The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-05-22
BUILDING REVIVAL
WELL UNDER WAY
Borough superintendent Tell
Legislative Committee Many
Plans Are Filed.
BROOKLYN IN THE LEAD
Accommodations for 2,409
More Families by Oct. I If
Labor Stays on Job.

Testimony by superintendent of build
Ing heard yesterday in the Borough
Presidents Offices of Brooklyn, Queens,
Richmond and Manhattan, by the Lock-
wood Legislative committee to investigate
housing, indicate that building opera
lions. long inactive because of the war,
are picking up. Plans filed in these
boroughs 80 far this year, as we'll as In
The Bronx, as disclosed at Tuesdays
hearing, show a large increase in pro-
posed buildinga All the building super
intendents admitted that while building
Is not normal yet. the prospects are
decidedly encouraging.
In Brooklyn plans were filed in Janu-
airy. February, March and April for
e52 one family dwellings, 412 two family
dwellings to accommodate S24 families
and 50 tenements to accommodate 633
families. For the entire year OF 1918
there were filed plans for $50 one family
dwellings. 444 two family dwellings and
"a tenements.
In Queens plans were filed in 1919,
up to May 20. for 1.547 frame dwellings,
ITO brick dwellings, / frame store and
dwelling, III brick stores and dwellings
and l brick tenement. For 1918 the
figures were az follows: Frame dwell
ings, 75l; brick dwellings, III; frame
stores and dwellings, a. brick stores
and dwellings, 20; brick tenements, 4.
Activity shown in Richmond.
In Richmond plans were filed for
1928 buildings from January to May
20. A total of ss1 were filed in 1918.
There are 800 buildings in the course
OF erection In Richmond. or this num-
hrnt
jority arc one family houses.
In Manhattan plans were filed during
the first three months Of 1919 for 1874
new dwellings and 90 tenements, as
against 4 dwellings and tenements for
the twelve months of 1918.
In The Bronx plans were filed in 1919
to date for 30 dwellings and 20 tene-
ments. In 1918 the plans numbered ~
| dwellings and 20 tenements. "a tene-
ment is any house having three families
or more)
Albert e. Kleinert, superintendent OF
buildings of Brooklyn, said construction
work In his borough IL actually under
way-"more than 100 per cent. more
than prior to the war" Plans filed in
Brooklyn thus far this year call for
buildings estimated to cost 320,l46,7il.
Mr. Kleinert expressed his belief that
most of the dwellings and tenements will
be completed by October / IL there are
no strikes. There are now 1,l49 one
family and two family dwellings and
tenements for three or more families go
ing UP in Brooklyn.
sheriff Proof Landlords.
Mr.. Klenert said there are more than
the fourteen points to the housing ques-
ton these days. The proposition to the
real estate men would be made more invit-
ing. he said. IL he could be relieved OF
tax burdens and general liability"
What do you mean by general liza
bility?" asked Elmer Sammis. counsel To
the committee.
| II mean" was the reply, "a man has
got TO make himself Sheriff proof by
insuring himself against damage suits
or fictitious damages by persons who al.
iege they have received injuries by slip
ping on carpets or going down stairs
and receiving an injury, and the liability
Is something tremendous'
Asked to explain the cause of the rent
strikes and wholesale dispossess proceed.
ings in Brooklyn, Mr.. Kleinert said: at
liz Just that class of people that gamble
In real estate without having a dollar
Interested. They are now selling prop
erty between IL and / o'clock and then
at o'clock they notify their tenants
that the rent will be raised, and Their
Wnen they snow an income gain on pa
per they sell again These are not bona
hde sales. they are on a shoe string
only on paper. Thank God, they are
only a minor percentage"
Mr.. Kleinert put in plea in favor OF
licensing builders, just IS plumbers are
licensed. II builder has the necessary
qualifications for putting up a house
he said. the man who buys the property
win receive the value Of his money.
II have people come to me and give
them an examination as to whether
they know construction" he said. land
they tell me they don't. and they have
beer spectators for fourteen or fifteer
years. So you can imagine how much
interest they have in putting up proper
buildings. They are the most incompe-
teri men I know. They are not build.
ers. They are gamblers in real estate
That is all they are. They are not con
structors. II we had licensed builder,
we could economic in construction"
Hears 81 a Brick Trust.
John w Moore. Superintendent OF
| ,,l1A NF tla 90 Qua