The sun., 1919-08-31
HERE'S ONE WAY TO
REBUILD OLD HOUSE
Architect VIII Divide Resi-.
dence Into 2 Duplex Flats
and One Studio Suite.

When. in the hope that it would do
much to solve the housing problem. the
Legislature permitted the conversion OF
old four story dwellings into apartment
houses for four families each, many
realty experts predicted that the cost of
alteration would boost the rents SO as
TO make them prohibitive. At any rate
results so sIr have shown that owners
and builders are not climbing over each
others shoulders to take advantage of
the new law. ri
In spite of the discouraging features
OF the proposition comes a young archi.
tect, Bradley Delehanty of 2 West Forty
hfth street, who has had the courage to
tackle the problem from a slightly diff
ferent angle. and he Is positive that his
scheme is financially sound. This is
his solution OF the problem:
He is taking a four story and base
ment houses on the east side of Lexing-
ton avenue between Seventietb and
Seventy-first streets, formerly occupied
by one family of five or six persons, and
out OF it he is planning to make two
duplex apartments and studio apart
ment "sandwiched' in between the two
duplex flats And. incidentally, the
lower duplex will have a formal garden
IN the rear yard and the top duplex vii,
boast of a genuine roof garden!
ing problem, Mr.. Delehanty's plans will
accommodate at least fifteen persons. o.
more than double the number in the
average family. All this he proposes ~
do for $4,000, which includes $4,000
for the house and land and $4,000 for
alterations. Mr.. Delehanty confidently
figures on getting $4,000 rent for the
lower duplex apartment, at least $500
a year for the studio apartment and
Cor
income on n $4,000 investment.
Theoretically. the architect is follow
ing the requirements of the new law, but
in effect he Is producing a three family
house. or a tenement. That is why he
is able to get around the difficulties
which confront the builder engaged in
trying to put one apartment on each
foor Of a four story and basement house
Here are some of the broad details OF
his idea:
Plan of Apartments.
The lower duplex will consist of sever
rooms and two Baths. On the left OF
the new entrance hall and public stair
case in the basement will be the kitchen
where was formerly the old basement
dining room. 1t will be connected witt
the new dining room in the rear by q
good sized serving pantry. The dining
room will have windows cut TO the floor
with easements opening out into a for
mai garden in the rear yard. In add
ton Mr.. Delehanty will place a maid;
room and maids bathroom on the hrs
floor.
From the dining room a private stair
case will lead to the living quarters or
the floor above, which was the first hool
of the old house. This floor will bt
given over to the living room. three bed
rooms and a bath.
Now for the studio apartment! Thii
will be on what was the old second foor
but which now becomes the third. Il
will consist Of living and dining room
the former II by 20 feet, with three full
width windows facing the avenue anc
having a large fire place. The finish
will be old English and the kitchenett'
will be tiled and SO arranged on th'
efficiency basis as to resemble thu
kitchen on a dining car. The apartment
will contain a bathroom, good sizeC
bedroom with two windows facing thu
rear and a maids room and bath be
sides.
This may sound a bit boastful, bu
Mr.. Delehanty has worked out a rathel
unique space saving scheme In the maid,
room whereby her cot bed let's down a
night over a built in bathtub. Their,
will be separate room for the lavatory
The studio, moreover, will have n pri
vate hall connecting all its rooms
The second duplex will take up Tho
last two upper floors. AS the public hal
ends with the studio apartment on the
floor below. the upper duplex will have
that space added to its dimensions, anC
will therefore be considerably larger
than the lower duplex. 1t will include 0
living and dining room, with an outside
Kitchen. maids room and maids bath
together with ample closets and storage
tooms.
space saving scheme.
Another novel saving wrinkle for the
nuplex apartments 10 the conversion OF