Telegram-herald. ([Grand Rapids, Mich.) 18??-1892, 1891-04-12
ELEGANT BUILDINGS
Grand Rapids Architects Engaged
on Numerous Plans.
TIE UyIyERSALIST SUMNER HOTEL
To hs Erected as Ne-Ah-Ts-Wan-Ta
Bsaeh-Mr. Riaass's Meet
ksstdenee. and Othes
Projected HemsA

mas mzuc pflsA business among tue
architects. All are busy with plans aud
specifications, though the buildings in
general are OF moderate extent and
cost. One Of the prominent architects
was speaking yesterday about the pro-
fesslon and what they are doing at the
present time. "Yes," said he, ''busi-
ness lie crisk at present. as you can see
by all these papers about here-point-
ing TO the draughting tables. I've been
over blank forms for specifications so
much lately that can almost say them
backward. Then there is another thing
about It that is of general interest as
showing the prosperity of Grand Rap
Ids. While there are very few really
good structures in mind, the average IS
higher than ordinarily. We are getting
a good deal of work on dwelling
houses. running from $500 TO 5000,
and that. as you know, Will build "A
mighty comfortable and convenient
home.
Improvement In Style.
The work that has been done in the
past few years shows a great deal of
improvement in general style over the
work OF former years. You see designs
that are really possessed of true artistic
merit. Two or three thousand dollars,
as every one knows, will furnish
shelter from wind and rain, but 1t will
more than that. furnish handsome
home, architecturaliy considered. In
the older parts of the city, except
where rebuilt, you can find lots of
building. but not much architecture.
There has been wonderful improve
ment in that respect. The beauty of
town, in fact. depends III wonderful
degree upon the architects. As you
get out in the newer subdivisions you
find delightful houses by the score that
We're not at all expensive, but the pros
pect is that this year will SEE the biggest
boom in building yet. There's one
thing that Is almost invariably done in
larger cities, that has been done but
very little among Grand Rapids dealers
in realty, and that is observing build
ing restriction. A real estate dealer
has very desirable plat. Now if ne is
wise he will not sell to purchaser ex-
cept that the purchaser build a house
worth not less than say $500. That
figure may, of course, vary.
Increase of Land Values.
OF course you may miss an early sale
but your subsequent sales will be much
more easy and the property left on
your hands will be worth just that much
more. People like to live in neighbor-
| hood where they are sure no novels are
to be erected. Yes, there are some IN
| the city who try to live up to building
restrictions. One man have in mind
has some very choice property on Nor
ris-ave., College-ave. and Madison-ave.
| He has restriction, believe it is $500.
At any rate it is enough so that it Will
be pretty neighborhood some Of these
days"
! A. W. Rush & Son as we'll as other
architects are busy with plans OF every
description. The sketch of the house
| to be erected for f.. w. Hunting, on
College-ave.. between Cherry-st. and
Wealthy-avc, shows a beautiful struc-
ture. 1t is Italian IN design, with ga
bles. A stone porch with an immense
arch gives a solidity of appearance that
harmonizes we'll with the entire plan.
| The general material is wood with over
| Tapped fancy shingles on the low slop-
ing roof and sides. The interior plan
is a model. The main reception room
| is in front and the other rooms open
into the large lobby IN such way that
all can be thrown at will into what
seems like huge reception room. The
arrangement of the dining room is such
that it can be closed all day, it being
entirely unnecessary to pass through il
to get to any other room.
| Architectural Beauties.
| A Rochester man has ordered a set of
, plans on the same general style. II
differs in particulars, as the architects
desire to avoid reduplication of their
work as far as possible. The plans for
the UniversaIst summer hotel at Ne
ah-ta-wan-ta are complete. and show a
handsome wooden structure of modern
design containing fifty suites of rooms,
| and of immense floor surface. They
have also in construction plans for +.
| Il. Wares new house on Crescent-st.
and several for houses on Ransom-st.
The drawings for the new $4,000 ter.
race block for Christian Berisch, OF
Rndge, Bertsch & Co.. show a building
of remarkable beauty and of archltec-
tural merit. The material will be Of
the finest pressed brick, and counting
basement Is four stories in height, sur.
rounded by large roomv hoored attic
IL contains seven residences. of which
five are already rented. Messrs. De.
good. Hopkins and others report sim.
liar indications of changed appear
auCe IN new narts Of tho city Thf