New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-05-15
POPULARITY OF COOPERATIVE HOUSES
Demand Clearly Reflected by Projects Recently Perfected for
Increasing Number of These Structures.
COST OF SUITES RANGES FROM $4,000 TO $4,000
BY JOHN L. PARISH.

Co-operation In the production and own
ership of high grade multiple housings IN
New York is not the novelty many people
seem 70 think It is Nearly twenty-five
wears $50 the Navarro houses in 5sth ana
18th streets, at Seventh avenue. were De-
gun as cooperative propositions, out the
co-operative feature OF ownership was not
carried out Faulty calculations or the
probable cost led TO financial disaster, ana
the properties. still among the finest apart
rnent housings In the city, passed TO the
MORTGAGE. by whom they were completed
and have ever since been owned
In subsequent years several other large
cr,erations were successfully carried out,
notably the Gramercy, on the park Of that
name: the Knickerbocker, on Fifth avenue,
and the Chelsea in West sd street. But
there was long interval between these
and the later and taller structures that
have come into existence during the last
five years Now Lexington and Park ave-
nues on the East Side, and Seventh avenue
9th street and 67th street and other local.
ties on the West Side contain many mod
EN- examples of this class of buildings
And more are being planned and nego-
tss-ed for Fifth avenue is about to be
seized upon. and Central Park West also.
taken the pains 10 inquire into the scheme,
and who has inspected the finished product
will not find it difficult 10 account for the
r,opularity the cooperative apartment
house has achieved among the people of
New York. Among many attractive feat
1rres q few OF the more apparent have to
do with the location, the style Of the house,
its security. its plan and equipment its
cost and the possible return on the cost
Building Requirements.
tt will be noted that the great majority
Of these houses have been built upon the
broad avenues and streets-those of 100
or more feet in width Until four or five
wears ago Il was possible to build twelve
story building. or one I50 feet in height
on, any street Of the city that might
he wanted as q location. But under the
present law a building with housekeeping
equipment intended for occupancy by three
or more families is limited in height to
onA and half the width Of the street on
which ii faces. Advantage as well as law
advantage IN light and ventilation-pre-
scribes location on broad thoroughfare.
A pleasing result of the operation of these
forces IS that all the cooperative houses
of recent construction stand in choice loca-
lions and have what every architect Graves
for. an attractive elevation, a good per-
speotive. ALMOST invariably the erection Of
one Of these houses has raised the charac-
ter of the immediate neighborhood and
given il 3 distinction IT did not before
enjoy
There are two types of these houses, but
one has completely outstripped the other in
general favor. One is the hotel type, with
out individual kitchens. and with kitchen
and restaurant of the hotel order in the
basement for general service, but usually
conducted by lessee or contractor for the
privilege The other is the family type.