New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-01-02

exceeded by sS.:2l.ss7 the record made in
1905. I'm which year moro money was IN
vested in new buildings than I'm any other
year in the history Of the city
The figures for tho construction work
planned last year for Manhattan and The
Bronx are slss.7S3.S72 for $3.50 buildings
In 1905 the estirlla ted cos, for buildings in
Manhattan ami The Bronx Was slei. 562-
0e5, and the number OF buildings planned
was $40 Moreover. in 1898 nearly all the
best previous building records were eclipsed
The total Increase in the cost of Manhattan
construction work last year over the pre-
Nious year is u little more than s42 GEO 900.
and. regards The Bronx. the increase is
about sI7 600 ooe
The building activity last year was pri-
nsrily due TO the return OF business pros
perity. Another hig factor was the rapid
development OF The northerly and easterlv
districts of the greater city into high class
residential areas. in the northeriy districts
apartment house construction being the
dominant feature. and in the easterly zones
frame and brick dwelling houses being the
principal buildings put I'D.
In the latter part of 1907 realty progress
received setback owing to the financial
disturbance the following year being es-
pecially noted for the steps taken by big
property owners TO readjust their affairs in
order 10 strengthen the foundations on
which rested realty stability About the
fail season OF 1908 conditions affecting the
great real estate mart of the city became
almost normal, and since that time hun
dreos OF well known realty traders have
helped 10 perfect many plans for the chang
Ing Of the skyline Of many districts
BRILLIANT REALTY WORK
IN the paniczy days of 1907 the market
was put 10 the severest test IL probably ever
experienced in the history of realty trading
on Manhattan Island. How il withstood
that test and how II emerged from il more
attractive than ever in the eyes Of the in
vesting public are told plainly and force
fully In the great construction and purchas-
ing operations perfected in the year just
ended
1t is not possible in a brief resume re-
sarding the purchasing and building I'M
dertakings Of the year Just ended to emu
rnerate all the salient causes which re-
suited in the brilliant record made IN 1909.
II is impossible TO do so. because the ma
jority OF realty operations not planned
In day, and often the factors respon-
sfbie for a sudden reawakening of activity
In a section long sluggish are traceable to
some demand which became evident many
years before st was needed by the big
real estate leaders. Such things as SUBJ
ways, bridges, new pier facilities new big
public parks and new street systems sud-
denly lead well known traders from their
usual haunts TO districts in which they
never expected 70 become numbered among
the pioneer builders Then there are the
demands of the ever increasing population
Of the greater city, which may be divided
into many kinds. but which are usually
grouped under four headings. as follows:
Residential. educational and business pur-
POSES and for the furtherance of the OPP
I'ortunities for wholesome amusement
In the last ten years improved transit
facilities have largely brought about big
changes in the architectural Characters
ties of many districts, and naturally
values in that time in many districts have
reacped new record heights.
WHEN FIFTH AVENUE PLANS WERE
LAUNCHED.
The years 1902 and 1908 were chiefly
notable for the launching of speculative
and investment operations in the central
Fifth avenue district Since then the CEN
tral Fifth avenue zone has become one of
the greatest retail shopping centres i'm the
world. Then followed the drift of realty
traders 10 the northerly sections owing
20 the opening of the subway in 1904
That invasion transformed great areas of
vacant land on Washington Heights and
in the Dyckman districts of Manhattan
and in the Hunts Point region and many
other sections Of The Bronx into busy res
ideDtial zones. About the time of this in
Naslon the work of charging the princi-
pal theatre centre Of The greater city.
-zrfas Oh 1,... So
and Broadway. was virtually begun. and
the district has been continually spreading
ever since The year 905 was also noted
for the vast building undertakings in tho
upper districts of the city and i'm the draw
ing OF plans for the enlargement of the
downtown business areas
In 1906 construction work in thu. north
erly districts was overshadowed by the
erection of skYscrapers of record height
and size in the great office building district
Of old New York II the wear when
the new Singer Building was planned ami
the City Investing Building. al Broadway
and Cortland street which al regards floor
area is the biggest structure of its kind
IN the world. was built. II was also the
near in which the big Brunswick Building
and many similar structures of equal size
and height were put up.
Since the financial disturbances of 1907
three Of the principal structures which
have been erected the Metropolitan
Life Building and the Apthorpe and the
Belnord apartment houses. The Metro
politan Life Building Is tho taIlest office
structure in the world. and the Apthorpe
and the Belnord, which occupy large plots
tie West Side are two OF the biggest
apartment houses ever built.
BUILDING OPERATIONS LAST YEAR
II was not the big skyscraper district
south OF Chambers street in which build
ers were most active last year. 1t was in
the central Fourth avenue district, the
central midtown loft zone west of Fifth
avenue, the northerly apartment house
sections and in the newer residential areas
Of The Bronx where the greatest amount
Of construction work was done
II Z pessimist needed positive sign of
The return Of prosperity, that sign was 10
be- found throughout the entire year in the
business region north OF l4th street and
south OF z2d street. The activity there was
almost entirely caused by the demands of
business houses looking for larger quar-
tiers and the aim of many speculative
traders TO be able 20 offer new and COM
modicns structures TO prospective lessees
looking for such buildings early next
spring This district together with the
IL