Evening star., 1915-11-20

A plan for financing the erection OF a
building for the Home Club. composed
Of employees of the Department OF the
Interior, Is outlined by Lewis L. Young
in the November issue of the Home
Club Bulletin Mr. Young suggests
that the proposed clubhouse be made
an income-producing property by the
addition of living accommodations Tor
members. His plan calls for several
floors devoted to bachelor" apartments
for men and women.
Mr. Young, who has studied apart
ment house problems in this and other
cities ard has written extensively on
the subject, outlines what he believes
would be the kind of building best
suited for the Home Club. He sug-
gests that the proposed clubhouse con-
tain suites of rooms of the type found
in a Brooklyn, N. Y. apartment which
he describes. Mr.. Young's article fol-
lows:
1.-THE May Bulletin suggested the
well appointed clubhouse that would
be an attraction to present members
and an inducement to other interior
employees to join. The present quar-
TO the needs of the Home Club with its
large membership and many and varied
activities As spacious structure,
having a frontage possibly on TWO or
three streets, in a convenient location
would be required, its realization pre-
sents a problem of some magnitude.
Features Of Clubhouse.
"a gymnasium, swimming pool and
bowling alleys. an auditorium for iec7
lures and concerts, ballroom Tor
dances and other entertainments. rooms
for educational classes. reading, caro-
playing, billiards, smoking, loungins'
receptions and teas. restaurant and
q soiarium, are features OF the pro-
posed clubhouse.
How to finance such an Improvement
without levying dues equal tS those
charged by wealthy. we'll housed CLUBS,
might be considered out OF the question
were 1t not that the possibility OF
making an income-paying property OF
the building by adding floors for living
accommodations for members sus-
xests a solution Of the problem.
The Y. N. c. A in washington ana
other cities derives a considerable in
come by supplying rooms for its mem
bers several of the upper floors OF the
club building being used for living pur-
poses The furnished room, however, Is
not as attractive and homelike as the
small apartment. The writer believes
that moderately priced small su tes,
situated in a clubhouse affording con-
GENIAL companionship, would prove a
popular renting inducement to single
members Of the Home Club.
Suggests InstaIlment Plan.
THE instaIlment plan by which many
government clerks have purchased
comfortable homes suggests means
by which the Home Club could proper
ly house itself. BY offering interest
paying stock or second mortgage notes
,t.1v Il
friends, an initial payment represent.
ing about 10 per cent of the cost Of
the proposed building could probably
be raised by the club. Were the upper
floors planned to contain small apart
ments they would not only fill long
felt need of members who find the
boarding or rooming house unattrac-
tive or the rental of suitable small
suite prohibitive. but the income from
rentals could be applied toward pay
ing on the loan required to finance the
construction. Thus the prospects of OBJ
tanning a building loan would be con-
siderably bettered and possession OF
adequate quarters made possible sooner
than IL the building were to contain
club quarters only.
The rooming problem that confronts
the moderate salaried government clerk
without family Affiliations is serious
one because of the dearth of moderate
priced small apartments. Bachelor
apartments at the club for single men.
as well as suites for women who desire
facilities for light housekeeping, would
undoubtedly rent readily to members
More than half the clerks in Washing
ton. according to statistics. are receiv-
ing salaries of less than $1,000 a year
and approximately half of them are
unmarried. As no more than one
quarter OF the small salary can be
spared for rent. the maximum price
that can be SO expended is the rental
of a furnished room.
Brooklyn Apartment Described.
"A unique type of apartment house,
designed to fill the need of teachers
and unmarried office workers, is one
In Brooklyn. n. Y. Were the Home
Club to provide similar accommoda-
tions and let them at the rates charged
for the Brooklyn suites, members could
obtain apartments, each having a
medium sized living room. one or two
hail-size bedrooms and bath. at no
greater cost than that of furnished
room In the living room breakfas,
might be served. callers received, and
an occasional guest entertained over
night.
Some of the occupants of the Brook
lyn building prepare breakfast and
care for their own rooms: others take
all their meals in the central dining
room, and by engaging cleaner. dis.
pense with housework altogether. In
our Home Club with these features
members renting suites could live as In
a housekeeping apartment or as in ar
apartment hotel A central dining hall
where meals could be obtained at mod
crate rates. as in the Brooklyn build
eRer members apartment-hotel cuisine