The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-06-29

we get ninety-four rooms by occupying
43 per cent Of the ground" he con-
tinued.
Some Practical Statistics.
Now, who Is practising economy ? Let
US see how It works out. They are
making n difference OF 80 per cent. ad-
ditional building to get what? Thirty
two rooms. We use 40 per cent Of the
ground and get ninety-four rooms. And
what Is the difference In cost They pay,
according to the latest building figures,
$l.031.25 room for construction Of this
class. We will pay s47S.6s per room.
And here's the biggest point, 81 per cent.
Of our land is left for courts and gardens,
breathing. playing, recreation places.
where the other fellow has but % per
cent. at most for this purpose
"Oh, here's a point 1 overlooked
there are 30 many good points that one
can't tell them all at the time" he inter-
jected.
DO you notice that by putting our
ninety-four rooms into our 43 per cent
OF actual building area we get a little
more than two rooms to l per cent. OF
this building area? The other fellow gets
126 rooms into his IS per cent. building
area; he gets one and two-thirds OF a
Ing.
Now let us see how that works out
In square feet as far as economy Is
concerned. The actual plot Is 5000
square feet in area, 1858 OF which we
occupy with our 43 per cent of build
Ing area; they occupy exactly $1,000
sqn feet with their 75 per cent. of
building. Who is economizing now?
We save on space, land money, con-
struction, material more than half In
some cases than they do. and what do
We give in return. light. air. sunshine.
comfort. gardens. flowers grass plots
greenhouses, a stable heating system
and charge far less in rent. However
for that you will have the City and
Suburban Homes Company, TO thank :;
l merely planned the buildings so that
any one could afford to build them,
charge just rate to the working
man. and make an honest profit upon
the investment"
Model Tenements Built.
This company has heretofore built
model tenemeDts in the East Sixties and
Seventies. The building of them. how
ever. is its first consideration but by
no means the last. according to the
tenants themselves, who testify to the
splendid management and upkeep Of
the buildings. The sanitary officers al
ways have clean report upon them
the records show.
Although the new apartments are
altruistic in motive they are not with
out their business advantages The
return upon the investment is figured
to DO about 8 per cent, and no doubt
II will he realized and more; for it is
believed that this class OF apartment
with the corresponding low rent will
have waiting. list equally as long as
that OF the most exclusive clubs.
This company is only the forerunner
in the field Mr.. Thomas said He be-
lieves that his idea, II not his plans.
Will be copied by other landlords and
builders, who will see the advantage,
not only from an economical viewpoint
but from popular and humanitarian
one as well. Any one Is weleNme TO
the idea, he added. for It has been his
object to bring about Just such hui
msnitarlan treatment OF tenants.
He believes this Is an opportunity OF a
lifetime to relieve the housing situation
In and around New York and at the
same time deal fairly with the occupants.
There's hardly a banker in town now
who lends money upon real estate and
building that hasn't a copy of my plans
In his desk. They are more than willing
TO lend upon such a proposition. and sew
eral have signihed their willingness and
are now negotiating with builders to
finance the building OF a unit for them.
Contractors also are willing to go ahead
practically upon a cost basis just now.
Building will be stimulated all around
and renewed confidence will abide in
this field. so I look for relief of housing
congestion soon and in way most
beneficial to the tenant" he concluded.
Mr. Thomas will be recalled as the
architect the United States Government
requested to abandon his private work
and supervise the expenditure OF some
S70.000.000 to house munitions workers
| and others employed By the Government
| during the war,