The sun., 1913-11-09

New York city is building more hotels
low than at any one time before in
It's history. At this time there are about
au even dozen such structures either
started They range in size and cost
from the great Bitmorc which the New
York Central railroad is completing as
rart Of the Grand central Terminal
down 80 Buildings covering single lots
nr side streets near the theatrical AND
hotel districts. Something more than
IS oOO oo0 j. being expended on con-
strucuon alone. and when the structures
are completed they will have accom-
modatious of from 1000 rooms down to
about zoe
All Of this construction is the re-
suit Of a growing demand on the part
of residents of New York for greater
comfort and easier living. Practically
all Of the new houses will be operated
as transient hotels, but in every case
their most alluring attractions are for
permanent residents. Even in the big
Biltmore twelve apartments called
homes de luxe have been set aside at
rentals Of from $4,000 to $4,000 "A year
for those who desire comfortable homes
without the troubles and Inconvenience
If housekeeping.
Those who have watched the growth
of New York city during the last
twenty years note with interest the re-
yival in this branch Of upbuilding. for
they will remember that il was not
many years ago that hotel builders.
and especially those who turned to the
apartment hotel type, found that there
was little call for their wares. Many
of the Well known and seemingly pros
porous houses in the central portion Of
the city, II will be recalled, bliEhtcd the
hopes of some OF the prominent builders
of a decade ago and cost them their
fortunes. New York did not seem 10
be ready for such modern dwellings,
then. There were enough transient
hotels to take care of the floating pop
uation, while the home idea was still
50 strong in the city that the apartment
hotel made little competition for the
housekeeping apartment and the pri-
vate dwelling.
But during the last ten years there
has been "a big change in living con-
tIt!ons and the apartment hotel has
been the beneficiary. More people are
finding good reason to-day than ever
tetore for abandoning the old fash
.ored home life. with the result tha'
builders arc pressed to find locations
for new hotels TO satisfy the demand
FOR space. Reasons for this great de-
mand lie chiefly IN the servant problem
and in the high cost of living
Tenantry in the newer hotels is made
up OF two classes. About one-fourth O
,he lessces maintain apartments as con
veniences. Their real homes are in th'
country about New York and they pay
rent in the city merely that they may
ha~" a place to stay when business OF
pleasure Compols them to remain here
for a short period. At such times as
Horse Show week, the busy shopping
time just prior to Christmas and at thu
height Of the spring rush to Europ'
New York is so overrun with visitors
from other cities that rooms are no
io n. had at any Of the high class hotels
It Is at sucn times as these that tn
tenant nf an apartment hotel feels tina
his rent, he it sl.50O or $4,000. is ;
good Investment.
Practically all or the Otner tnTee
fourths of the apartment hotel popula
lion will be found to come from pri
vaie homes or apartments either her
or elsewhere and most of them will de
clare that the servant problem has pu
from their minds the idea of ever agai
Keeping house. Apartment hotel liv
ing is in reality the nearest form I
satisfactory cooperative living that ha
been devised in New York. There ar
a number of buildings known as CO
operative apartments owned by the ten
ants, who share alike all expenses an
where cooperation extends even to tn
preparing Of meals in a common kit
chen, hut what seemed the most likel
If all Of these to .0ccceed failed afte
a few years trial. That was the HON
Club on East FortS, fifth street. CO
operative scheme of very wealthy mer
The apartment hotel has all the al
tractlve features Of the cooperativ
house. while the worry and cares a
go on the shoulders Of the proprietor
There is no doubt too that the re
cent hard times in the business worl
coupled with the increasing cost OF II,
ing has done much to populate III
newer apartment hotels. A less eN
penstve mode Of living has yet to b
devised for those who desire to liv