Evening star. [volume], December 23, 1939, Page B-1, Image 17

About Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972

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I
Real Estate Building News
.... -.. '
__WASHINGTON, D. C., SATURDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1939. * * B—1
Home Building
Tops Normal
Seasonal Level
Permits in Nation
43 Per cent Above
November, 1938
Residential building activity
throughout the country continues
to hold well above normal seasonal
.* levels. Secretary Frances Perkins
announced today, following comple
tion of the Bureau of Labor Sta
tistics’ monthly survey of the con
struction picture.
November permit valuations for
residential building were 14 per cent
above October and 43 per cent
greater than the corresponding
month last year.
Nearly Two Billions.
During the first 11 months of
1939 permits were issued in the
principal cities of the Nation valued
at $1,922,635,000, an increase of
22 per cent over 1938. The value of
new residential building showed a
gain of 33 per cent over this period.
The value of new non-residential
building was up 11 per cent while
permit valuations for additions, al
„ terations and repairs to existing
structures rose 8 per cent.
Washington ranks third among
the major cities in total volume of
building for the 11-month period.
The value of all types of construc
tion here during the period is
$68,398,000, an increase of $20,000,000
over last year. New York City leads
the Nation in building, with Los
Angeles in second place, a short
margin ahead of the Capital.
Reports From 2,022 Cities.
Total permit valuations lor all
types of construction were 1 per
, cent higher in November than in
• October and 17 per cent higher dur
ing the current month than during
the' corresponding month of last
year. The value of new non-resi
dential buildings, however, showed
a decline of 11 per cent, as com
pared with October and a decrease
of 14 per cent as compared with
November, 1938. Indicated expendi
tures for additions, alterations and
repairs were 21 per cent lower than
in October, but were at practically
the same level as during November,
1938. These data are based on re
ports received by the Bureau of
Labor statistics from 2.022 cities of
the United States having an aggre
gate population of approximately
60.000,000.
Permits were issued during No
vember for the following important
building projects: In East Hartford,
Conn., for additions to factory
buildings to cost more than $600,000;
In Jersey City, N. J., for a hospital
building, to cost over $2,000,000; in
New York City—in the borough of
the Bronx—for apartment houses, to
cost over $1,500,000; in the borough
of Brooklyn, for apartment houses,
to cost approximately $1,400,000; in
the borough of Queens, for one
family dwellings, to cost nearly
$1,700,000. and for apartment houses,
to cost nearly $6,000,000; in Roches
ter. N. Y., for factory buildings, to
cost approximately $400,000; in Phil
adelphia, for one-family dwellings,
to cost over $600,000; for a hospital
building, to cost $1,000,000, and for
a laboratory building, to cost nearly
mo nnn
In Chicago.
Chicago, for one-family dwellings,
to cost nearly $1,000,000; for factory
buildings, to cost approximately
$400,000. and for a store and mercan
tile building, to cost $1,250,000; in
River Forest, 111., for apartment
houses, to cost nearly $500,000; in
Hammond, Ind., for a sewage treat
ment plant, to cost nearly $600,000;
In Dearborn, Mich., for one-family
dwellings, to cost approximately
$650,000; in Detroit, for one-family
dwellings, to cost nearly $3,400,000;
in Cleveland, for one-family dwell
ings, to cost over $550,000, and for
the superstructure for a municipal
power plant, to cost nearly $700,000;
In Minneapolis, for one-family dwell
ings, to cost over $600,000; in Wash
ington, for one-family dwellings, to
cost nearly $1,300,000, and for an
electric light plant, to cost $700,000.
In Miami, for one-family dwell
ings, to cost nearly $1,000,000; in
Baltimore, for one-family dwellings,
to cost over $760,000; in Alexandria,
Va., for apartment houses, to cost
more than $400,000; in Corpus
Christi, Tex., for a hotel building,
to cost over $1,100,000; in Houston,
Tex., for one-family dwellings, to
cost more than $900,000; in San
Antonio, Tex., for a public building
to cost $500,000; in Berkeley, Calif.,
for school buildings, to cost more
than $450,000; in Los Angeles, for
one-family dwellings, to cost more
than $2,700,000; in Oakland, Calif.,
for one-family dwellings, to cost
nearly $500,000; in San Francisco,
for one-family dwellings, to cost
nearly $900,000; in Portland, Oreg.,
for an institutional building, to cost
$1,000,000, and in Seattle, for one
family dwellings, to cost nearly
$500,000.
U. S. H. A. Projects.
Contracts were awarded during
November for the following U. S.
H. A. housing projects:
In Bridgeport, Conn., to cost ap
proximately $3,600,000 (1,190 dwell
ing units); in Boston, for two proj
ects to cost approximately $4,200,000
(1,179 dwelling units); in Lowell,
Mass., to cost nearly $2,000,000 (536
dwelling units); in Asbury Park,
N. J„ to cost $475,000 (126 dwelling
units); in Harrison, N. J„ to cost
$900,000 (214 dwelling units); in
New York City, Borough of Man
hattan, to cost approximately $5,
200.000 (1,531 dwelling units); in
Reading, Pa., to cost over $1,400,000
(400 dwelling units); in Peoria, 111.,
for two projects, to cost over $3,
600.000 (1,093 dwelling units); in
Cincinnati, for an addition to the
existing project, to cost $805,000
(264 dwelling units); in Tampa, Fla.,
for the second section of the exist
ing project, to cost nearly $450,000
(184 dwelling units); in Atlanta, for
the second section of the existing
project, to cost nearly $1,100,000
(358 dwelling units); in Charlotte.
N. C., to cost over $600,000 (256
dwelling units); in Wilmington,
N. C„ to cost more than $650,000
(216 dwelling units); in Columbia,
S. C., to cost nearly $700,000 (236
dwelling units); in Laurel, Miss., to
cost nearly $470,000 (150 dwelling
units), and in Los Angeles, to- cost
over $1,400,000 (610 dwelling units).
Real Estate Board Gives
Record Christmas Party
The largest gathering in the
history of the organization, nearly
700 persons, attended the annual
realtors’ Christmas party of the
Washington Real Estate Board yes
terday in the Mayflower Hotel.
The affair w’as featured bv a
luncheon, the distribution of about
100 gifts contributed by various
firms and individuals in the Capital,
and entertainment. George O’Con
nor served as Santa Claus.
Edward R. Carr was chairman of
the committee which had charge of
the party. He was assisted by Ray
mond M. Taylor, chairman of the
Entertainment Committee; Samuel
S. Spruce, J. Hawley Smith, William
E. Shannon, 3d, Norman C. Brown,
J. Lee Donnelly, Karl E. Jarrell,
Rupert Mohler, Milton F. Schwab,
Oliver M. Walker, C. Hayward Mar
shall, Frederic E. Middleton and
John R. Neale.
Those who sat at the head table
included William L. King, R. A.
Humphries, Andrew Saul. Harold E.
Doyle, A. C. Houghton, Aubrey St. C.
Wardwell, Clarence Dodge, Thomas
E. Hampton, William J. Flather. jr„
Commissioner Melvin C. Hazen, Fred
A. Smith, president of the board;
Commissioner David McCoach, Jr.,
Waverly Taylor, Edward A. Dent,
John L. Weaver, Roger J. Whiteford,
F. A. Murray, John A. Petty, H.
Clifford Bangs, Harry K. Boss and
Thomas D. Lewis.
■%*
Fairfax County
Building Already
Exceeds 1938
Highway Development
Plays Role in 11-Month
Figure of $1,859,683
Real estate activity in Fairfax
County, Va„ during the present
year, both on the volume of new
construction work and the number of
realty transfers, will far overshadow
the record of any former year.
Even at the close of the past
month records from the office of
County Commissioner of the Rev
enue James U.-Kincheloe disclosed
that the number of building permits
issued for the first 11 months of this
year had sharply exceeded the total
for all of 1938, while similarly from
the office of County Clerk John M.
Whalen reports show recordations of
deeds and trusts for the 11 months
period practically 400 ahead of the
number for any former 12 months.
So far this month both offices
report transfers and building permit
applications are continuing un
usually active.
At the end of the past month,
$1,859,683 in building permits had
been granted for this year. When
the past year closed permit values
totaled $1,245,370, placing the 11
month figure for this year more than
half a million dollars in excess of
1938.
$670,646 in 1936.
Likewise a comparison with the
volume of permits issued in the
county during 1936, the first year
permits were required, reveals
almost a threefold growth. That
year permits in the aggregate of
$670,646 were granted.
Barring some unforeseen economic
disturbance, the view has been ex
pressed by a number of those in the
real estate field that the present
activity is but a forerunner of that
which will follow. It has been
pointed out that Fairfax County,
along with Arlington County and
Alexandria City, is probably the
fastest growing area in the entire
State.
While new construction has for
the most part continued to center
around the heavier population sec
tions of the county, the transfer of
property has been fairly general
over the whole county. A number of
larger farms have been sold during
the year to those who intend to
develop them into more or less
show places.
Highways a Factor.
Real estate development has been
considerably spurred by the rapid
improvements and additions being
made in the local highway system.
With the completion of the new
Lee boulevard from Fairfax to the
Memorial Bridge, a quick and short
route has been opened up for a large
section of the county to downtown
Washington. Widening of the Lee
Highway from Fairfax to Rosslyn
has likewise helped, and at the
present time the Little River Turn
pike, one of the oldest roads in the
State, is being widened from Fair
fax to Annandale, where it is joined
by the Columbia Pike leading to the
Highway Bridge.
It is expected the Little River
pike will ultimately be widened the
remainder of the way from An
nandale to Alexandria, as has been
urged by a number of groups during
the past years headed by the Fair
fax County Board of Supervisors.
Work will likewise shortly start
on another important highway
project—widening of the Lee high
way from Fairfax toward Centreville.
Easier Financing Plays Role.
Credit for the heavy construction
program is also attributed partly to
the easier methods now available
for financing homes. Along with the
Federal Housing Administration and
building and loan groups, other
lending agencies are providing at
tractive terms to those who wish to
build their own home.
During the past month the first
permit for a large apartment was
granted. The apartment, which is
scheduled to contain 80 units, will
be built by the First Colony Corp.,
on a tract of land in Mount Vernon
District near New Alexandria. The
permit application states the project
will be finished by May 1. 1941. The
cost was set at $150,000. While there
are several smaller apartments in
the county, this will be the first
project of its kind on a large scale.
__
Bedroom Lighting
“Adequate lighting” in bedroom
means sufficient light by the bed
for reading, softer lighting for gen
eral over-all illumination and good
light for the dressing table.
Private Ownership
Leads Contracts Let
In 11 Months of 1939
D. C. Trend Is Seen;
Pick-up Expected
To Go On in 1940
Private ownership leads In the
valuation of construction contracts
awarded throughout the Washing
ton metropolitan area, with an 11
month margin of more than $30,
000,000 beyond the contracts under
public ownership, according to the
monthly summary of local construc
tion activities prepared by Henry A.
Johns, Washington manager of
Dodge Reports.
The report said the total valua
tions of private contracts topped the
public totals in nine of the first 11
months. This indicates a local
trend, rather than a spurt in one of
two months. In some localities a
single large project could influence
the relation between the private and
public totals.
All contracts for work and mate
rials awarded by private ownership
in the Washington metropolitan, area
during the January-through-No
vember period reached $72,230,000.
Last year the corresponding private
contract level was $52,145,000. A gain
of 38 per cent has been recorded for
the 11 months of 1939.
Dodge Reports comments that
contracts are actual signed commit
ments for action and usually reflect
construction business conditions
more accurately than permit grants.
The best month of this year for
private construction in the Washing
ton area was April, followed by June
and March. The low point was July.
Public construction contracts,
i awarded by Federal, State and local
governments, amounted to $42,028,
000 in the 11-month period. That
is 102 per cent ahead of the total at
the same point of last year, $20,858,
000. In this classification, the high
est total was recorded for June, with
August and July following. The
lowest level was reached in February.
Mr. Johns concludes his summary
with a glance at the future.
The outlook for 1940 points to an
average pick-up of 11 per cent in
privately owned construction
throughout the 37 States east of the
Rocky Mountains. At the same time,
public construction is expected to
move ahead with only 1 per cent.
Present indications are that the
Washington metropolitan area will
participate in the advance.
Gold Paint Formula
A standard formula for mixing
gold-color paint is to combine one
part zinc yellow, two parts yellow
ochre and one part white lead. For
old gold use one part zinc yellow,
two parts yellow ochre, one part
white lead and a touch of ivory
black.
Lignin May Have Uses
It is believed that lignin, a by
product of the rayon and paper
industries, may prove to be of con
siderable value to the manufacturers
of lacquer and varnish when con
verted by a recently developed
hydrogenation process into a product
that will dissolve organic resins and
gums used in the lacquers. Lignin
has always been considered a value
less commodity. Now there are sev
eral possibilities of its future
utilization.
Firm Gives Yule Party
The annual Christmas party of the
Thos. E. Jarrell Co., realtors, was
held this morning in their offices
at 721 Tenth street N.W. Thomas
E. Jarrell, president and founder
of the firm, presented gifts to all
employes and salesmen and briefly
commented on the work accom
plished during 1939 and on the
prospects of good business for the
new year.
60 One-Family
Dwellings Get
Permits in Week
Two Apartments Also
Authorized in
$682,073 Total
The residential building ''boom”
here continued during the past
week as the office of Building In
spector John W. Oehmann approved
permits for 60 one-family dwellings
and two sizable apartments.
Valuation of permits for all types
of private constructidn which were
issued during the week was $682,073.
unusually high for this season of
the year.
More important permits of the
period follow:
Harvard Village, Inc., 515 Invest
ment Building, owner; David L.
Stern Construction Co., 1512 L
street N.W., builders; Raymond C.
Snow, 1223 Connecticut avenue
N.W., architect; to erect one 3-story
brick and cinder block apartment
(60 units), 1821 Summit place N.W.;
to cost $125,000.
Harvard Village, Inc., 515 Invest
ment Building, owners; David L.
Stem Construction Co., 1512 L street
N.W., builders; Raymond C. Snow,
1223 Connecticut ave N.W., archi
tect; to erect one 3-story brick and
cinder block apartment (24 units),
1820 Harvard street N.W.; to cost
$65,000.
Mercer Building Co., Inc.,. 710
Chandler Building, owners and
Builders; J. P. Fitzsimmons, 1014
Denrike Building, designer; to erect
eight 2-story brick, cinder block and
frame dwellings, 3943. 3947, 3951,
3955, 3959, 3963. 3967, 3971 S Street
S.E.; to cost $48,000.
SPRING VALLEY HOME—Mr. and Mrs. Karl Rlemer recently purchased this new home at 3340
University avenue N.W. through the offices of the W. C. & A. N. Miller Development Co.
IN LYON VILLAGE—New home of Mr. and Mrs. Carville D. Benson, jr., at 3176 Eighteenth street
North, Arlington, Va., which was built by I. N. Miller. —Star Staff Photos.
It pays to consult a
REALTOR
’ * member of the
WASHINGTON RIAL ESTATE BOARD
raHirmnTiiH
f# WOODSIDE FOREST *4
Silver Spring, Md. ^
The ideal, medium priced, high grade home commun- rffn
LgAl ity with transportation, schools, churches, stores and
yMi fine social environment. Many charming houses, on 1
large wooded lots are being added—and two will be Miff
j open today and Sunday.
fjj 805 and 816 LIVE OAK DRIVE Jjt
y^W Gruver and Irvin Built
P# PRICES ARE RIGHT
TERMS ARE EASY ||^
I TRADES CONSIDERED
Large'Lots Available on Which
^f{ to Build Your Own Home !p^
jhluLl TO REACH: Drive out Ga Ave. to Silver Spring, turn right UP*
at Colesvflle Pike to Dale Drive (Mrs. K. s Tollhouse Tavern*. I'fJW/
I ^ left to Gruver signs. Or straight on through Silver Spring to ,,. I
LtuU Columbia Blvd., turn right to Gruver signs and to houses. jj^i
3 Wm. M. THROCKMORTON d
K.j. Realtor
Pp Investment Building District 6092
[colored!
SPC " niv/ a r Drive out dur- B
l) PAY AS inf Christmas (1
ML I OW week and see
» t h e colorful Bfe
5 SQft'M "capital" 3
* Oil VIEW m
W\ W W Lire where ^1
L/ n U It there are NO < A
BL rtr Month Renewals of
—INSPECT— ^
v 5362 East Capitol St. il
6 ROOMS
flk Double drainboards and spa
BT cious cabinets in kitchens; col
l > ored tile baths; hand painted (1
it walls; hardwood floors and j|
HP many other features! H|
l*v TO REACH: ^
k/ Drive out Benning Road to vi
Central Ave., turn left. Or JR
Br take Capital Transit bus at
west end o/ Benning viaduct, / j
Bf get off at sard Place and E. jB
^P Capitol St., turn right to homes. BH
k Capital View m
L> REALTY CO., Realtor• <Q
EL 925 N. Y. Are. N.W. NA. 9797 JM
5001 E. Capitol St. LI. 3510 TB
Second Trust Notes
We will buy monthly payment de
ferred purchase money second trust
notes, secured on owner-occupied
private dwellings.
UNION FINANCE CO.
018 Woodward Bide NA. 7938
irS DIFFERENT
FIRST TRUST LOANS
TYLER & RUTHERFORD, INC.,
1812 L Street N.W. NatL 0478
tor SO yeari
Loan Correspondent for
The Mutual Beneflt Life Insurance Co.
Nttoito! 04S5 C
434z warren St.
j • Center Hall
• 3 Bedrooms, 2 Baths
• Library with Book Shelves and
5 Windows
• First-floor Lavatory
• 2 Finished Roorts on 3rd Floor,
Heated
• Fireplace in Cellar
• Attached Garage
• Large Lot
• Private Flagstone Terrace off
Library
• Automatic Heat
i • Air Conditioned
• In St. Ann's Parish
• Close to Schools
$15,500
Open Daily and Sunday
Until 6 P.M.
Drive out Wisconsin Ave. to Van
Ness St., west on Von Ness St. to
tnd St., turn right to Warren St.
and home.
fPooleu Bros.
lOasuw^TTweMU
Realtors
Investment Bldg. DI. 1481
■ =
8 CONTRACTORS
§ ra
^ We specialize in expert Sj
3 color schemes and texture k?
1 | of carpets and rugs for aj
c hotels, clubs, apartments,
a theaters, churches, etc. Ks
| No job too large, none too
K srdall. S
w For ideas, estimates sS
a phone or write Harry S. f»
s Copperthite, manager of S
p this department, a floor §
s covering expert of long b
js standing. You’ll be read- a
f ily convinced that our 3
p prices are the lowest, h
S quality considered. a
S WOODRIDGE I
1 RUG & CARPET
1 CO., Inc. |
(§ 1715 Rhode Island Are. N.E. tl
e . Phone: HObart 8300-1 a
I AVONDALE
for better living
at lower cost!
5 and 8 room, 1 and t bath
homes of individual design—on
unusually large lots—complete
with garages and porches.
$6,750 to $8,950
To Reach: Drive out Michigan Ave.
vast Catholic University, over new
bridge to lkth St., left t blocks to
Avondale entrance.
D. C. DEVELOPING CO.
REALTORS
1512 K St. N.W. Dlst. 5850
Income Producing Hornet
8 and 8 rooiris with 2 baths, and
oil heat: easily convertible into a
2-famlly dwelling.
$7,950 io% Coth
Balance Like Rent
500 Block Oakwood St. S.E.
6 Said Before Completion
Built by Master Builders, Inc.
To Reach: Drive over 11th St.
Bridte to Nichols Ave. S.E., out
Nichols Ave. to Portland St., right
on Portland St. 1 block to Oak.
wood St., right 1 block to homes.
In Chevy Chase, D. C.
$9,450 up
Only 4 Left
Exhibit Heme
3009 Military Road N.W.
Terms to Suit Purchaser
Trades Considered
To Reach: Out Connecticut Ave. to
Military Road, turn to Thirtieth St.,
or out Sixteenth Street to Military
Road and through Rock Creek Park.
INDIAN
SPRING
VILLAGE
350 FT.
ELEVATION
100 WOODED ACRES
A Distinguished Development of Modest Cost
Dwellings, Wherein Future Valuation Is Assured
Featuring Real Architectural Char
acter and Enduring Construction
Bay Your Homo With Rest Mosey
in This Delightfully Different Community
Select your home from among those already erected
or let us build a dwelling here to meet your individual
requirements, on a sitje of your own selection.
Capital Transit Buses at Property
DIRECTIONS—Out Colesville Pike at traffic light in Silver
Spring, Md., to Four Corners, then right on Montgomery Avo. V*
mile to property office on left, fronting Indian Spring Golf Course.
A. H. RYAN and EDSON W. BRIGGS, Ise.
Owners and Developers
Phone SHep. 3430—SHep. 1613
' PAUL M. LUDT, Exclusive Agent
6-Room Homes
56,250
Low Dawn Payments
Vary Easy Terms
Here ere the Capital's blnest. fin
est low-cost homes—planned for
livability and equipped for labor
saving efficiency. Six spacious
rooms and tiled oath Automatic
gas heat, air conditioned. The
finest materials and workmanship
throughout. Convenient to every
thing.
1500 Block Fort Davis St. S.E.
To Reach: Drive etraight out Penn
sylvania Ave. S.E. to Port Davit
Street and hornet. OPEN TODAY
AND DAILY.
IWODDMGOR
"The Perfectly Planned
Community" offers you your
choice of either a one or
two-story home, on a mini
mum 70-foot lot, with two
bedrooms, bath, basement
with recreation room space,
air conditioned with gas or
oil heat, for the amazingly
low price of
s5990
$41 MONTHLY
Indndinc Interest, Principal,
Taxes and Insurance
' ~ •y~-Tfr^cjw>y<^y.v.y- > \
TO REACH: From traffic lioht
on Georgia Ave in Silver
Spring, bear right on Coles
vine Rd. just beyond Indian
Spring Club to Woodmoor.
MOSS REALTY
COMPANY
INSPECT THESE NEW HOMES
DURING THE HOLIDAYS
Hornet Open Daily and Sunday
TRADE YOUR SMALL !
HOME IN ON ONE OF |
The Finest New j
Homes Ever Offered mt
*7,950
Three beautiful new Colonials. Six !
rooms, tiled bath. 3 bedrooms, large '
living and dining rooms, complete
kitchen, full basement, lavatory and
laundry. Convenient to schools,
stores and transportation.
Exhibit Homm
1115 Geranium St. N.W.
To Beach: Drive out Georgia Ave.
to Geranium St., turn left to hornet.
Mt. Vernon Parkway Home*
Perfectly planned rooms of generous
proportions—amply large to accom
modate full suites of furniture and
tastefully decorated. Just 8 min
utes from downtown via the high
speed Mount Vernon Boulevard.
Near the new airport.
$5,990 & $6,950
$39 & $48 Per Mo.
Exhibit Home Furnished by
Brinson’s Furniture Co.
701 BASHFQRD ,R0AD
Drive over Memorial Bridge and out
Mount Vernon Boulevard to our
sign, iust past WJSV Broadcasting
Station. i
3 Bedroom Homes
3 WAYS to FINANCE
That Will Suit Every Budget
*6,250
10% cash—$39.55 Per Mo.
4Vt% THROUGH F. H. A.
$500 Dawn—$50 per Ma.
$350 Dawn—$60 Per Ma.
Visit No. 16 Hawaii Are. N.E.
Forniahed by Hilda N. Miller
Adjacent to Soldlera Home Park
To Reach: Drive east on Upshur St.
N.W. to Rock Creek Church Roai.
left t blocks to Hawaii Are. and
Beitzett signs.
| 1S15KSI.NW. IdgJyQjH DI- 3100 j