New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-09-07
The Greater City Structures
Excel Similar Buildings Else
where, Says Builder.

Most Of the great apartment house
zones in Manhattan and The Bronx are
being transformed into more attactive
and consequently more valuable building
assets Of the greater city.
The majority of residents OF this city
are so accustomed TO seeing vast build
ing operations of the apartment house
and other classes being carried out that
IL is doubtful If many OF them have had
their attention aroused by the building
activity on the West Side north of 5Sth
street. in the Park avenue district north
of the greater Grand Central Station. or
in the central Park avenue section. north
Of 59th street Perhaps they have noticed
one or two Of the newest structures IN
the central Park avenue section, because
OF their unusually striking lines or
height. One Of the central Park avenue
buildings is the tallest apartment house
structure in the world.
This uninterrupted expansion Of apart
ment house building in the greater city
IN dull or brisk times, Is almost entirely
due TO the increasing popularity OF apart
ment houses. II builders and architects
were not succeeding in adding TO the
comforts TO be found under the roof Of
the modern apartment house, 1t is far
10 presume that the desire TO live IN
apartment houses in Manhattan, The
Bronx or IN Brooklyn would not be
nearly as strong as it is. Nor would
there be numerous projects being shaped
70 add 10 the number Of nigh class apart
rnent houses in Father Knickerbocker's
domains
In speaking about the greatness of the
apartment house districts OF the greater
city we'll known taxpayer said recently
TO a Tribune reporter: The greater part
of my business life has been spent in de-
vising or planning more attractive apart
ment houses for plots on Manhattan ISL
and My efforts in this respect have
caused me to travel many times to the
cities Of the Old World. where l have dill
gently studied what were the best feat
ures of their most highly priced apart
ment houses.
ION those Journeys | have also visited
lscores Of famous castles and estates, in
lorder 10 learn at first hand. the floor ar
rangements of the homes of the owners
Of the property, and also to become more
expert on the planning OF entrances 10
such estate properties. The expenses Oh
my travels have been very large Dut
am positive | have been well repaid ior
my trips Of this kind
Il say without equivocatlon that on
Manhattan Island and in some Oh the
other boroughs of the city nave peeh
erected and are being constructed apart
ment houses which excel IN many ways
the best that Europe has. And when the
rentals Of apartment houses in the greater
city are compared with those abroad inc
building expert is surprised AT the 10"
cost Of apartment house living under the
best conditions in this city.
MANY APARTMENT house suites are 10 De
rented in various parts of the city al from
s2 I'd room a month, where nearly
every desirable convenience can De Cd
tanned Those houses have electric ele-
'ator service night and day, large interior
courts, special laundry space, extra ser
wants rooms and an abundance OF hght
and air Furthermore. the houses are as
near freproof as human agencies can
make them. The houses of this type are
50 numerous that person can i've a'ihoS'
In any choice residential part OF the CITY
and enjoy ali the comforts enumerated
1T would take much space to describe
thoroughly the superiority OF the Ne"
York apartment houses with those abroad
The average West Side house, If located
in some old European city would be
looked upon as a yeritable palace.
For variety OF floor plan the houses IN
the greater city are in class by them
selves. as II were Abroad the apartment
houses do not possess such elasticity OF
hoor arrangement as here.
In New York one does not have 70
travel over a mile before meeting nearly
all the various kinds OF apartment houses
with floors which can be arranged to suit
the prospective tenants.
On the West side and In other ailur-
ing apartment house regions the house
hunter will quickly see houses with suites
Of rooms for non-housekeeping for bache-