Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-11-25
RUSSELL SAGE FOUNDATION
OPENS SUBURB SIMILAR TO
ENGLISH TYPE.
PRETTY HOMES FOR PEOPLE
OF MODERATE MEANS
Plan is Not Charity But Business
Proposition With Humanitarian OBJ
jeets Combined-Heathfui and At
trsetivs Homes For Many People at
Moderate Cost.


Sage Foundation announced today the
early opening of garden city, similar
in design to the English types which
are being copied all over Europe. 1t
will be called Forest Hills Gardens, at
Forest Hills station, near Jamaica, and
will be nine miles in distance and thir-
teen minutes in time from the Penn
sylvania terminal at Seventh avenue
and Thirty fourth street, New York. by
new line Of the Long Island Railroad
thru the East River tunnels. 1t will
combine one and two-story houses in
blocks with detached houses, most at
tractively laid out with parking and
trees. designed to meet the needs of
,, families on moderate salaries whose
homes in New York are pretty gener-
ally restricted to the dreary discomfort
and homeliness of the typical flat"
midway between the tenement and the
higher priced apartment.
Outline Of Plans.
The following outline Of the founda-
tion's plans is taken from a statement
issued by Robert w. DeF'orest. the
vice chairman:
Forest Hills Garden is a business in
vestment Of the Russell Sage Founda-
ton. 1t will be conducted on strictly
business principles, for fair profit.
Houses will be built, sold and rented.
Lots will be sold under protective re-
strictions intended to insure to their
owners and to adjacent owners the
residential advantages Of the neighbor-
hood. In it's business purposes Forest
Hills Gardens does not diner mater
tally from other Long Island real estate
enterprises. It is not charity. 1t will
not be managed as a charity. Whoever
deals with 1t, whether as tenant or pur-
chaser, will be expected to pay fair
value for everything received.
Notwithstanding this emphasis on
the business side of the enterprise. a
distinct educational purpose exists. Not
but that the Russell Sage Foundation
might wisely and properly make pure
business investment OF this character,
but that business investment with an
educational purpose IS more appro-
pirate.
Like English Garden Cities.
"Mrs. Russell Sage, and those whom
she has associated with her in the
foundation, have been profoundly i'm
pressed with the need Of better and
more attractive facilities in the suburbs
for persons Of modest means. who
could put from $25 a month upward in
the purchase Of a home. They have
thought that homes could be supplied
like those in the garden cities OF Eng
land. with some greenery and flowers
around them. with accessible play
grounds and recreation facilities. and at
no appreciably greater cost than is now
paid for the same roof home in bare
city streets. They have abhorred the
constant repetition of the rectangular
block in suburban localities where land
contours invite other street lines. They
have thought. too, that buildings or
tasteful design. constructed OF brick,
cement or other permanent material,
even tho Of somewhat greater initial
cost. were really more economical IN
their durability and lesser repair bills
than the repulsive, cheaply built struc-
lures which are too often the type OF
New York's outlying districts. They
have hoped that people OF moderate in
come and good taste. who appreciate
sympathetic surroundings but are tied
close to the city by the nature Of their
occupation, might find some country
air and country life within striking dis
tance OF the active cente.s Of New
York.
''If these expectations can be realized
at Forest Hills Gardens the Sage Foun-
dation will accomplish several objects.
It will provide more healthful and more
attractive homes to many people. II
Will demonstrate that moro tasteful
surroundings and open spaces pay In
suburban development. and thereby en-
courage Initiation. II will encourage
moro economical methods Of marketing
land. Il will sscurs an attractive In.
como Tor tho lounda&l0n."