The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-10-06
IOLD DWELLINGS ADD
! TO THE HOME SUPPLY,
Making of Houses Into Many Small
i'H, Flats fastened by Scarcity
of Living Space ;

Conservation Is growing steadily upon
the population of New York city. partly
as the result of the continual admoni-
tons Of the Federal Government and
partly OF necessity. The higher cost of
living. including advancing rentals has
forced many families to review their
financial status and do with only such
Accommodations as they really need. The
war is the principal cause of the changed
conditions. Many families have been
-broken UP by the call to service OF the
masculine members OF their households.
the. volunteer services Of many Of the
female members and the difficulty OF
securing domestic help. The result Of
these influences has been an unprece-
de1ited demand for small apartments,
apartments of two and three rooms.
with and without kitchenette.
- Aside from the practice OF conserva-
ton there has been a steadily growing
tendency among bachelor men and wom-
I; en- or men and women without rela-
lives to make as much Of home of
their abode as is possible. Accordingly
these have added their demand for
small apartments and the consequence
~" that to-day there Is not sufficient
( accommodation fop all.
The hotels and hotel apartment houses,
ffh which many of these people have
, lived, and the boarding houses have lost
- much OF the attractiveness which at
first allured them, The true Ameri-
can longing to possess a home. even
though It be ever so small-a room or
two and bath-where the individuality
of the occupant might be indicated by
the furnishings has also Influenced the
Unusual demand for small apartmente
hiat M 80
commodations available. while houses
formerly occupied by one family and
which have been vacated because Of
, the perplexing servant question stand
: idle. 1t Is but natural for the real estate
man to turn his thoughts toward the
: alteration Of these houses into small
apartWents It is logical that they
should argue that these idle houses,
which have become a drug on the mar
ket because there Is so little demand
for them. should be made to serve, espe>
+, ,cialiy since new building operations have
been restricted to only such as are es-
&sential
- Another angle which appealed to the
real estate man was the Investment
side. NJ. H Tropauer Of 200 West Sew
% eHty-second street, who has made a spe-
r cial study Of the problem and worked
Il out through actually reconstructine
two dwellings, says that there Is no
better investment to-day. He Is SO con-
dident of the outcome that he Is work.
ing with a number OF business men to
organize a corporation for the especial
purpose Of buying dwellings suitable for
j such alterations. Mr.. Tropauer said
fshat many house owners Rave taken
apartments to solve the servant ques-
ton, and finding It difficult to rent the
houses they have vacated have placed
them on the market for rent. and after
many Encouragement for sale at a
sacrifice Under such circumstances
houses valued at $4,000 have been sold
for $4,000.
eff a house of this kind was pur-
chased" Mr.. Tropauer said. land $780,
900 to $4,000 spent for alterations into
small apartments the owner would get
back the cost In five to six years. The
one family house, which could not be
rented for more than $4,000 to-day. and
then probably only for boarding house
use. by the alterations could be made
TO return $4,000. Here is a clear gain
OF $4,000 and splendid investment
These possibilities do not apply to
every small dwelling. but only to about
60 per cent The location has much To
10 with the possibilities, and transit Is
great influence. There are many
houses suitable for such conversion on
the West Side from Sixty-eighth street
to 105th street. from the Park to River
side Drive. and on the East Side from
Forty-second ITO Ninety-flfth street be-
9 tween Fifth and Third avenues"
The houses. as altered. are let unfur.
Xished. which gives the tenant the op.
portunity Of arranging his or her home
in the fashion most desired. Arrange
uent Is usually made for housekeeper
L., sx,ttl ot
breakfast to the occupants Of the house