Evening Star Newspaper, March 5, 1932, Page 15

REAL ESTATE WASHINGTON, —— B 5 he Foening Sfur. SATURDAY, MARCH 5, 1932. Home-Owning and Building Section for Washington and Suburbs FEBRUARY D. C. BUILDING STEADY HOME BUILDING IS SHOWN IN D. C. IN 1931 Progress Is Revealed in Survey by Realtors’ Secre- tary for Year to Febru ary 1—1,270 Permits for Houses Costing Under $10,000. of private dwellings in the month period ending February 1 last District throughout the past 12- is found by John A. CONTINUED and rather consistent activity in the construction Petty, secretary of the Washington Real Estate Board, in a survey recently completed and made public today. This study, based on building homes here as noted in the boar rmits issued for the erection of 's statistical service department, shows that 1,270 permits, out of a total of 1,495 during the year, were for houses having an estimated cost of $10,0% or less. The lowest number of permits month during the period was 65—d —and the highest number was 173, 1931, Mr. Petty reports. “In addition to June, the months of r and October,” | s, “indicated peaks of construction as compared with the other months. These peaks correspond largely with seasonal operations. Taken on an average, permits for 125 resi- dences were granted monthly during the period studied i 180 for Cheaper Homes. i “Approached from the angle of costs, the building permits show that of the | total of 1,495 permits 180 provided for the erection of homes costing not in, excess of $5,000. In the brackets be- tween $5,000 and $6.000 was shown the largest number—namely, 415—with 261 showing an estimated cost of between $6,000 and $7,000;. 176 from $7,000 to $8,000, 163 from $8,000 to $9,000 and 75 costing from $9,000 to $10,000; 131 range between $10,000 and $12,000, 47 from $12,000 to $15,000, 22 from $15,000 to $18,000, 8 from $18,000 to $20.000 and 15 from $20,000 to: $40,000, and with cnly 2 above $40,000 “The result of these figures clearly indicates that most of the residential construction during the period under consideration was confined largely to row house sections, including also com- munity groups, semi-detached and moderately-priced detached homes as distinct from the more expensive de- tached types which were constructed in much larger numbers during recen years.” e An encouraging outlook for new busi- ness s seen by Mr. Petty, who outlines important recent developments in the current issue of the Washington Realtor, official publication of the ‘Washington Real Estate Board. “While Washington has been most fortunate in comparison with cities throughout the country during the past two years it has not been entirely spared from the effects of the abnormal economic conditions. Yet it will be quick to react to the forward movement now under way,” he declares. Forces Going into Action. “Forces led by courageous men and ‘women are going into action filled with enthusiasm and faith in what promises to be a determined drive to awaken the consciousness of America in banishing fear, discouragement and doubt, the underlying causes of the prolongment of the depression. “While different in character and methods of approach these forces will necessarily amalgamate in process and progress and gradually merge into a general climax of changed psycholoy, producing hope, faith and finally achievement. It behooves all, small and great, to roll up the sleeves and start hitting at the causes instead of knocking the effects. Correcting in lieu | ings of criticizing. Pulling together—not tearing apart. “There are concrete evidences of for- ‘ward moving factors at work. The Re- construction Finance Corporation re- vitalizing big business and encouraging transportation interest; finance legisla- tion to relieve banks through enlarged facilities of the Federal Reserve Sys- tem; the announcement from Detroit by Henry Ford opening up work for hundreds of thousands throughout the land; renewed interest in the exchange markets; Citizens’ Research Organiza- tion of Chicago spending thousands in full page advertisements designed to bring out hoarded money: ‘It's Up to the Women' organization of New York, with its five-point program of construc- tive thinking and activity appealing to the membership of untold numbers of organizations to take hold; the move- ment to restore normal living condi- tions; Uncle Sam’s ‘anti-hoarding baby bonds’ in immediate prospect are & few of these factors. Hit Slump Nationally. _ “Most of these developments are @ealing with the depression on a na- #onal scale and the results of these constructive activities naturally will be reflected iIn Washington. As a matter of fact the board has been approached frequently in recent weeks by its mem- bers who are seeking the services of competent and experienced real estate salesmen. “While there are many openings in this branch of real estate work there | seems to be a decided tendency on the part of brokers to use care in scrutiniz- ing the qualifications of applicants for sales positions. The need for competency and integrity as a necessary requisite for sales work is becoming more fully realized by builders and brokers in their competitive efforts to meet the demands of prospective home buyers.” Two Homes to Be Built. Plans for the construction of two brick and frame dwellings by Everett R. Searl at 6600 and 6606 Sixth street at a cost of $4.500 each have just been filed with the District government. NGearby COLUNTRY ESTATE ® Charming Colonial brick manor house, built in 1796 and recently thoroughly modern- ized, containing 17 rooms. Set in a magnificent grove of trees on a 45-acre tract of Mary- issued for residences for any one uring the month of February, 1931 issued tluring the month of June, ARCHITECTS 0. K. age” and 12 Are Disap- proved by Council. ‘The designs prepared for six building this week by the Architect's Advisory should be maintained for private buildings in the neighborhood where they will be located. The council is a voluntary jury of architects, sponsored by the Washing- ton Chapter, American Institute of Architects. Serving only in an advisorv capacity, the council rates plans studied and offers suggestions for changes in design where they are found to be in the interest of better archi- tecture or economy. In addition to these plans which were approved, the council classified six others as “average” or architec- turally neither good nor bad, and dis- proved designs of 12 others as being below average and which should be dis- couraged. Simplification Suggested. The plans disapproved, in most cases, were either those in which no discern- able attempt had been made to give the building any appearance of architec- tural treatment, or those in which an attempt was made by the lavish but unintelligent use of ornament to dis- guise basically bad proportions, the council reports. In most of these cases the council suggested the simplification of the building by eliminating unnecessary complication in the design and in detail. In most cases if these sug- gestions were adopted the appearance of the buildings would be improved and at the same time the cost would be reduced, the council declared. Gas Station Approved. ‘The plans approved by the council were for a gasoline station at 718 Ninth street, designed for the National Sav- & Trust Co. by Leo Raywid; dwelling for 6233 Thirty-first street, de- signed for Charles Starbitts by Charles E. Dillon; office and pump house at 925 Kenilworth avenue northeast, de- signed by G. T. Pearson for H. C. Walker & Son; four dwellings for 1824-1830 Bay street southeast, de- signed by J. R. Codle for Steuart Bros; three dwellings for 1801, 1715 and 1719 Hoban road, designed by Horace W. Peaslee for Boss & Phelps, and a dwell- ing for 4830 Forty-seventh street, de- signed by William A. Carr for O. T. & W. A. Carr. approved the designs for two projects An automobile laundry and service sta. tion for 3501 Connecticut avenue, de. Stores, Inc., and three store buildings for 1817-1821 Columbia road, designed by Prederic B. Pyle for Leonard H. Mitchell. Several other designs for projects were disapproved, the council noting the use of over-heady porch columns, windows spaced without reason or study, and an attempt to express the bizarre character. Leases New Quarters. James Howell Gordon, who has been en; in real estate business here since 1914, has leased mew business quarters at 1343 H street, it was an- nounced _today. Detached Brick Buikt in a cluster of fine old oaks is this beautiful de- tached all-brick home, con- taining 6 large rooms, 2 in- closed porches, 2 baths, green- black fireplace, elaborate kitchen, pantry, electric ex- haust fan, electric refrigera- tion; 2-car garage, large lot. Moderate Price L Tower Bldg. DIst. 0853 Chevy Chase. D. C. $11.950 3613 Jocelyn St. New ALL-BRICK home, 1Y from Conn. Ave. Large squares side porch. Recrea- land's finest land. Fruit or- chard, pond, large stone barn, out-buildings and original slave quarters. ® On a hard-surface road 10.2 miles from the District Line at 16th St., and |5 minutes by motor. Truly a home for gentlefolk at an amazingly low price. WAVERLY TAYLOR = 1522 K Street Nat'l 1040 tion room in basement Built- Finished with fireplace. in garage. attic. A GREAT VALUE! OPEN SUNDAY Edw. H. Jones & Co., Inc. 5520 Conn Ave. Clev. 230", SXNEW BLDINGS Six Others Rated as “Aver-| projects in the District were approved | signed by Arthur B. Heaton for Parking | e East Wing of Senate Office Building Now Being Erected 'BROWNS WILL BUILD TEN-HOUSE PROJECT Waple & James Also Reveal Pro- posal to Erect Five Dwell- ings Nearby. | Construction of ten two-story brick | is planned by Brown Bros., as owners | and builders, according to specifications | filed with the District building inspector | in an application for permits. The cost is estimated at $60,000 for the construc- tion work. It was revealed this week also that Waple & James, as owners and builders, | have planned to erect five two-story | brick dwellings at 300 to 308 Long- fellow street. The cost of this opera- |tion is estimated at $32,500. |TREND IN APARTMENTS New York Architect Also Holds Open Form of Plan Is Increasingly Favored. A significant. trend toward larger units and increased emphasis on a gen- eral open form of plan and permanent provision of light and air in the de- signing of modern apartment stru tures is seen by Arthur C. Holden of the New York Chapter of the American Institute of Architects. This comment is made in a report of the award by the New York Chapter for 1932 of medals for winners in an apart- ment house architecture competition. ‘The medals are given annually to stim- ulate improvement of apartment house design. : The medals were awarded for this year to Vincent Astor as owner of 120 East End avenue and to the Phipps Houses, Inc., owners of the Phipps apartment development, at Fiftieth street and Thirty-ninth avenue, Long Island City. In addition to the trend noted by Mr. Holden, chairman of the Committee of Award, there was a marked tendency toward suppression of all unnecessary detail and toward the use of the ma- | terial itself for ornament, instead of a reliance on added embellishment, in the houses submitted for consideration, he reports. | CANADA BUILDING RISES A substantial upturn in building oper- tions in Canada is reported today from | Montreal. | Measured by contract awards, new construction undertaken in Canada | during January totaled $12,738,300, an increase of 13 per cent over December awards, according to a bulletin issued by the Canadian Pacific Railroad. Nearly 40 per cent of the January total was accounted for by business buildings, 21 per cent was for residen- tial construction and the remainder for engineering awards and industrial con- struction. | NEW HOME | DETACHED REPRESENTS A BIG SAVING AT PRESENT PRICE Was Built to Sell for Considerably More 3712 Yuma St. NW. (212 blocks east of Wisconsin Ave.) Only One for Sale Side hall plan, large rooms, finished recreation room on third floor, 2 baths, attractive covered side porch, 2-car built-in garage, large yard. ~Very high elevation. Restricteq and convenient. Open for Inspection Sunday and Daily Wm. M. Throckmorton Invest. Bldg. Dist. 6093 CLEVELAND PARK $12,500 2957 Newark St. An exceptional op- s detached home— s both desirable and situated. There plendid_rooms (4 sleeping ' porch, living L depth. cumstances enable us to offer this roperts at the low price quoted above. which is with- in §150 of its assess alue. Open Saturday Afternoon and All Day Sunday Schwab & Valk 1704 Conn. Ave. Decatur 2333 Drawing showing how the Senate Of now in progress is under the direction o SEEN TO LARGER UNITS | FIRST STREET ADDITION WILL COMPLETE QUADRANGLE DEVELOPMENT. !U. S. CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITY | ON CAPITOL HILL EXPANDED |Actual Work Started on East Wing of Senate Ofhce Building—Will Con- nect Present Sections. Council as meeting the standards which | dwellings at 100 to 118 Longfellow street | Federal building activitles in the Capitol Hill section were expanded re- cently with the starting of the actual construction of the large east wing of | the Senate Office Building. | This unit will conform in the char- acter of its architectural design to that of the present building. It will extend along First street, connecting the wings which now face B and C streets and | completing the quadrangle occupying the block. The First street side of the east wing will be of white marble, except for the terraces and balustrades, which will be of granite. On the court side a light buff limestone will be used. ZONING RULE IS HELD BOON TO PROPRIETORS Owners of Vacant Lots May Use Property at Will as Parking Lots. ‘The recent decision of the District Zoning Commission permitting the parking of automobiles on vacant lots in commercial areas without the neces- sity of obtaining consents from owners of adjoining properties may prove a boon to owners of such property where the physical improvements have be- come obsolete, according to John A. Petty, secretary of the Washington Real Estate Board. In addition, the new regulation is de- scribed by the board secretary as a definite move to help relieve traffic con- gestion by reducing somewhat the park- ing problem here. In the progress ana growth cf a city there is always a period of transi- tion in which many properties having improvements of a former decade must stand still until they ind a new place in changed neighborhood conditions, he points_out. “It is in such properttes as these, where the present improvements are no longer of value as producers of income, that their owners can penefit by the decision of the Zoning Commission,” he explains. makes the land available ror parking purposes, thereby re-establishing a source of income which m many cases might profit the owner until there is sufficient demand to justify the erection of a new improvement fo meet new INSPECT— 5400 31st St. N.W, Chevy Chase, D. C. $13.750 An all-brick, center-hall colo- nial home. Excellent construction, slate roof, copper gutters and down spouts. Large living room with colonial fireplace, 3 fine bed rooms and 2 complete baths. Extra fine kitchen with breakfast nook. Big finished attic with cedar closet. Large corner lot. Bright cellar with built-in garage. The finest location in this entire section. Open Daily and Sunday Unti1 9 P.M. H.G.Smithy Co. 1418 Eye St. Nat. 5903 Priced for Immediate Sale Two Beautiful Brick Detached Homes—Built by L. E. Breuninger & Sons Both Open for Inspection Today and Sunday 4209 18th St. N.W. $15,950 Sold one year ago for nearly $4,000 more. Owner must sell at once, hence this great sacrifice. Seven large rooms (4 real bed rooms) and two complete baths. Concrete front porch, large rear sun porch. Beau- tiful 'yard, rock garden, pond and shrubbery.” New oil heater. A real investment buy and a beautiful home. Be sure and see it today or Sunday or call us for auto service. Drive out 16th St. to Varnum, west to 18th St., turn left % block. 1734 Taylor St. N.W. Priced one year ago at $22,500. Seven gooms (3 bed rooms) and two oil heat, screened, all brick, of Wash- best builders, artistically desiimed and containing every mod- Joy__ inspecting 3 sacrifice as on above home. today or Sunday. Drive out 16th St. to Taylor, turn left 1, blocks to house. Decaiur METZLER 1196 “The removal of such Improvements | The building will provide 28 addi- tional suites of offices and two com- mittee rooms, besides additional space for storage and filing purposes. A driveway will give access to the court and permit occupants and visitors to enter the building under shelter. The grade of the court is being lowered in connection with the building project s0 as to provide additional light to the basement offices which face the court. Wide areas are being provided also to light the work rooms in the subbase- ment. The court is being given a simple but dignified treatment, with granite piers and a bronze balustrade extending around the areas. The driveway opens on a raised rnl:n. on which a fountain will be placed. The remainder of the court will be treated as a broad surface of lawn, with planting at the sides and near the fountain. A new freight entrance is being pro- vided at the corner of First and C streets under a granite terrace. A similar terrace will be placed at the end of the B street pavilion. The new wing is to be equipped with a complete system of air conditioning. Due to the fact that the railroad tunnel giving access from the south to the Union Station runs immediately east of the site of the new wing of the Senate Office Building, many interest- ing engineering problems have been encountered in the course of the work, it is reported. The execution of the work is under the direction of David Lynn, architect of the Capitol, with Wyeth & Sullivan as consulting architects. 3625 ORDWAY STREET All brick, 8 rooms, 2 baths, two-car garage, radiator covers, screened, weather-stripped, Frig- idaire, all heating pipes covered with asbestos, large attic. A Real Sacrifice Open All Day Sunday EATON & CO. Nat. 2920 | fice Building will appear from a point to the northeast of the structure when the addition has been completed. ‘Work f David Lynn, Architect of the Capitol, with Wyeth & Sullivan as consulting architects, TEN-UNIT PROJECT PLANNED BY BUILDER 5200 Block of Kansas Avenue to Get New Homes—Other Mul- tiple Plans Drawn. C. W. Williams, Woodside, Md., as owner and builder, has filed plans with the District building inspector calling for the construction of ten two-story brick dwellings at 5210 to 5220 Kansas avenue. Another residential construction pro- ject is the building of three two-story brick dwellings at 1300 to 1304 Allison street northeast by F. B. Mills, owner and builder, who has just filed applica- tion for permits. Two two-story brick and frame dwellings are to be erected by Fred W. Horton, as owner and builder, at 5808 to ufi&lfo ’I;h&rty-secl:onfi sgle:t- ‘The application for permits lists expected b cost at $15,000. LUCKY STRIKE DRESS SHOP RENTS QUARTERS Space in International Building Is Leased by Julian Goldman Stores Co. Business quarters in the International Building, 1317 F street, have been leased by the Julian Goldman Stores Co. of New York to the Lucky Strike Dress Shop for the establishment of its fourth unit here, #t was announced today by the office of H. Clifford Bangs, which handled the transaction. The property has a frontage of 10 feet for a depth of 70 feet and a width of Blgeet for the rear 40 feet. The space is leased for a term, with the tion of a renewal. i New English Home Chevy Chase, D.C. Eight rooms, two baths, two fireplaces, recessed radiation, built-in ga- Tage, separate furnace room, finished recre- IMDI: rlvm:l‘ Anslblse—g ment, electric ment. dlectrie 911,950 T efrigeration ¥ —an ' exceptionally Charming. . and. - wel Construcied “Tesidence at a real bargain price! a Drive out Connecticut and Ne- braska Aves. to Militas Rd., east to 30th place and north one- hatr square. Ofpen Till 9 P.M. J. Wesley Buchanan, Ine. Realtors. Your Opportunity! See This Today or Sunday 5201 Colorado Ave. Just off 16th St. with marvelous outlook over Rock Creek Park A lovely home—a genuine S-a-c-r-t {-i-c-e. Breuninger-built, center hall, RICK; 10 rooms, 3 baths, sun parlor, 2 porches, " gas heat, elec- tric_refrigeration, 'Garage. Beautiful corner lot with many large trees, in excellent suburban Reduced to $27,500 A home you will appreciate Realty Associates, Inc. Realtors 1427 Eye St. NAt. 1438 Only One Left! FACING PARK Home 20 Feet Wide Built-in Garage e e e 402 GALLATIN ST. N.W. Colonial tapestry brick home. 20 ft. wide by 32 ft. deep on attractively landscaped lot on & high elevation built-in tub and shower. . . . Com- letely finished recreation room in asement, attractive kitchen with special bullt-in cabinets, Frigidaire, model gas range. . . . Built-in garage, Red Jacket heating plant. larg closets, copper screens and metal weather stripping throughout. . . . Sound camstruction, beauty of deco- ration, unusual Anish, modern equip- Price $9.950: convenient today. CAFRITZ Dist. 9080 14th & K AKEFIELD Chevy Chase, D. C. Restricted environment, convenient to new graded and high schools, car lines, stores and churches; overlooking the city. 6 Rooms, 2 Baths AHll Brick, Colonial CHEVY CHASE, D. C. Smaller homes in this splen- did section can be erected to meet your needs at— $13,950 and Up Sample House—3627 Chesapeake St. $16,950 This corner home of all-brick construction, con- tains the following features: Bryant gas furnace, Electrolux refrigeration, Celotex insulation, Curtis woodwork, weatherstripping and bronze screens. To Inspect: Drive out Conn. Ave., turn left on Chesopeake St. 0 houses 1909 Mass. Ave. Inc. CLev. 9837 ESTIMATED AT $1,015,620 Total Is Decline of $280,000 From January Figure, Says Inspector in Survey—Strong Spring Program Seen. RIVATE building operations for the District having an esti- mated total cost of $1,015620 were approved during the past month, according to a current survey by Col. John W. Oehmann, building inspector, made public today. This regresents a decline of about $280,000 from the volume for January of his year, and a greater slump from the level of February of last year, which was the peak period of 1931. The report, how- ever, indicates a continuation of a comparatively strong Spring pro- gram of house construction here. Plans were approved last month for the erection of 78 dwellings, for which the total cost was estimated to be $530,000. At the same time permits were issued for the building of six small apartment houses, with an aggregate cost of $56,000. Repair and remodeling operations amounting to 134 in number and $152,- 410 in cost also were approved in Feb- ruary, when specifications were re- vealed for construction of 11 buildings costing $79,800 and for 5 gas- oline stations costing $53,500. Fifty Plans Approved. Permits issued in the past week show an increase in projected dwelling con- struction over the first part of last month, plans being approved this week for 50 houses, as compared with 78 for the entire month of January.' The cost of all private building permits for the week was estimated at $403,400, this be- ing higher than for the preceding week. Among new projects for which per- mits were granted this week are the fol- lowing: Cooley Bros., Tower Building, owners and builders; George T. Santmyers, ar- chitect; to erect eleven 2-story brick dwellings, 100 to 120 Madison street; to cost $55,000. C W. Williams, Woodside, Md., owner and builder; George T. Santmyers, ar- chitect; to erect six 2-story brick dwellings, 5210 to 5220 Kansas avenue; to_cost $38,000. First Colored Baptist Church, 705 Sixth street southwest, owners; W. L. Eaton, designer; J. A. Kay & S. W. Gibson, 2373 Champlain street, build- WOODRIDGE 3150 Monroe St. N.E. Bungalow $6,500 Five rooms and bath, mod- ern; large lot. In new-house condition. VACANT OPEN SUNDAY Harry A. Kite, Inc. 1019 15th St. N.W. NAtional 4846 store | ers; to erect one 1-story brick church building, 705 Sixth street southwest; to cost $30,000. Three Brick Dwellings. F. B. Mills, 44 Longfellow street, owner and builder; George T. Sant- myers, architect; to erect three 2-story brick dwellings, 1300 to 1304 Allison street; to_cost $20.000. Boss & Phelps, 1417 K street, owners and builders; Horace W. Peaslee, ar- chitect; to erect one 2-story brick dwelling, 1801 Hoban road; to cost $20,000. Boss & Phelps, 1417 K street, owners and builders; Horace W. Peaslee, ar- chitect; to erect one 2-story brick (Continued on Second Page. Best Buy in Chevy Chase Reduced Nearly $2,000 5416 Nebraska Ave. Open Today and Sunday Completely Farnished Situated on extra large lot, with beautiful shrubdl}#hd containing six splen rooms and two complete baths. Every modern improvement, # new Bryant gas heatery matic_ hot-water heat electric refrigerator, Weather- stripped and screened—large garage. Owner will sacrifice for immediate sale. Don’t fail to inspect today. sw - METZLER Realtor—Ezclusive Agt. Sunday and Nights, Ad. 0620 1106 Vt. Ave. 3721-3737 MASSACHUSETTS AVE. N.W, Furnished Model Home LOCATION— Finest—highest—most convenient. DESIGN— Attractive and distinotive. PLAN— Large rooms and unwsual arvangement. CONVENIENCES— Ol Buwmner—Electris Refsigeration—inoinerator, PRICE—~ Bufit ot psesent day-Jow cost, psived accordingly. ALLEN C. MINNIX OWNER—BUILDER OPEN, HEATED, LIGHTED 9 AM. to 9 PM. At the Entrance to One of the Beautiful Early American Homes m Colony Hill Furred walls, all doors and windows cautked and weather-stripped ; specially de- signed windows, blinds, doors, mouldings, etc., beautiful old-fashioned gardens and tea terraces are only a few of the distinctive features of this smart colony of Early American and Georgian homes. $25,000 and Upward ° 1709 HOBAN ROAD OPEN DAILY o reach: Que. St. to Wisconsin Ave., block 10 Reservoir Rd.. west to 100 ft. bevond Hith BOSS & north one St PHELPS Greators agd Eaclusive Developers of Colony MR and Foshall Village