Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-04-26
TWELVE STORIES.
AN APARTMENT HOUSE FOR THE
LIMITED INCOME" CLASS.
Cost and Running Expenses-view from
the Topmost Story How Visitors Are
Received - Marketing Done
Right at Home.

New York Cor. Philadelphia Record
Messrs. Hubert & Pirsson. architects, Of
this city, have invented plan, which u
gradually assuming shape, to b Of benefit
TO the unhappy limited income class to which
have alluded. These gentlemen are the
inventors Of the home clubs. which are
represented by some Of the hand ,omest
apartment houses 10 the city But thsAs
home clubs are only adapted - pso-
pie with comfortable fortune, at least most
Of them. The plan Is to form stock CON-
pany OF tenants; each stockholder sub
scribes from $4,000 to e5O,OO0, and when
sufficient money Is subscribed the houss is
built and tho apartments are ownei by the
stockholders for life, the same as they would
own an ordinary house. except that they
pay much less for the privilege Wien
Messrs. Hubert & Prison conceived this
plan they were looking toward tho accom-
mediation Of the limited income ella u, but
they found that that was impracticable
at first, for people with small mean, were
more cautious about investing than people
with plenty OF money at their command.
In the latest built Of the homo club houses,
the Chelsea, on Twenty third street, Messrs
Hubert a. Prison have come nearer their
original idea than with any of their other
houses. The Chelsea is eleven stories high
covers so much ground that it hardly looks
its height from the street. 1t costs 81 ,00O.
900 to build, and the money was subscribed
by the stockholders, most Of whom own aud
live in their apartments In this house, Mr..
Hurbert being one OF them. He put in $5, 900,
l think it was, and consequently owns his
apartment, but his percentage Of tho run
ming expenses Of the house comes to tl5J
year; that Is all his rent In thras or four
years he will have nothing to pay, as the
house will be self-supporting. Some apart
ments in the house are more expensive,
others less so. Three thousand dollars,
believe, is the lowest price for buying any
apartment, and is for ono Of three rooms
arranged with studio There are two rooms,
both on the eleventh story, and pretty
little staircase runs up from the vestibus
into an enormous room In the twelfth story,
which is the size of the two rooms below;
this is arranged with skylight, and makes
q magnificent studio.
The view from the twelfth story, or even
from the eleventh, is a grand one. You can
see from the south windows the bay and
Staten island in tho distance. From the
west window you have panorama Of the
Hudson, and Of Hoboken, with the dome Of
the Stevens institute glistening' In the sun.
You are away above all the nOiss and din
Of the city, and In summer you got - fine .
breeze as you could fni at watering plaza
You need feel no timidity at being up %
high, for the house Is thoroughly fre-prooe.
There Is not beam or q lath In II from gar.
ret to cellar. Only tho flooring IL wood. and
that over iron girderA The entrance b the
Chelsea Is the most attractive Of any apart
ment house that know Of in New York.
As rule you go into hall In thess apart
ment houses. and find nothing In It but an
elevator, and possibly chair.
You enter the main door Of the Chelsea,
and you are at once delighted by tho hospit-
able air Of the place. The hall 10 very large,
and is decorated in the most artistic manner.
with great deal Of ornamental woodwork
and tiled floor, over which gorgeous rugs
are spread At the side Of tho hall 10 an
enormous fire e-place, with iron andtrons and
great logs blazing ON the hearth. A prettily
carved settee Is placsd at one eide Of the
Fireplace, and q number OF antique chairs,
or modern copies from antique models, stand
around in front Of the nre- place and o. the
rugs. At the back OF the hall IL the Office,
which Is open all night. and just out Of sight
Of the main entrance are two elevators,
which run all night long. At the right Of
the hall Is waiting room, furnished In ex-
ceptional taste, and with fve watsr-oolor
drawings hanging on tho walla
An advantage the Chelsea has over most
apartment houses is that 1t II conducted In
the spirit Of cooperation and sccommoda-
ton. You may have an apartment without
q kitchen, and do slight housekeeping. You
may go out to your mesls or you may take
your meals at the restaurant Of the hsuss,
where they are Furnished for % week q
head; or you may take your meals IA this
restaurant at such times as you chose, pay
ing for what you cat II you prefer houss-
keeping, you can do all your marketing with
out going out of your room. You simply
write your order, send 1t flying down to
the store-room on the dumb-waiter, ana
whatever you want comes flying up to you,
and Is charged on your account at Wholesale
rates and paid for at the eud Of the week.
Your letters are brought upstairs every
time they are left by the postmsn; and Peo-
pie ar not trotted up to your apartment
door, but, instead, unless they are intimate
friends, are left to wait In the reception
room while their cards are sent up for your
consideration. You have In the Chelsss al
the convenlences Of hotel and the ssclusion
of private house. Indeed you have more
seclusion than In many private houses, for
no one can reach you that you do not wish
to see.