Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-06-19
LIVING QUARTERS CONDENSE
W, D. Willis Explains Recent Build
ing Operations in Omaha.
HOME OF TRAVELLING MEN
Larger Buildings Are Managed Much
More EcOnOmicaIly-Apar
Equally Attractive - Best
without Elevators.

enjoys corresponding increase in land val
ues. II is found necessary to condense living
quarters. This is accompanied by a grad
ual development. First, the double house,
second. the ST. Louis flat, third the steam
heated apartment fourth. the apartment
hotel.
The average resident Of Omaha is in
clined to call every building providing &C
commodations for more than one family,
a flat. which reminds me of an estimable
lady who owned and resided in a detached
house. The lot adjoining was owned by a
client OF the speaker. who contemplated the
erection ora double house. When the
caVation was started, the lady called on
mo with numerous protests. l assured her
that the building was not flat, but
double or duplex residence; she listened
patiently to my explanation and then in
CURED II flat by any other name would
smell sweet.
While we are inclined to sympathlze with
this indignant property holder yet the fact
remains that the duplex residence is not
flat.
Omaha has been overrun with the
called st. Louis flat In riding through our
streets recently with a gentleman from st.
Louis, l showed him a good example OF
a long life time in st. Louis he had never
encountered any buildings OF this kind and
remarked that it was an excellent thing
that st. Louis had not yet learned of this
designation we would undoubtedly have
numerous suits for Islander to defend.
To me the St. Louis flat is not a good
investment. Every rental proposition should
be weighed by the question, will il be
convenient and acceptable to the class OF
tenants for whom designed and to whom
the landlord caters
The st. Louis flat with one family above
another and separate heating apparatus in
the basement, necessitating the family
above walking down two flights of stairs
= every time the furnace needs attention is
not good. 1t is also difficult to make such
buildings sound proof
Recently in leasing a steam heated apart
ment building of six families noted that
five Of the six tenants were moving from
st. Louis flats. II one would observe the
number Of vacancies in this type of build
ing, | am sure you will agree with me that
Omaha has outgrown the ST. Louis flat
Not only is 1t inconvenient TO the tenant
out In comparison to other types of struc-
lures 1t is not an economic proposition IN
the landlord For instance an apartment
mouse, containing six families, with one
central entrance, approximately eight &c
sen feet is used for this entrance
In St Louis flat of six families eact
entrance should occupy at least five feet
or frontage, making a total of thirty fee
frontage devoted to various entrances
against eight or ten feet in the regulation
apartment house. This also means sis
front doors instead OF one three from
81 ~
and space.
am very we'll acquainted with the arru.
ments used in support of the St. Louis o,
the furnace heated flat Less care ant
worry to the landlord, no expense for JAM
tor service and coal, the elimination of al
expenses except taxes insurance and Re
pairs No one appreciates the advantage
or this class of investment more than tn
speaker; and yet IL heat and janitor serv
ice is demanded by the tenant, is 1t no
better to provide them in one large build
ing, taking advantage OF a greater econom
in construction, rather than to continu
the erection of st. Louis flats that ar
destined to remain vacant the greater Dor
ton of the time.
II has been a matter of considerabl
pSide to me that l have not yet designe
the st. Louis flat.
- - 80 OSoSAuNSiS HcCSSSdTN tndI the eN
penses against the building are limited I
taxes and insurance, | earnestly recon
mend, first, either a detached house, sec
ond, double or duplex house or third. a
English terrace. The last mentioned tyn
Is series Of attached residences unde
one roof each family occupying the entir
space from the cellar to the roof TIL
word terrace comes to us from London. an
brings To ones mind the charming Engl's
group plan, so widely used in the suburb
OF London, the sloplng roof, the lattice
windows, the coy entrance porches M
separate gardens and neat permaner
fences. Each family, with their own e,
trance gate and we'll kept gardens, both
front ana III the rear OF their apartment
The designation terrace, signifying a ro
of the attached residences does not see,
to be in general use in the west, althoug
in eastern cities the name In gener,
use. The advantages OF this class of built
ings are far superior to the St Louis fla
ON the first living rooms and kitche
below is the heating apparatus and laul
dry, above the sleeping room and bath
sloping roof is adopted generous att
space for storage purposes may be DR.
VideG. Masonry walls between houses NAL
them practically sound proof and by Il
gsnious planning these houses can have q
the privacy as to porches, entrances al
yard; can have excellent light and vent
lation and. in fact, practically all OF Il
advantages OF the detached house.
However. from investors and tenant
standpoint. and the tenants standpoi
should always be the investors. the stea
heated apartment is he most adva
tageous.
To the tenant all the petty annoyanc
are eliminated. Compare for instance, Il
man paying $40 a month for a detach
residence or a st. Louis flat; his year
expenses will total something as follows
Rent, At SO......,...................
Nine tons coal at OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES.
water rent at ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.
Care OF lawn in summer and walks in
winter ................h.-s. ...........-...
Gas Tor heating water l.....,........,.,...
4OAai ssssssssssss ~
An apartment with heat and janit
service at $50 per month is cheaper tn
his house or furnace heated flat at 8
ans II nts own time and trouble In carl
for furnace, heating water and paying
some of his small bills is OF any value
4 him he can easily pay so or $50 for