The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-11-14
Odd Paragraphs From
Worlds Realty News

How many followers of the realty
market know that there was law on
our statute books limiting the height OF
dwelling houses that antedated the
height and coming resolution by more
than thirty years? The law, enacted In
1885. was more drastic in its provisions
than the present one, but the strange
feature of It Is that It affected only
dwellings occupied by more than one
family. Apartments, hotels and business
buildings did not come under the pro-
visions of the act, part of which Is re-
printed below:
Section 1.-The height Of all dwelling
houses and of all houses used or In
tended to be used as dwellings for more
than one family. and hereafter to be
erected in the city of New York. shall
be regulated in proportion to the width
of the streets and avenues upon which
they front.
Section Such height measured
from the sidewalk line and taken In all
cases through the centre Of the facade
of the house to be erected. including
attics, cornices and mansards, shall not
exceed seventy feet upon all streets and
avenues not exceeding sixty feet in
width and eighty feet upon all streets
and avenues exceeding sixty feet In
width. A.. . -
This law was dead letter, partly be-
cause of the want of a penalty and OF
provisions of enforcement, and partly
because Of the injustice OF the regula-
ton II limited the height OF the least
Objectionable type of Improvement and
ignored much more dangerous ones, such
as factories, stables. &c.
Justifyins 800 Il. G. Increases.
Rental increases that range from 200
TO 500 per cent sound outrageously high,
and, 1t would seem. could not be justified
under any circumstances Yet. II has
been shown recently in the old textile
centre In lower Broadway that increases
as high as 900 per cent for loft space
do not bring the rentals In this section
anywhere near the figures obtaiHed for
space In other business districts OF the
city. The great depression that gripped
this district following the exodus or SILK
and cotton merchants decade ago
made II necessary for landlords to offer
all sorts OF concessions in order to OBJ
tain tenants for their buildings. This
condition continued UP to three years
ago. When the upward movement
started rentals were so far below nor
NAL that in some cases, where the
rentals of three years ago and to-day
show increases Of 800 per cent. the pres
ent net return on the amount invested
is lower than In other loft centres where
increases were less startling.
As TO Higher Assessments.
Recent talk OF citywide increase in
assessed valuations leads real estate
authority to ask how the city tax experts
will Justify these increases in cases
where the consideration In existing sales
Is less than one-half the price paid by
the seller several decades ago and where
the assessed valuation Is already high.
He cites as examples four story nat In
the Yorkville section which he purchased
recently for st2,50o. although the prop
erty cost the seller $2s,500 In 1875 also
a s76 foot new law tenement purchased
in 1905 for 5000 and sold @ few weeks
ago for $4,000.
why the Gas F1ickered.
At q certain house In a country town
the gas suddenly began to behave In
very eccentric fashion. When In good
mood II would come through the pipes
and burners In the most exemplary style.
At other times II would sulk and the
men we're called in TO see what was
wrong, but they failed TO improve the
pecullar vacilatons of the gas name.
The owner. who happened to be direc-
tor of the gas company that served the
nelghborhood, ordered the gas main ex-
arnined. and there the cause OF the
trouble was discovered. An umbrella
was found in tho gas main. II appeared
that when the pipes were laid one of the
worirnen placed his umbrella inside one
OF them and forgot TO remove II when
they were linked UP. Tho distended ribs
explained why the gas lost its pressure
beyond a certain point
cS Children In a Knotty Problem.
Twonty-flve children we're concerned
in n complicated rent case in Philadel-
phia recently. Mrs. Patrick Kelly,
mother of thirteen children, was notified
that her rent had been increased 70 sl5
Unable to pay this amount, she decided
70 get possession OF the house she owned
IN which resided a family OF seventeen.
twelve OF them children. She boosted
the rent OF her tenants from $50 TO $50
and the latter finding this rental beyond
their means. bought house of their
own. Mrs. Kelly's tenant ordered the
occupants OF their newly purchased home
10 move but the latter couldn't find new
quarters, and so Philadelphia housing
adjustment commission had 20 offer n
solution OF the problem. They asked
Mrs. Kellys tenant 70 pay rental or
s45, 20 enable the former to meet her
increase. In the meantime tho occu-
pants OF Mrs. Keiiys tenants house is
10 look for quarters and prepare 20 move
January 4, nj which time the owners
Will move into their respective houses.
Low Rent for the Mobility.
The householder Of to-day who has TO
pay an exhorbitant rent for his subur-
ban villa will End little consolation In
the knowledge that many of the lordly
pleasure houses of Londou's nobility are
held at rents that are quite az novel as
they are ridiculously low. According 20
London Ansioers, the Duke Of yelling
ton holds Strathfieldsaye on condition
that he presents n flag annually 20 the
sovereign. while Blenheim Is held by the
dukes Of Marlborough on a similar ten
IRE. A less familiar fact r. that the