The Transformation of Front Street

For some time the firm of Toklas & Singerman, proprietors of the San Francisco Store, have required more room. They have purchased from Mr. Mahlhorn the property on the corner of Commercial and Washington streets, 40 by 100 feet. The price paid for this property was $250 per front foot, or $10,000 for the 40 feet. All the tenants occupying buildings on that property have been notified to move within thirty days. Mr. Mahlhorn intends to commence the erection of a four-story brick building, the full size of the property, to be occupied entirely by the firm. The building will have two elevators, and will be one of the largest, finest and best-equipped buildings north of San Francisco. The adjoining property owners to the south are Mr. Fred Gasch and Judge J. P. Hoyt, and these gentlemen are perfecting their arrangements to build brick structures on their property during the present season, and there is little doubt that by next Christmas there will be a solid, almost unbroken wall of brick buildings on the front side of Front street from Main to Columbia street. The price paid to Mr. Mahlhorn for his property was the highest with one exception ever paid for property on that street, the exception being the property bought by A. Poncin from H. L. Teeter, for which he paid $270 per front foot.