Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-04-15
BUILDING IN RICHMOND
NOW CONFINED TO HOMES
Contemplated Sl1yscrapers Waiting
Dawn OF Pcacc-No More Io-
tells or ThcateI's ut Present.
APARTMENT HOUSES NEEDED
Home builders, Who IIave Been
Waiting for Slump in Building
Material, Will Wait No Longer.
Many Homes To Go Up.


The permits issued for new buildings
in lAa cities Of this country during
January and February, according to
official figures filed with the proper
authorities, amounted to s5,o0O.OOo. a
decrease OF 80 per cent as compared
with the same months of last year.
This represents reduction of spccu-
lativo construction of office buildings.
the municipal kind. Such reduction Of
building in tho large cities. where
close records are kept. became neccs-
sary in order to free labor and mate
rails for the construction OF factories
and warehouses for war preparations
and munition plants and environments
and all other structures for war pur-
poses.
Most OF this war construction is
taking place in small towns or cities.
or in the suburbs of the large cities.
ana. therefore. do not figure in the re-
ports OF building commissioners. in
spcctors. etc. there being no such Of
Ncers to grant building permits and
keep record of the same from which TO
make reports. If these were included
in the reports that come to light, and
from which the statistics are made. 1t
would be seen that the total sum OF
building throughout the country is
greater than ever before. Until the
war is over, however. there Will be
reduction of speculative building in
the metropolitan areas, and also upon
All of the railroads. One OF the pur-
poses Of disseminating tho fast pasSen-
ger trains is to reduce the necessity
OF making replacement OF track equip
mcnt. as fast freight trains can be run
on tracks which would hardly be safe
for eNtra-fast passenger trains.
Richmond. like other cities, is not
doing much building beyond the cree
;ion of residences and homes. No sky
scrapcrs are going up. although tho
plans of the would-be builders OF sew
cral have not been abandoned, but only
postponed until tho demands OF the
on labor and material are
less cXactins. None OF the railroads
is even planning for buildings, and are
doing no work other than on such as
are already under way. The city. of
course, is not now IN the building
humor. and tho Legislature at the last
quietly piscon-holcd the Gov
suggestion that the state buy
certain property and build needed Of
fees thereon. The absence of workers
on buildings and Improvements OF The
kind mentioned make II look rather dull
in the building line in this city.
However considerable home build
ing is going on, and more OF II would
be in progress but for the scarcity OF
labor. The high cost OF material has
held back many home builders who
have the lots upon which to erect
residences, from the small cottage TO
The pretcntious dwelling, but thought
il wise TO postpone the work until
prices fer building material Should
takc slump That slunp has not
come. and there seems to - littit
prospect Of its coming. ard so the
home builders. who have been quite
prosperous in the meantime. have about
concluded that il is not wise 90 wait
any longer. They, or ut least Il largo
number OF them, are planning TO build
his spring and sunUsr. and quite
number of them already have let the
contracts To builders.
The demand for apartment houses
has not yet been satisfied in Richmond.
1t is said that there are no vacant
rooms I'm any OF those now here, and
tho attractions of apartmcnt-housc lite
are making greater and greater I'M
pressions every day upon the people
who are classed rs renters. 70" this
reason several people who had plan
ned 10 erect apartment houses as
speculative proposition and abandoned
the idea temporarily because Of the
scarcity and high cost OF labor and
the high cost o. building material.
have changed their minds. and the IN
dications are that several apartment
houses not yet contracted for will! 20
up In the city and out in the suburbs
this summer.
building operations have not stop
ped altogether in and about Rich:nond,
and rs the spring gets well opea and
The summer begins TO draw nigh tiCrt
will not be heard in these parts any
more Of the talk about a cessation OF
building operations, except as to sky
scrapors. hotels, theatcrs and municipal
buildings.
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