New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-09-12
NEW STYLES OF FLATS.
POPULAR IMPROVEMENTS THAT HAVE
RECENTLY BEEN INTRODUCED.

People who are returning from their out-of-
town vacations will find that the city architects
and builders have been extremely busy during
the summer For the last few years the general
moving day" has been transferring Itself from
May | to about october i. and 1t Is now III the
fall rather than in the spring that the buiK OF
the "house hunting is accomplished III Is then
that many Of the buildings are shown Tor
the first time. This season there have been I'M
provements. not only in the general plans OF
houses and apartments. but in the interior hnlsh-
ings and decorations. Flats and apartment
houses are still being erected in rapidly increas-
ing numbers the demand for homes of this sort
exceeding By far that for private houses.
notable fact satisfactory to persons OF limited
means. is the number of comforts and modern
improvements nov to be found in flats renting
at moderate figures. which formerly were con-
fined strictly to the largest and most expensive
apartment houses.
An instance of this is the new open sanitary
plumbing This is now put into even the cheap
fats so that the occupants of these are better
off in that respect than their neighbors whose
older apartments rent for two or three times as
much A certain property-owner has recently
had striking and rather expensive lesson on
this subject About four years ago he built sew
In every respect but the plumbing. At that time
the new style had been little used except In
private houses. and the owner in question was
not able to foresee its rapid rise TO general
favor His fats have always rented well until
this wear when they were suddenly almost de-
serted by the tenants. who iOcked over to some
new buildings which. while no better in any
other way possessed the sanitary plumbing. In
order to relet his apartments the owner has been
Obliged to reft them entirely at an outlay OF
about 5000 Many other owners Of Older
houses have also felt the necessity OF moderniz
Ing their property to suit the present ideas OF
prospective tenants.
In the new fats hot water is supplied cOntnu
ous,y TO all families in the house from huge
tank in the cellar. This does away with hot
water boilers in each kitchen. and the tenant:
are not obliged to keep up coal fires for heat
In. ,rrooses The necessity for heating the
boilers have been removed. gas ranges arr
tho next Improvement in order. and these arr
now usually put in instead of these which burr
coal
Hard woods of various kinds are constantly
displacing the old soft wood finish for interiors
Recurring only to be oiled and varnished occa
sionally they infinitely less trouDiesoi''e am
more pleasing in appearance than the pa'h'e'
woodwork. which so soon becomes scratched dis
colOred and shabby
The chief alterations in the plans OF the ne"
houses have been with view toward securing
better light and ventilation In some puiidihs'
lately completed the idea OF a structure SUI
rounding a square central court somewhat s
lar to plans Of model tenements when nave
been described in The Tribune. has been carried
out 1t has proved extremely popular. sucf
buildings having been rented as soon as HI
ished The long. dark, private halls. which nave
met with so many objections are mus e'd'e'
and the whole house gains in brightness aho
airinesS
Another plan for eliminating the dark nan
which can be effected in a house OF the oroi
nary shape Is by having the stairway asceho
In the front of the house. so that 1t Is Iighteo
at each floor by windows looking out upon the
street
The new styles OF apartments are proving 81
desirable. say the real estate men. that the
plan Of Offering tenants months rent Tree IL
not pursued with them. This inducement, which
has BEEN and in tire case Of the cheaper OF
older flats. is still held out to attract bargain
hunters, always had its drawbacks. Some fami-
lies. whose household effects were few and easily
portable. found 1t literally cheaper to move than
to pay rent and II simple matter 10
pack up and go away at the end OF the month";
on the plea Of dissatisfaction with the prem
nes Consequently property -owners and real
~a&,e men look with favor upon houses which