South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-01-14
PLAN To AVERT
HOUSE SHORTAGE
Large Influx of Population
Will Tax Home PrOviS-
ion, is Opinion.

Although few deals OF great con-
sequence were reported during the
last week. the week was one OF in
teresting developments in a real es-
tate way. The three outstanding fea-
lures of the weeks real estate news,
is the action taken by the South
Bend real estate board looking to-
ward the prevention of a threaten
ing house shortage here this sum-
mer; the opening of the city plan
ming exhibit: and the campaign OF
the local realty board to increase its
mem bership.
the city planning exhibit is pro-
nOunced by those who have seen IL
to be all that it was promised TO be.
1t should be of great benefit to the
city in educating local people TO the
Importance OF correct city planning
and in creating a sentiment here
which will make the work Of the
city planning commission, expected
to be shortly created by law. effect
i've FOR much good.
The campaign Of the realty board,
which will close with a dinner Tues
day night at the Y NJ. c. A. at which
Scott l.. Brewer, secretary of the
state real estate mems association,
will be the principal speaker, will,
il is believed, double the size of the
local realty board. The board should
be materially benefited by the in
creased membership and its activi-
ties and influence should be per-
Ceptibly brOadened. Besides the
regular members, real estate men.
all others who have some interest in
the business. such as building COM
panies, bankers. investors. etc. are
to be given an opportunity to be-
come members of the board under
certain restrictions.
" it'll the house shortage threaten
ing TO become serious in the next
few months. the real estate board
has taken che matter in hand and
Will make an effort 10 relieve the
threatening situation.
During the last week letters have
been addressed to local bankers,
real estate owners and promoters.
and manufacturers. asking them TO
cooperate i'm the matter and supply
ther action i'm the matter.
With the big addition to the stu
debaker plant, which will bring at
least a thousand more men to the
city, and the city's natural growth
which promises TO be the most rapid
of any year in its history, it is eX-
pected that between 500 and 1000
families will be added TO the city's
population during the year. At
present there are practically no
vacant houses in the city and at the
normal rate of building only about
400 homes would be added during
the year. 1t is 10 prevent this
threatening situation that the real
estate men will act.
The questions addressed to the
manufacturers of the city will ask
among other things how many extra
men they expect TO employ this year.
The bankers will be asked how
mucn money they will be able 10
loan for building purposes, and at
what rates. The building companies
and real estate men will be asked
just what they expect TO do in the
way of building. In this way accu-
rate information can be gathered
and a basis for action presented.
Last year about 400 new homes
were erected in the city. Present
indications are that about double
that number will be needed this
year if the city's growth is TO be pro-
vided for. In all probability there
will be at least a hundred more
houses erected this year than last,
but some active agitation will prob
ably be necessary IL the number is
large enough TO provide for the
city's needs.
The only sale of Importance an
noLnced during the past week. that
Of a store building at 224-26 st.
Joseph St. occupied by the South
Bend Supply Co, which was sold TO
the American Trust Co. William
+. Whiteman was the owner of the
building. which was formerly occu-
pied by the Whiteman Wholesale
Grocery Co. The purchase price
was $4,000.
The recording Of the sale of the
COquillard property across from the
court house on s. Main St, which
was made several days ago 10 the
NaSsar Realty Co. brings 10 light
the value of this piece of business
property. The property, which is
improved only with a cheap one
story building. brought $4,000.
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