New-York tribune., 1911-04-30
HOMES IN THE DYCKMAN
Waiting Lists of Tenants for
Many New Structures.
LESS VACANT PROPERTY
Extensive Industrial Develop
ment Possible and Prac-
ticable Here.
By Charles Griffith Moses.

The upbuildinc and development OF 'he
rreater parts of the outlying districts OF
New York City. the upper West Sioe'
Washington Heights. The Bronx and part
OF Brooklyn have been for the most part
started and fostered by the building loan
onerator and speculative builder before the
actual demand of the householder and smal
etorekeeper was quite apparent
These sections were pretty we'll under
NAV before there were adequate means oi
communication between them and the great
centres OF Manhattan. Many buildings
we're put up (and this is still happening IN
The Bronx and Brooklyn) on the strength
OF prospective subways and the hope OF
better transit facilities i'm the near future'
The growth OF our population is so tremen-
dous and so rapid that the anticipated de-
rrand for homes and business places was
not long in following the supply, and re-
suited in the successful, far-reaching
growth Of the city.
With this satisfactory result under these
conditions. what must he the immediate
situation in the Dyckman section? Here
every house that has been put up IN ire
last wear or two has been tenanted almost
before the workmen were cut Of the build
ing and at rents which in every single case
exceeded the originally planned schedule o.
the builder by from 10 per cent upward.
There must be some good reason for build
ers being able TO start waiting lists for
tenants within four or five weeks of the
issuance OF the certificate of completion by
the Tenement House Department and TINS
in the middle Of the winter. too, and this
reason is not difficult 10 ascertain.
new clean, healthfu section. with COM
ple,ed streets. sewers and sidewalks. with
the subway running through its centre,
with stations at Dyckman, 201th and 2loth
streets. the Broadway and goth street irol-
levs connecting with all surface lines. the
oO1th street bridge as well as knsshrldSe
affordng easy access to The Bronx is the
EXPLANATION. Thus the Dyckman section
has to-day what all new districts hope 10
have in the future.
Now, IL may seem strange that slow de
veopment Is a good thing. but II certainly
has proven a veritable blessing in disguise
10 the Dyckman, for il has prevented over
building, the greatest danger in most new
sections. and has enabled the builder TO
learn ilst what is the right thing to build
The success Of the good character of I'VE
storv walk-up houses built To rent at from
s. to Sc 30 q room, and the moderate priced
six story elevator houses that have been
bu,lf shows conciusively that this is the
right way 10 improve the bulk of the land
in the Dyckmar.
II is very interesting TO note in connec-
ton with the tenantng Of the existing
houses how many families come from The
Bronx and the nearby suburbs. the proper
ton being much larger than any one would
If he
.pvckrlan. especially west Of Tenth avenue.
is bound 10 build M with the kind of
houses now finished or under construction
that is. good FIVE story walk-up and moder-
ate nriced elevator houses-the most Inter
estinc and important function that this
territory has 10 serve is the commercial
development Of it's waterfront.
Here is the only considerable stretch Of
waterfront in private holdings not pro
empted by the railroad or other interests
for their own purposes or the city for
rarks. and here also is the only point on
Manhattan where the subway runs along
practically the inshore edge Of the water
front lands for upward of a mile This
combination of features makes for an ideal
situation for hsh-class factory and ter
ninal improvement. The state Barge Canal
Commission has designated Sherman
Creek as n terminal point for the barge
canal. and this means that a tremendous
amount of freight coming from mp the state
snd the West will be handled at this point
either for distribution or consumption.
At no other point can the manufacturer
desiring 10 locate or remain on Manhattan
Island find sites for his purposes with the
many desirable features that present them
selves here
Everything that is needed 10 establish
first class factory district can bo had here
large plots. fine labor conditions. splendid
shipping and receiving facilities, good light,
low fire insurance. cheap coal delivery eco
nomical construction and moderate priced
land.
With the tremendous industrial growth of
New York City and the difficulty of find
Ing suitable locations for factories and
warehouses, especially those that require
waterfront accommodations, this location
Is not only ideal but is practically the only
place left in the whole Borough OF Man
haitian where such a development is pos
sible or practicable.
The New York Edison Company must
have had something Of this sort in view
when il acquired the block bounded by
Academy street, 2Olst street and the Harlem
River and started TO build what when com
pleted will be the finest and biggest electric
power plant OF its entire system.
The demand for lots in this section is not
very strong, but this Is due probably TO the
fact that there are very few bargains Of
fered, as most owners hold firmly for fair
prices. There are several good building
operations under way. and the builders of
all the completed houses have had no diff
Guilty in placing their permanent mortgages,
and. what is far more important. have been
unusually successful in renting their apart
ments
With this state Of facts the prospect Of
an active spring and summer in the Dyck-
man seems very bright indeed.