Evening Star Newspaper, May 29, 1937, Page 21

REAL ESTATE. * EXPERT ANALYZES PRIGE RISE FACTOR Control Factors Should Keep Building Costs “Reason- able,” He Says. Agitation on the subject of rising ©osts has a familiar sound at this stage of construction industry re- covery, according to Thomas Holden, vice president in charge of statistics and research for F. W. Dodge Corp. In an article, “Growing Pains of Re- covery,” which appears in the June issue of the Architectural Record, Holden points out past experience shows that three sets of powerful economic brakes usually operate to stabilize rising prices when the con- struction industry is only half way up in a recovery period. According to Holden's analysis, the three factors that customarily act as brakes are credit control, buyers’ con- trol and competition. He states that these controls all operated most effec- tively in 1923, when construction vol- ume was about equal to this year's, and rapidly rising costs were viewed Wwith alarm. Central bank credit con- trol then halted the rise in the gen- eral price level; a short temporary recession in the volume of contracts indicated that at the then stage of returning prosperity buyers were un- willing to pay prices that seemed ex- cessive; continued expansion of plant facilities for producing construction materials in 1923 and for six years thereafter maintained competitive price conditions in the construction market, which continued to expand io volumes double that of 1923 and dou- ble present estimates for the year 1937. “Potential competition,” says Holden, *is now probably greater and more Yaried in character than ever before. Here are some of the kinds of potential competition: “1. Between producers and sellers ©of the same materials. 2. Between different classes of ma- terials (wood-frame and brick, steel end reinforced concrete, etc.). “3. Between new construction meth- ©ods and traditional methods. “4. Between urban construction and suburban and small-town construc- tion.” Holden sums up his analysis by | saying: “With respect to the present situation, we may fairly conclude that, provided credit and budget controls effectively check general commodity price inflation, the control factors in- herent in the present stage of recov- ery and in the highly competitive construction market should hold con- struction costs within fairly reasonable limits, even though a temporary minor recession in construction volume, like the one in 1923, may be required as a stabilizer.” Architects (Continued from First Page.) tively in behalf of programs of housing 4n the various regions of the United Btates. Voorhees to Preside. Stephen F. Voorhees, president of the institute and chairman of the Board of Design of the New York ‘World's Fair, will preside at the open- ing session at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday Bt the Somerset Hotel. ddress of welcome by Right Reverend illiam Lawrence, retired Episcopal Bishop of Massachusetts, Voorhees will deliver the president's address. Edwin Bergstrom of Los Angeles will submit his report as treasurer, and the report of the board of directors will be presented by Charles T. Ingham of Pittsburgh, secretary of the institute. On Tuesday afternoon, the archi- tects will visit Gore Place in Waltham, Mass., where a reception will be held by Mr. and Mrs. Voorhees. The in- stitution will lend its aid to the pres- ervation of Gore Place, seat of Gov. Christopher Gore (1758-1827), which is called “one of the half-dozen out- standing houses in the United States.” Lexington, Concord and other historic cities and the route of Paul Revere are included in the itinerary. Registration begins at 8:30 am. and closes at 7 p.m. on Tuesday. Officers To Be Named. ‘Wednesday's session will open with the report of the Credentials Com- mittee, followed by the nominations of officers and directors. The con- vention will then discuss the report of the Committee on Public Works, of which Francis P. Sullivan of Washing- ton, is chairman. Wednesday after- noon will be devoted to a tour of Marblehead and Salem and other points. A forum on architectural education 4s scheduled for Wednesday at 9 p.m., Dean William Emerson of the Mass- achusetts Institute of Technology, chairman of the Institute Committee on Education, prsiding. Dr. Walter Gropius of the Harvard Faculty of Architecture will speak on “Essentials | for Creative Design.” Dean Everett V. Meeks of Yale University will dis: THE EVE G STAR, WASHINGTON, D. O, SATURDAY, MAY 29 Georgian Home in Burnt Mills Hills Sold MUR";AGE RUI.ES Mr. and Mrs. Edward J. Harding have purchased this large residence in Burnt Mills Hills from the R. E. Latimer Co., developers of the section. Designed by Dillon & Abel, the home was sold througk the office of Phil D. Poston, Inc. Mr. Harding is managing director of the Associated General Contractors of America. cuss “Foreign Influences on Archi- tectural Education in America.” Louis La Beaume of St. Louis, vice president of the institute, will be the chairman of the Thursday morning session, at which delegates will discuss the report of the Committee on Civic Design, headed by Eliel Saarinen of Cranbrook Academy of Art, Bloom-’ field Hills, Mich. At 10 a.m,, polls will be opened for the annual election, and will close at 8 p.m. The report of the Committee on Housing will be laid before the con- vention by Chairman McCornack at 10 am. on Thursday. °Afternoon seminars on housing are planned, the central theme being ‘“Rebuilding America.” Practically every aspect of housing will be considered. New methods of construction to meet the housing stortage will be considered. More For Advisory Work. The architects will move to supply the need for architectural advisory and supervisory service in the small- home field. “The greatest volume of home building occurs in the $4,000 to $8,000 price range, centerfig around the $5000 house,” it is explained. “The reason why competent technical advice and supervision seldom filter down to this field is relatively un- important.” *“The vital fact is that thousands of small homes go wrong because the owners rely on ready-made plans ‘that just need a little shifting around.” Perhaps the contractor roughs out what he thinks they should have. In Following an | any event, the results are all too often quite different from the owner’s origi- nal conception and too many such homes start to disintegrade at a surprisingly early date.” A joint meeting of the Institute with the Producers’ Council, an organization of manfacturers of building materials and equipment representing an invested capital of | nearly $2,000,000,000, will be held at 1 pm. on Thursday. The principal speaker will be E. Kent Hubbard, | president of the Connecticut Manu- facturers’ Association, whose subject will be “The Relation of the Building Industry to Recovery from a Business Angle.” William Stanley Parker of Boston, chairman of the Institute’s Committee on Construction Industry Relations, will preside. Thursday afternoon the architects will visit Harvard College and attend & tea at Lowell House. They will also FOR SALE 505 Park Lane Battery Park ' Bethesda, Md. Six rooms, bath and enclosed porch, garage. Spacious living room, screened side porch. Re- decorated throughout. Just Acquired by Foreclosure EASY TERMS May Be Arranged OPEN SUNDAY 10 A.M. Until Dark To reach property—Drive out Wis- consin Avenue to Bethesda. Md.. take Old Georgetown Road to Bat- tery Lane and turn west about one block to property. Randall H. Hagner & Co. Incorporated 1321 Conn. Ave. Decatur 3600 A DISTINGUISHED 10-ROOM HOME: Amid the peacetul surroundings of Westmoreland Hills, where it is smart to live, this fashionable new residence represents the utmost in luxurious living. ' A corner home at Dalecarlia Drive and Blackistone Road, it may be inspected today. 3 Bedrooms. With = Haths Ne- tieen Rooms Paneled Club Room Firat Floor Lavatory Haid's Room nnd Botk Large Attic. 3 2.Car Garage Immense Licing Room To Reach: Drive out Mass. Avelta Westmoreland Cirele, Turn lelt on Wetherill Road to Albemarle St., right fo Dalecarlia Drive. —Star Staff Photo. visit Longfellow House, Elmwood and the Judge Lee House, the home of Dean and Mrs. Emerson. A seminar on civic design is scheduled for Thurs- day afternoon, and a reception at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts for Thursday evening. WELL WATER USED IN AIR CONDITIONING Permits Modern Facilities to Be Available in Any Part of U. S. An increasing use of well water as a cooling medium for Summer air- conditioning is noted by the Plumbing and Heating Industries Bureau. The bureau calls attention to the fact that water at sufficiently low temperatures to do an appreciable job of cooling is available in nearly all | parts of the United States. All that is required for Summer cooling with well water, the bureau explains, is a dependable electric pump, cooling coils, a fan, a filter, the necessary ducts, controls and piping for the water. With the increasing use of Winter air-conditioning, many homes are already equipped with ducts. The same conditioners used with hot- water and steam-heating plants can be utilized for cooling purposes by the addition of a special coil. Costs for cooling with well water are low because the only expense is the operation of the pump. Eight-room houses in the Chicago area have been cooled throughout the Summer for as little as $20, the bureau says. Maintenance costs are negligible because there are few wearing parts, few accessories and the controls are relatively simple. EDMONDS ART STONE CO. MEMBER CAST STONE INSTITUTE ARCHITECTURAL | CAST STONE Meets Federal and Cast Stone Institute Specifications Thoroughly Modern Manufactur- ing Methods. Superior Workman- ship. “A Quality Product” Phone ATLANTIC 2000 “Rollingwood.” and arrangements. eral Electric heat. ROLLINGWOOD THE NEW ROCK CREEK PARK SECTION @Hfivy"f Give yourself a “Holiday Treat” by visiting Whether or not you are immedi- ately interested in purchasing a home—you cannot fail to appreciate the unusual charm of these NEW HOMES, each on a beautifully wooded lot. The Government officials, attorneys, physicians, architects and builders who have purchased here are our best proof that “Rollingwood” gives you more for your dollar. Choice of several designs 3 bedrooms and 2 baths— 4 bedrooms and 3 baths—Ist or 2nd floor libraries —large porches—electric health kitchens—Gen- samole bome 612 LELAND ST. 40 HOMES ALREADY SOLD Drive on Beach Drive through beautiful Rock Creek Park to Leland St. and turn left; or out Conn. Ave. to Wood- bine St. and turn right—jfollow our arrows to property. Homes Since 1906 CHASE Open Daily These homes have Some one is going schools, etc. Built by PAUL ARMENTROUT Investment Bldg. ANOTHER NEW HOME ON MIDDLETON LANE completion—This is the LAST ONE— new home at a remarkably low price. 4522 Middleton Lane A center-hall-plan home containing six rooms and bath. Gas heat slate roof, detached garage, !ot 50: transportation, one and one half blocks from stores, markets, A most convenient and liveable neighborhood. Care- free comfort with modern gas appliances. Open Daily and Sunday Until 9 P.M. Win.M. been selling before to get an excellent x135, one-half block froml To Reach: Dripe out Wisconsin Ave, 1 block~ past Bethesda to Lane, turn right to homes. MADEBY F.H. A Certain Minimum Require- ments Laid Down to Insure Paper. In the insurance of mortgages on one-to-four-family dwellings the Fed- eral Housing Administration has established certain minimum require- ments which it believes serve to assure the economic soundness of the secu- rity behind he mortgages and at the same time also to raise the standards of housing provided. These minimum 1937, requirements are concerned primarily with neighborhoods and the physical property, according to Howard P. Ver- milya, director of the technical divi- sion, Explaining that the Housing Ad- ministration is not a regulatory body, Vermilya emphasized the Housing Administration’s primary interest is the economic soundness of the security behind insured mortgages. “Subdivision standards which have been set up to assure the development of sound neighborhoods are concerned with the planning factors and also those factors which tend to preserve and make stable values within these communities,” Vermilya pointed out. “They likewise tend to reduce the cost of subdivision development. “Physical standards of the housing are concerned primarily with the loca- tion of the house upon the lot, light, ventilation, sanitation, privacy, con- REAL ESTATE. venience in arrangement and dura- bility of construction. “They are minimum requirements with which property must comply if it is to be acceptable for mortgage insurance. Every effort is made by means of recognition in the appraisal and the terms of the mortgage per- mitted to encourage building up from, rather than down to, these require- ments. We do not regulate the manner in which these improvements above the minimum requirements shall be made. We have no regulatory powers. “We have atempted to indicate ways and means whereby neighbor- hoods and properties could be im- proved, but no attempt has been made to regulate the manner in which, or the choice of the method by which, it is to be accomplished. “The administration has always felt that 1t could not in any way restrict the initiative of those who wish to do a better job. Also, it has provided in its procedure the s and means of permitting other solutions for come pliance with its minimum require- ments than those anticipated where the purpose of the requirements is attained. “It is contihually examining new methods of construction and new materials to keep abreast of the trends In construction so as not to deny the facilities of the insured mortgage to sound new developments.” Riot of Color. An exceptionally attractive bath room color scheme is composed of tones of cream, terra cotta, green and black. With the exception of the wall against which the dressing table is placed, the walls are painted a warm cream tint. The dressing table wall, however, is coated terra cotta. The shower curtain and baseboard are green, while the cream-colored floor 1s accented with a border of black. Another Attractive Home Broppkdale "A Community of Distinctive Small Homes" KENWOOD OFFICE: 4708 Overbrook Road THIS IS AN ELECTRIC KITCHEN HEALTH HOME Brookdale is one block beyond Western Ave. and River Rd. on River Rd., 2 blocks beyond 46th and Fessenden Sts. Announcing the Opening of 330 Brookside Drive The home has nine rooms and four baths, including servants’ quarters, a large living porch and attached two-car garage. ¢ modern equipment and construction materials have been used, including the Reynolds oil-fired air conditioning system. ’ Open 19 AM. to 10 P.M. Daily and Sunday FTER carefully inspecting this and other properties in Kenwood, you will be convinced that Kenwood is “/a fine place to live.” own club house, swimming pool, golf course and tennis courts, almost at your door, will solve many problems of .healthful recreation for yourself and family. Kenwood has often been referred to as the garden of Japanese Cherry Blossoms and beautiful homes. Other Houses, $8,250—3$12,000 COOPER LIGHTBOWN & SONS A SILVER STAR MODEL HOME We are pleased to announce the opening of a Silver Star Model Home in Kenwood and we cordially invite the public to carefully inspect this ex- “cellent example of Colonial architecture, soundly built by The Kennedy- Chamberlin Development Co. of the best carefully selected materials. j ? YHIS home occupies a beautiful corner lot fronting 12272 feet on Broo‘k- side Drive, 116 feet on Dorset Avenue and contains approximately /3 of an acre. The most Kenwood's Completely Furnished by Hutchison’s, Inc. @g&g-amm[)er[in DeveIopmenI Co. Wisconsin 4425 KENNEDY DRIVE AND CHAMBERLIN AVE. i i h Somerset To reach Kenwood, drive out Connecticut Avenue to Chevy Chase Circle, west on Grafton Street, throug to Kenwood, or out Wisconsin Avenue to Dorset Avenue, west on Dorset Avenue through Somerset to Kenwood, or out Connecticut or Wisconsin Avenue to Bradley Lane and west on Bradley Lane to Kenwood.