Evening journal., 1919-08-28
COUNCIL OPPOSES
TWO-R0OM HOUSES
Mayor Taylor and Others
Voice Their Objection to
Proposed Project
COMMITTEE VOTES
AGAINST SCHEME

Mayor Taylor and members OF
City Council, at the meeting OF tho
committee OF the whole last night,
made 1t plain that they opposed the
erection Of 70 houses on the plan as
presented TO them by Walter S. Brown,
Of Brown and Whiteside, architects,
acting for William Coyne, who is
financing the undertaking. The two
room houses. which II was proposed 10
erect at Thirteenth and Heald streets 10
provide homes for needy residents Of
this city, were opposed on the
grounds that they would be a menace
to the health OF the people occupying
them and conducive TO immortality.
Following the hearing Councils com
mittee refused permission for erection
OF The houses as planned
The plan as outlined by Mr.. Brown
calls for the building OF cement struc-
lures which may be rented for a price
not yet fixed, but probably not exceed
ing $3.50 a week. lie declared that the
proposition was purely a business one,
that Mr.. COyne was willing 90 invest
his money as an experiment, and that
he believed the structures could be
made 10 pay a fair rate OF interest on
the investment, although not as much |
as is usually expected by those build |
ing houses.
While the two-story houses are plan |
ned 10 be i2 by ~. the actual space
VIII be II by II. as the walls will take
up at least a foot In that space there
would be the living room, dining room
and kitchen combined. A toilet and
would have 20 be deducted
from the room on the ground floor,
leaving approximately by fl. for a
family 90 live in. 10 is desired 10 build
them without cellars and wall ex-
lending beyond the roof, although such
ire required by ordinance, and mem
lers Of City Council expressed them
selves against the twO-rOOm houses.
~ certainly do object TO the one bed
'o0m idea" said Mayor Taylor. 81
hink 10 Is a slap against morality"
Kane Joined in the obiec-
ion 10 the one bedroom plan as to the
General scheme OF crowdlng a house
nt0 two miniature rooms.
Mr.. Kane suggested that four-room
ouse would be more practical under :
aking and would not cost much more +
han the houses proposed. Il
Members OF Council assured Mr.. n
Irown that all IN their power will be o
one 10 aid in the proposed method OF :
leviating the housing situation. The II
enera sentiment, however, was !,
ganst the two-room houses. :,
The Building Committee Of City
ouncl held a meeting, following the 3,
egular meeting OF the committee OF 10
he whole. After discussing the pro- Il
osed buildings the committee unani- n
lously voted to instruct Building In .,
1ector Preston not TO grant permission n,
,r the erection Of the buildings ac- -
lrding 10 plans outlined at the meet v
Ig Of the committee OF the whole pi
Irlier in the evening. u,
While Council has no right 10 prevent ~
e erection OF the buildings on the -,
ans proposed. IL was stated. they can -
event thelN erection by Withholding "
nsent 10 their being built without ,t
liars and the extension OF the division ,' ~,
an above the roof, as is now required IA,
law
In taking action the committee, 10 was 90
lted, was not opposed TO the erection sS sS
buildings that might be OF benefit e.
the poorer class OF citizens, but 10,
ought that dwellings in which cement -,
IS used for flooring were not health ~.
|. and that the arrangement OF the ~
use was not in accordance with the ''', u
neral idea Of better sanitation and ~,
Cd morals. r ~,