The sun., 1919-06-15
NEW TYPE FLAT Is
GOOD INVESTMENT
State Housing Experts Say
That More Air Space Increases
e. Profit for Owner.

4ho uhNioOl9 hOu5hhB COulIiilttce OF Ino
state Reconstruction Commission has
satisned itself that II doesn't pay to
crowd all the apartments you can on a
piece of land. This conclusion has been
reached as the result of a comparative
study Of tho development Of square
Block. a block that really exists The
commissions experts are agreed that a
now type of q four or fve story apart
ment house. covering only sTh per cant.
OF q plot. with the remaining e2h per
cant left for air. ventilation and recrea-
ton, win produce a greater return for
the money invested than the present So
called new law tenement OF the same
height now occupying 10 per cent. OF
for open courts
The Housing Corporation Of the re-
construction Commission IL soliciting
funds to be used for the immediate build
ing Of apartment houses In order that
a start may be made In reducing the
shortage OF homes at least by early win
ter, when the situation will be most
acute unless something is done without
loss Of time.
All developments under the proposed
building plan are to Be on large scale;
that is, in block square units. Houses
for one or two families are not contem-
plated In the scheme.
The advisory housing committee Of the
Reconstruction Commission has not
chosen its new type Of apartment house
~ the best arrangement for apartments
for block development. but II 10 no secret
that it's experts are confident that the
proposed new type Ia the best that has
been evolved so far. So II wouldn't sur
prise any one, when the Housing Corpo-
ration gets down to actual business, II
its first development embraced these new
type buildings.
Cheap Land Must Re Used.
The study which has been made was
TO find out exactly to what extent the
space reserved for air. light and recrea-
tion could be increased without diminish
ing the return on the investment. The
success of the development, the experts
having the matter in hand say, depends
on all the following factors:
I. Use of cheap land.
e ,. Large scale operation.
3. Careful planning to eliminate all
waste.
The experts took as their basis of the
study OF the new tenements a block
which was included in the thirty four
block surveys made under the direction
Of the housing committee In the Recon-
struction Commissions quest for infor-
nation as TO living conditions. santa
ton. air space, rents, &C The law re-
quireS that except for the corner build
fngs. which cover a greater part of the
ground area, the courts. or open inside
spaces. shall have a minimum width OF
six feet from the party line wherever
the courts of two adjoining buildings are
side by side. As a general rule this
minimum becomes the maximum In
most tenement structures and the court
therefore is apt to be twelve feet wide.
BY placing the new type OF building
on the same plot the Reconstruction
Commission finds that though the result
will be fewer OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES and
four rooms constitute an apartment
enough money will be saved in the cost
OF construction and such economies can
be effected in maintenance and opera
ton that a return OF per cent will be
secured on the investment The results
II is declared, will be obtained from rem
tails ranging from So to 80 per room per
month.
Not only will a builder be better OF
than IL he tried to make every possible
square foot the law allows count as
renting quarters. but the tenants would
get what all good housing advocates
are urging these daylight and well
ventilated rooms. Further than that.
the 62h per cent OF the land which
goes into courts means in reality open
spaces for trees. flower gardens. play
grounds, SC, for the enjoyment OF the
grownups and babies. The block plan
for the new type apartment, which the
Recreation Commission ia advocating.
carries with it an out Of doors space
large enough for four tennis courts. No
rules have been worked out, however,
for the use of these tennis courts by the
neighbors on the block. Perhaps block
tenement tennis tournaments In the days
20 come may get recognition In the
sporting columns. This 10 the way. the
recreation commission sums UP its sur
vey:
j.. "A careful study. based on present
costs of reconstruction. has shown that on
low cost land with the same cost q room
TO the tenant the present type OF con-
struction will give smaller return to the
owner, cost him more to operate and
give the tenant less air, less light and
no play space but the street for the chill
dren. The new development would not
only give greatly increased light and air
20 every room but would also give SUM-
cient and safe outdoor play space for
the children. All of this. at the same
cost to the tenant, would give the owner
with less of his land occupied, a better
return on his money"