New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-03-23
Over S3.800.000 Invested in
FIatbuSh Last Year.
NEW HOUSES PUT UP. 673
Transition of the District from
Farm Lands to High Glass
Home Area Rapid.
nv Patrick !. Carlin. Superintendent OF
buildings Of the Borough OF Brooklyn.

that vast territory east Of Prospect
Park. I'm tho 10Th Ward there we're
erected last wear 613 buildings. and the
work OF putting mp sos moro was gotten
structures being s3.ss4.S55.
: glance at the building tables for last
year will show that tho 2sth Ward was
third highest in the number and cost
of buildings. the Goth Ward being first,
with a total cost Of s4.5Si6S5. and the
18th Ward second, with cost of 81
9eJ.l3l.
We get another angle OF the building
strength as displayed by the 29th Ward
last year by comparing the total eN-
pcnditurc for building in the ward with
the total for the entire borough. The
borough total was Il little more than
sSoccoO0o, and as the 9Th Ward total
was nearly 100000. We sec that the
ward total was considerably over one
tenth Of the entire borough total.
The last years figures for the ward
are much better than for 1911 and are
considerably higher than the figures for
1896.
1t should be borne in mind In judging
the present building achievements OF Fiat
bush that the transition Of Flatbush from
a small residential centre into great
wide-awake. up-to-date home area mas
not occupied a series of long PERIODS, but
has been accomplished within a little over
fifteen years.
About twenty years ago. or. to be more
exact. about 1888. Flatbush was Of course
noted for it's houses occupying big
plots OF ground. which were tho homes
of many well known persons. but 1t was
also noted for it's truck gardens In
those days Flatbush was considered
somewhat remote from the big retail
trade and business areas of BROOKLYN
and q much further Journey To the centre
Of trade and finance of old New York.
II then lacked many municipal improve
ments. II had few miles Of modern
sewers. its streets and public highways
were mostly dirt thoroughfares. The
lighting facilities were not extensive and
the general atmosphere Of the region
was that of a nice suburban place, en-
tirely distinct from the contiguous city
territories
The causes which have brought about
such wonderful. yet not unexpected,
changes in Flatbush are many. Perhaps
the principal ones are the improved tran
st facilities. the invasion of speculative
builders in what are called the old sub
urban areas of Long Island and the Gre
alton of Brooklyn and the other boroughs
into the greater city Of New York.
Flatbush TO-DAY is so close as re-
CARDS time spent in travelling 10 down
town New York and TO the central parts
of Gotham that 1t is really the nearest
great home area. with delightful subur-
ban charms. just cast Of the principal
shopping and trade centres of Manhattan.
N 1t is indeed at the very threshold Of old
n New York Its rapid transit facilities are
such that the district boasts of many
hundred thousand more residents than II
did twenty years ago.
One part of this beautiful home region
Of Brooklyn is served by the Brighton
Beach T. line Of the Brooklyn Rapid
Transit system. and through another part
run trains Of the Culver and Sea Beach
lines. At the present time the extreme
westerly part Of the district is near the
bush and Atlantic avenues When that
subway is extended easterly the very
heart OF the great Flatbush section will
he pierced by an adequate subway route
The dual subway plans provide for such
an extension.
The early settlers Of F1atbush were
proud Of It's rural charms. and there Is
ample evidence that they did nothing TO
impair those rural graces. Later settlers
were as jealous as the pioneers in this re-
spect, and this work of conserving the
country features OF the district has been
well attended to over a long period of
years. And in spite OF the vast upbud-
ings of the district into a greater and
more closely settled home region, it will
be many years before the district puts
off its present delightful rural garb and
assumes one with entire city features.
Flatbush has already passed through
three stages Of development: First, from
a series Of little settlements with farm
lands adjoining into a place dotted with
nicely built frame dwellings surrounded
with truck gardens. and now into high
class suburban area, with farm lands a
thing of the past and with commodious
public schools and other city con-
venences, and with the brick apartment
house adjoining well located sites here
and there.
From now on II Is likely that the apart
mont houses will be built In larger num-
bers each year especially along the lines
OF the main transit arteries of the dis
trict.
The best types OF frame and brick one
and two family dwelling houses have been
built in Flstbush. and ! firmly think that
one may travel over this wide country
and not find place with such a splendid
array Of substantial suburban homes
In recent years the building growth or
Flatbush has not been so rapid as In tho
years just following the opening OF the
subway which was IN 1901. Tho figures
tell this part OF the story very plainly,
but, of course they do not reveal the rea-
son for the slump. The cause was the
financial depression which blackcned the
business horizon In 1907 In 1904 593 houses
were put up in FIatbush at a cost of 81
is5.44l. in 1906 the cost had reached
somewhat over the 350O00O mark. and
tho number Of houses put up was ?01. In
1907 the mark reached was nearly $500
ofo. the total number of buildings being
LIS. and in 1910 which was the banner
fruilding year in the history OF Fiatbush.
the cost was SIZES, s4J. and the number
Of buildings was 1903 In 1911 about 3d.