New-York tribune., 1920-08-27
Add a Story to
Homes Called
Housing Cure
Architect Says Change in
Building Law Would Pro
vide for 10000 Fam
lies in Three Months
Mayor Will Get Plan
Legislature Will Be Asked
TO Remove Restrictions
So That Owners Can Act

provided within three months if the
tenement law building restrictions are
temporarily removed to meet the hous-
ing emergency, in the opinion Of John
P. Leo, chairman of the Board of
Standards and Appeals. Mr.. Leo an
nounced yesterday he would recon-
mend to Mayor Hylan that the Legis-
lature be asked, when it meets Sep
tember 20, TO remove restrictions so
that owners of the 100000 tenement
and apartment houses in New York
may each add a story to their struc-
lures.
"The Mayor has asked me, as an
architect, to consider the feasibility
of the plan," said Mr.. Leo. 81 shall
recommend that it be carried out at
once. To my mind it is the only prac-
tical way of dealing with the critical
housing situation. Every tenement
house owner in the city would jump at
the chance Of obtaining additional
revenue by adding a stor= to his build
ing. and the room thus made available
would. within a few months, put an
end TO the shortage problem.
My recommendations are these:
That the restriction as to the height
of tenement houses be temporarily re-
moved, that the privilege be extended
only 20 owners of buildings already in
existence: that they must take advan-
tage OF the privilege within thirty or
sixty days and that non-essential
building, in the meantime, be stopped
Advantage to Property Owner
"The city has 100000 tenement or
apartment houses. They house 4,000,-
600 persons. An added story would
provide a 20 per cent increase in room.
Supposing that only one-fourth of the
landlords take advantage or the lifted
restrictions. and would nevertheless
gain new homes for 10000 families.
That is only about ono-half the new
homes the city actually needs, but to
reduce the dilemma by halt would be
doing d great deal.
The advantage TO the property
owner would be obvious. In the case
of fireDroof houses | would suggest
that the added story be built O. hollow
tile. For wooden houses the new story
could be built OF wire laths and
cement Thus the new story would be
there is any building not strong enough
to stand another story it ought to be
torn down.
From the standpoint Of building ma
terlals and money ;he scheme is favor
able. 1t would not require as much
material TO add q story as to build d
new structure. The ground is already
provided and the plumbing and heat
ing arrangements could easily be ox-
tended No great demand for mort
gage money would result, because the
property owner could realize about 25
per cent annual profit on the invest
ment and no bank would hesitate to
make loans on that basis
Plan Goes to the Mayor
Mr.. Leo said he was working out his
scheme in detail, with the prospect
that it would be laid before the Mayor
within d few days. He expects it viii
then be sent to Governor Smith with
the suggestion that the Legislature
take it up Immediately upon conven-
ing.
Under the caption "Take Every Empty
House." The Nation, edited by Oswald
Garrison Willard, in its issue which ap-
peared yesterday, recommends that the
city authorities seize all unoccupied
houses or empty buildings and convert
them into dwellings,. The article cites
reports that city marshals in the bor-
oughs OF Queens and Brooklyn are
making from 5000 to $500 a week for
serving disposscss notices.
Building materials and lumber espe-
cially will be greatly increased in price
because of the advanced freight rates
according to A. r. Kriechbaum, East
ern editor OF Lumber, trade paper
published in st. Louis.
"The advances per thousand feet
made necessary by the freight rate in
crease will range from Sl75 to SO ac-
cording to the species and weight OF
the lumber and the territory from
which it comes Mr.. Kriechbaum pre-