The sun., 1908-01-26
STATEN ISLAND IN 1907
BUILDING WAS UNPRECEDENTED
UP TO THE PANIC.

m spite Of the stasnatIOn During the
Last Quarter OK the Year More small
Private Houses We're Erected Than
Ever BeHOre--B etter Transit Promised.
The continuance OF the boom in acreage
~as the main feature Of the realty market
in the borough OF Richmond in 1907, The
boom in lots, a secondary stage OF specula-
hon in vacant land also reached large pro-
portions last year. but its record was echpsed
hv the dealing in farm land. The opening
Of the municipal ferry in the fall OF 1905 led
70 great activity in buying and selling in all
rarts OF the borough. Truck farms in the
centre Of the island that had been held by
families for generations were bought up by
specuI ators from Manhattan and resOld
over and over again. Prices for acreage
rose with great rapidity and each success
sive buyer turned neat profit.
This dealing in vacant land followed
along three general lines. Some operators
bought purely for speculation. realized a
good profit and sold out immediately
other firms obtained large tracts OF land
for development. They laid out city blocks
cut through streets, laid curbs and side
walks and sold lots on the instalment plan.
The third class included East Side speou-
lators who organized syndicates TO dispose
cf their holdings. Shares in these syndi-
Gates were sOld on the instalment plan for
s. or 81 down and a small amount weekly.
each share representing the buyers equity
IN a lot. The syndicates in turn make
regular monthly payments TO the original
owners.
The boom in acreage increased steadily
IN volume in 1907 until the financial panic in
October. Then il ceased entirely and the
market has been extremely quiet since.
For a time il was feared that a number Of
acreage buyers would be unable TO carry
their holdings, but so far there have not
been many failures, Real estate brokers on
staten Island consider the present outlook
encourag ging and look forward to an early
resumption Of activity.
In addition to the regular ferry service
between the Battery and st. George. the
establishment of which was directly re-
sponsible for the recent boom in realty.
q new line TO StapletOn is soon to be in
operation. This will bring a large area Of
the eastern end of the island in close touch
with Manhattan and will tend to stimulate
activity throughout the entire northern
uart of the borough. The recommendations
nI the RlIllle service NALllInlRHlOu IOf I'LL
proved transit on the trolley lines and steam
roads Of Staten Island are to be carried out
in nearly every respect by the companies
controlling them. These improvements in
chIde the addition of new high speed cars
TO the present trolley service the double
traCkng Of present single track divisions
and AN increase in the number of cars now
in operation. A new trolley line connecting &
Richmond with TOttenville IL soon TO be
opened for traffic.
The building industry in the borough Of
Richmond made a very Creditable showing z
last year. Although the total amount of
money involved in projected buildings fell
nearly 81 10000 short Of the record for 1903
the number of new structures for which
plans were filed was considerably in exec So
Of rhe total for the preceding year. The
apparent slump in the amount of car ital
invested is due to the filing of plans in 1865
for hospital doTmitories costing $500, 900 and
for additions to big industrial works calling
FOR an expenditure of several hundred
thousand dollars more. These sums coun-
terbslanced the rise in other classes of build
ing in 1907.
The real growth Of the island Is reflected
in the increase in residence construction
planned during the year Both in number
and in cost new records were established
for brick and frame dwellings and tene-
Ynents A substantial advance was also
apparent in all other forms of construction
thar reflect growth o. population and in
dustTial develOV meDt.
frame dwellings head the list. both in
number and in the amount Of capital in
volved Plans for $50 houses Of frame
construction We're filed, calling for an
exp endtuTe Of Sl.840,6i1.
These houses are located mainly on the
high ridge at the north end OF the island.
A. Concord, we'll 10 do residence colony
on the hills above Stapleton. building was
especially active. A number of high class
dwellings have been erected there recently
on the slore of the ridge overlooking the
Narrows and the upper and lower bay.
On the heights overlooking st. George
and al West New Brighton. Livingston
PORT Richmond and Nesterleigh many
frame houses and summer cottages were
erected This part of the island is only
half an hours ride from the Battery by
Uav Of the municipal ferry and its popu-
lation is made up largely Of commuters.
At Mariners HarbOr a number Of two
and three familyahouses and a few tene-
ments have been put up. They supply
housing for factory workers employed in
the big PLANTS along the Kill van kull and
Staten Island Sound.
TOttenville, at the southern extremity OF
the island, is the terminus Of the Staten
Island Rapid Transit Railroad, a steam
line which follows the east shore north
ward 10 ~. George and New Brighton.
'rottenville is a town of mixed population
On the southern slope Of a ridge of hills
'UNlOlnK Ine ~tlileileill ~ a NppOuF VI ANNW
York commuters.
Along the waterfront are several big
shipyardS, and across the narrow sound II
Perth Amboy with its important docks and
industries. Factory hands and boat
builders form a large part of the local pOpu-
alton. To accommodate their incre asin9
numbers several blocks of small frame
houses have been erected on the northern
slope Of the ridge near the railroad. A
large proportion Of the new buildings
planned recently are located here.
Tho interior Of the island and its western
shore are given over almost entirely 70
farms and dairies. The region Is difficult
Of access and has therefore been almost
entirely unaffected by the boom in other
narts Of the borough.
The following tables. secured through
rhe courtesy OF the Building Department
show the steady growth Of the borough
during the last three years. The list In
nludes a comparative statement Of the
number and cost of new structures foB
which plans were filed in that period.
NEW BUILDINGS.
CLdsSfcdfOn. Year No. cost
Frame dwellings ........ 1915 81 ssIs g,
1917 $50 1870 81