New-York tribune., 1886-08-22
a GREAT TENEMENT HOUSE.
THE ASTRAL EXPERIMENT IN BROOKLYN.

COVERING WHOLE BLOCK-rHE BEST OF SAM
TARY ARRANGEMENTS.
The massive foundations of an immense
structure occupying the entire block Franklin
between Java and India Grecnpon are st present
attracting considerable attention They arc those OF
the Astral tencments whicI being erected by the
Morris Building Company, ani bid fair to form an nrchi
tectura landmark In the Easte.n District OF Brooklyn
The question OF providing suitable homes tor working
whose wages ei-the great majority OF the
population, by the wsy-has long been Que OF serious
consd ton and the best talent OF the architectural
profession at suggestion OF philannrOpsts has boen
expended the problem England claims to have
solved 1t In the small block system Several small
houses built in block aud zach given small guam
tity land all sdes for hght, air and ventilation.
This has been dona generally tho outskirts OF citss
whero tho Of real estate is ten OF comp aratvey
small importance. Few attempts, however have been
made toward erecting large tensments Of superior
kind In the bearts OF tho cies either thero In this
country and although the proprcors OF at least OF
erected here nave amply proved that decent build
for poor people be made to fair interest
upon the vestnsnt yet capitalists have been found
to follow their example. Many building associations
with ambitious plans have been organized but have
nothing.
Tue Astral Building Is tho ooncer tion and will be the
result OF the efforts OF Charles Pratt president of the
Astral Oil Company. To erect building which would he
the best and most perfect possible solution OF the work
ngmans home problem aud alleviate ia SONS measure
the suffering caused by lack OF proper home eonvcn
fences The principal features OF the construction are
light. ventilation and sanitary arsngements Buildings
OF like nature although on smaller scale, have been
examined with view to remedyng the defects which
experience has brought to ght, ami 1t s beiev ed that
tho present building Will be tho most perfect example
OF tenement in this country II not in tho world These
tenemcnts nnde totally distinct from one another
by fire walls; they b~vs outsde light and ventilation
for every ROOM the OF escape in OF fire Arc
ample, ana. above ALL the sanitary arrangements are
ltsa MI rty
tenant the Proper cOnvcnicnces or living How per-
ecty these requisites have been carried he
In the plans or the structure. The building fronts Oh
Fransinst 200 feet on Java tl3j feet: and on India
o feet; 1t Will be six stories ln height besides ceiar
families. At Intervals In each facade openings ex-
stLrcases leave tuem open for vent atom and light
These openings divide tbs building into different sections
with distinct OF starcasss built OF
massive nrc walls. Added to this, to mike matters
doaby sure, regular te escapes have been placed In
OF tho whole syttcm connecting all tue stories
from roof TO basement From :he landings OF tho main
ssrcsses the different sets OF apartments entered
through separate Railways aud each set Of teucnents Is
connected with large elevator built n brick shalt and
supplied with meta doors at each story Tie sets or
apa tiuents themselves consist OF from three to i've
rooms each. TO accommodate large and small families
ne Emss. system has sn adopted IN the GU SaE.y r
tho scdcry c0ntaLing the sink set Of wash traye and
Every OF tho laAt named apartments has direct out
side light and air. BY an ingenious location Of tle
ing aues from each cosst All the Plumbing is thus
bought into direct lines through tho building and the
Inspection.
basement the Indiast. aide Is largo lecture
reading room ol~n from side 10 side for light and
ventilation. amt containing chimney piece in
terra Gotta 1t 10 bslieved that ttsudance the
moral and Intellectual interests OF the tenants thus
puiting their very doors the OF education ana
ent will be appreciated by the largo Aory OF
tho thinking portion OF wOrkngMeu On the OF
the first story stores designed capable Of
for extensive limited business sn1 intended TO be
conducted upon 90 operative piau With ali tho
convenieccs which have been tho Of careful study
tho expenso to the tenant has not been forgotten
impossible 10 say now exactly what the rent OF
bs rented suitable persons at from 81 $40 mOnti
moderate incomes. Tho great Size OF tue building
style OF architecture nnd the doorways thus f"rned
by the noble Norman areIways. the central fac Ade In
Frankln-st being rock face atone work through the
aud sccond stOries and running IN double bay.
projecting four feet are united again at the top by an
also each facade Is Eanked by projecting bays OF
brick and tue whole building is capped by arcadcd cor
nico brick and terra cotta the gables having massive
hanKiug chin BrownstCne 10 used the iounda-
ton of the first story up TO tue window ss and tho
central facade Is OF the same material; otherwise the
whole structure IL OF two qualities OF brick The Drna-
mentat0n Is quiet and refined stone and terra Gotta
The architects Lamb RIch OF this city. with r.
L. consulting architect under whose personal
supervision tho work Is being done by Van DolseI
Arnott builders II is expected that the Astral will be
ready for occupancy by next spring