The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-09-09
MANHATTAN APARTMENTS
BIG SUPPLY UPTOWN THIS FALL
ALONG THE SLIBWAH.

They Appeal TO An Glasses. Renting ~
From R74O TO So, q q Year the
Most Expensive Arc on the West Side
ana the CheapestOn Washington Heights
This town has never before been 40 we'll
supplied with housing of all kinds as IL is
lust now. Few private dwellings have
indeed been erected in Manhattan for some
time. Such dwellings, are, however, - be
found in Unprecedented numbers and va
riety in other boroughs, particularly in
BROOKLYN. The least expensive grades OF
fats and apartments are also fewer in
Manhattan than they are elsewhere. But,
on the whole, people looking for apartments
or fats this fall have no difficulty in finding
what they want without going outside
the central borough.
The westerly branch of the subway
opened up a great stretch OF territory in
Manhattan north Of 10th street, while the
e~asterly branch furnished improved trans
portation to u considerable undeveloped
area in ppe Harlem. Along both branches
Of the rapid transit road building has con-
eeQuently been extremely active for about
two years. Practically all Of the new con-
structions there are fiat or apartment
houses. So numerous are they that on
Washington Heights alone upward OF 5000
APARTMENTS are said to be for rent at prices
rom S. to 3I2 a room a month.
Because of the changes in housing con-
ditiops which the subway has brought about
IL may be worth while to point out the
average rents that now prevail in the vari-
Qua uptown neighborhoods along that
road. The subway is as yet tho only new
rapid transit line in operation, and the
peighborhoods which IL serves will there
fore undoubtedly attract the largest pro-
norton OF tenants seeking flats and apart
ments during the present renting season.
For the sake Of clearness the term apart
ment house will he used only where pas
sen1er elevators are provided; where no
elevator service is furnished the term fat
house will be used.
The subway has added greatly to the
accessibility Of the West Side from Column
bus Circle to Morningside Heights and has
strengthened its position as the city's
principal apartment house centre. The
subway express service gives the West
Side a unique advantage, which has OF
course been translated into higher rents.
The apartment houses there may. be
divided into freproof and non-freproof
constructions. Before the present tene-
ment house law went into effect a great num-
her of seven story non-lireproof apart
meDt houses we're built on the West Side,
"a we'll az elsewhere. Under the present
law non-fire proof constructions may not
exceed six stories in height. However,
six story apartment houses are not a prof
table investment on expensive sites. Hence
few such houses nave been erected in the
last five years. ~
The old nOn-ireprOof apartment houses
on the West Side have therefore no con-
adorable competition e. meet from new
constructions further uptown they have
been renting at from $40 to SIS a room a
month, but re.this fan being raised in price.
Thi, means th&t FOR apartments which have
cost 5000 to $500 a year , Or 10 per cent.
more il now being caarged.r ~, . y.-g .
The case is different with fEepnoof apart.
ment houses. Such houResh have been freely
built Of late on the West Side, and rents
In them consequently show a tendency
TO decline. ApaJ1lnaptaBf thn ctAss hiring
average being perhaps about so. 1he
range OF rents in these houses IA extremely
wide. Ten COMA FllrtIneuts in one just
opened bring 1850 a year.
On the West Side fiat houses are. of course,
found in RreatsIn ny inter. These rent al
They are mostly 81 the now antia1ated
dumbbell modal, and are inferior to those
recently erected uptown. West Side Hat
houaes consequently " to compete WIN
more ~attsActiva- and chaaFer house, alaar.l