the s ;:“lerl 16. Both figures for this year are | Aventie and E sireet was purchased by | This represents the readjustment | (Continued on Sixth Page.) that has been in progress during the = past year s builders and fnanciers either by careful planning or from the i — effect of the general business depres- Just Think of It sion, curtailed the total amount of new | The Star delivered to your housing construction started during the| | door every evening and Sunday | | morning at 1%c per day and 5¢ Sunday. Can you afford to be year. z The Lusk surveys show a total during | withcut this service at this cost? Telephone National 5000 and de- the past year of 74 apartment buildings, | lvery will staré at once. MODERATE TERMS R. E. KLINE, Jr., Owner 718 Union Trust Building National 6799 Or Any Broker ennsylvania avenue, the property | Wesley Hrights The Garden Spot of Washington | —will reveal to you a charming community, artisticany illuminated. The pride of home ownership and the un- usual community spirit in Wesley Heights are again evidenced by the manner in which the residents have decorated their homes for the Christmas hol;days. o} Bs B May we take this opportun- ity of extending to our many friends Best Wishes for 4 New Pear of Happiness and Prosperity New Exhibit Home OPEN— 4436 Garfield St. N.W. pundey 10 AM. to 8 Plan for the New Year NOW Inspect our new COMMUNITY GROUP of Ultra-Modern All-Brick Homes EXHIBIT HOME . ... 335 Concord Ave. N.W. At 4th and Longfellow Strects Open every day until 9 P.M. containing 949 apartment units, the | construction_cost being estimated at | $6,111,150. In 1929, the corresponding | 14t & K Dist. 9080 res were 5& apartment buildings AR T T T T T T T T Y OO buring the past year, the Lusk sur- | = The Christmas Lights in hall Vill g . Bleploerd Pask A Quaint Colony of Homes are well worth your visit. Adjoining Georgetown the West—Only 10 inutes from City 5 and 6 Bed Rooms 3 Tiled Baths Large Studio and Lounge Rooms Drive out 16th St. to Alaska Ave., then out Alaska Ave. to Hemlock St., turn left into Shep- herd Park. While in Shepherd Park Visit Our Furnished Home 7611 14th St. N.W. The large lighted Christmas tree on the lawn is indicative of the Christmas spirit which prevails here. 1f you've resolved to become a home owner during the New Year we urge your immedi- ate inspection of this new group—while varied types and designs are available. Six large rooms, front and screened double rear porches, bullt-in garages, complete tile baths, double oak floors, natural trim, cedar closets: electric refrigeration, Sanitas wall covering, double drainboard sink and unusual type dressers in kitchens. Also one corner home $17,750 to $24.500 :.M $8 up : ,950 , The nomes of Foxhall Village ——t were not created nor are they developed as residences for a swiftly gw.sing year or two. Substantially as well as beau- tifully built, they will stand firmly through the years to come. You Will Be Charmed With This Model Home, 1606 44th St. Open 9 AM. Until 6 P.M. Furnished by Sloane BOSS & PHELPS, 1417 K St. NAtional 9300 . lage. left on 44th st. to home O %pens e, TO REACH: . . . Drive out 16th Street or Georgia Ave- koma Park) FOTANIIRN (i This group faces 120-ft. boulevard that con- mects Rock Creek and Fort Slocum Parks. One block 14th St. car line—near excellent schools, ete. H.G.Smithy Co. N Sqmbery L Breuninger s Sons ‘Builders—Realtors Nat'l D 5904 1418 Eye St. . JMiller National 2040 DECATUR 0610 Investment Bidg. T e e e A LU A