The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1885-04-03
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 Mt Home.

Messrs. Hubert e. Prison. architects, Of
this city, have invented a plan, which Is
gradually assuming a shape, to be OF benefit
to the unhappy limited income class to which
have alluded. These gentlemen are the
inventors of the home clubs. which are
reprssen by some Of the handsomest
apartment house, in the city. But these
home clubs, are only adapted to peo-
pie with comfortable fortune, at least most
OF them. The plan Is to form a stock COM
pany of tenants; each stockholde sub
scribes from $4,000 to $50,0UO, and when
sufficient money is subscribed the house is
built and the apartments are owned by the
stockholders for life, the same as they would
own an ordinary house. except that they
pay much less for the privilege. When
Messrs. Hubert & Prison conceived this
plan they were looking toward the accom-
notation of the hmited-incoms class, but
they found that that was impracticable
at first, for people with small means were
more cautious about investing than people
with plenty OF money at their command.
In the latest built of the home club houses,
the Chelsea, on Twenty-third street, Messrs.
Hubert & Prison have come nearer their
original idea than with any of their other
houses The Chelsea is eleven stories high
in front, twelve stories in the rear, but
covers so much ground that il hardly looks
its height from the street. 1t costs 81 ,0o0,-
0O0 to build, and tine money was subscribed
by the stockholders, most Of whom own and
live in their apartments in this house, Mr.;
Hurbert being one OF them. He put in s., 900,
! think 1t was, and consequently owns his
apartment, but his percentage Of the run
ming expenses OF the house comes to $50 a
year, that Is all his rent In three or four
years be will have nothing TO pay, as the
house will bs 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 one of three rooms
arranged with stu lilo. There are two rooms,
both on the eleventh story, and a 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 the distance. From the
west window you have a panorama Of the
Hudson, and of Hobcken, with the dome Of
You are away above all the noise and din
of the city, and in summer you get as fine a
breeze as you could finl at watering place.
You need feel no timidity at being up SO
high, for the house is thoroughly fre-proof.
There is not beam or lath in it from gar
ret to cellar Only the flooring is wood, and
that over iron girders. The entrance to the
Chelsea is the most attractive Of any apart
ment house that / know of in New York.
As q rule you 90 into hall in these apart
mint houses and find nothing in 1t but an
elevator, and possibly a chair.
You enter the main door Of the Chelsea,
and you are at once delighted by the hospit-
able air OF the place, The hall is 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 the hall is an
enormous Fireplace, with iron andirons and
great logs blazing on the hearth A prettily
carved settee is placed at one side Of the
fireplace, and a number OF antique chairs,
or modern copies from antique models, stand
around in front of the fireplace and on the
rugs. At the back of the hall Is 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 a waiting-room, furnished In eI-
ceptional taste, and with five water
drawings hanging on the walls.
An advantage the Chelsea has over most
apartment houses is that it is conducted ir
the spirit Of cooperation and accommoda-
tion. You may have an apartment without
q kitchen, and do slight housekeeping" You
may go out to your meals or you may take
your meals ar the restaurant Of the house,
where they are furnished for IS week a
head; or you may take your meals in this
restaurant at such times as you chose, pay
ing for what you eat II you prefer house.
keeping, you can do all your marketing with
out going out of your room. You simply
write your order send it flying down to
the store-room on the dumb-waiter, and
whatever you want comes flying up to you,
and Is charged on your account at wholesale
rates and paid for at the end of the week.
Your letters are brought upstairs every
time they are left by the postman; and peo-
pie ar. not trotted up to your apartment
door, but instead, unless they are intimate
friends, are left tc wait In the reception
room while their cards are sent up for your
consideration. You have In the Chelsea all
the conveniences Of hotel and the seclusion
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.