New-York tribune., 1903-03-11
TENEMENT Law CHANGES.
Concessions to Builders in Commits
sinner De Forests Bill.

Mach 10 (Speclal).-C Commissioner lie
Forest's bill amending the Tenement House law by
adjusting it TO conditions In Brooklyn and outlying
horouehs OF New-York City was introduced to-day
hy Senator Marshall. It embodies all the conces-
sions that the Tenement House Department is will
ing TO make to builders and. as Governor Odell
has repeatedly said that he would sign no tene-
rnent house measure Endorsed by the New
York City administration. 1t is believed that no
rnutilation OF it will be permitted. This bill. "
saws Commissioner De Forest. rs based upon the
experience Of the Tenement House Department
during the first year Of administration of this
new law" In formal statement. Mr.. De Forest
adds:
In stating the scope of the bill. which will en-
courage the construction OF small tenements at
low rentals. il perhaps well TO make plain at the
outset what it does not Do. 49,.
law any classes of tenements which have hereto
To do so Would be re reverse " the pocS of the
State, which established in first tenement
i does rot exempt any classes Of old tenements
from the altersto9s rat now required to make 6ner Ter
tie air, and TO better their sanitary condition
left open or in the degree of reproof Construction
required in new buildings, except to a slight and
ment houses, and in no case over four stories in
street to yard and. IN which, therefore each apart
ment has thorough ventilation.
pne he aW IS to 'T give the
amounI Of air Iisbt a1d sanfstion consistent Sit
due consideration TO the construction of new tene
occupants Of old buildings healthful and more
eomfortable accommodation, not only for their own
around them; The more important particulars in
which the bill changes the law as follows:
In the particular type of tenement houses re-
ferred TO, where apartments through from
inSp WhcR have no more @ than tWo amlies on
ar 1 a p hen eg mot ssd in sI e
sions and an exterior court of no less width than
this type Of tenement house to contain not more
than eight families on twenty-five foot lot.
tion Of the stairway hall and stair Enclosure, OF
semi-freproof or slow burning, Instead of an alb
eoutely hreproof construction. thereby decreasing
oxeT Gos rents 3t possbie O ABOUT ana
In, In three story tenement 1 h houses OF the the same
than IS per cent of the lot, it permits further
court TO give light and ventilation 10 adjacent
houses but the dimensions on Of the court shall not
Of house is not built In the crowded parts Of Man
extensively, In Brooklyn. Queens and The Bronx
It is Of the best kind of small tenement houses
! think these houses in practice will usually be
the construction of three family three story frame
tenements 1t is fair question whether any
The present law permits two story, four family
wooden house: The three story; three family house
OF occupants II any frame tenement is TO be
There is strong demand TO permit its construction
in the boroushs of The Bronx and Queens as well
particular sections which very properly exist. can
be better remedied by an extension of the fire
York that still largely country to the city
requirements this point.
The bin also modiies the provisions for skylights
in both old and new buildings. providing in the
case of new buildings the halls of which have
doxs opening to the outer sir. for more ven
fiIation as matter of legal regulation. than is
Afforded by ridge ventiIators. and reducing some
what in the case OF old buildings the OF
skyghts. basing the requirements upon an in
cFeasins scale according to height
All of these changes mentioned tend to decrease
che cost of construction alteration, without ap-
precabIy imparing light ventilation sanitation or
fire protection -
There are other changes by which. at slight ad-
Sitionsl cost, important advantages are obtained.
These include some increased IRE protection in the
stair halls and stair Enclosures OF three story build
fngs and increase in the size of the air passage
REQUIRED 10 ventilate interior courts.
There are many slight changes all tending to
make the law more efficient and its meaning more
clear and in q number of instances. where such
changes are not strictly necessary from lawyer S
roint of view. but are necessary 10 make II ciear
IL the aYnea the architects and builders who have
most occasion to use IT, the department has taken
this opportunity of making such changes