The Medina sentinel. [volume] (Medina, Ohio) 1888-1961, 1920-01-16
SMALL HOME needs
ARE CALLING NOW
HERE IN Medina
Big Company Now Organized
Willing to Build so Homes
Here in 1920-2l-Local. Cap
ital Given Investment.
OLD WAY OF "THREES"
AND "SIXES" NOT ENOUGH

The Sentinel has printed two short
articles on the proposition Of more
small homes for worklngmen in Me-
dina; has printed them with a view to
qulckenlng the building of small
homes Tor renters, or Tor buyers who
must purchase on the payment plan.
These articles have been printed with
view to boosting the proposition as
a whole, and the editor has no per-
sonal interest in the matter further
than building up Medina and versl1y-
ing its business interests. The paper
has no particular company that it
wishes to aid, and no particular
friends whom it wishes to boost.
In Cleveland there is Hearth
stone Building & Realty Go. that does
aud builders seeking to get small
home. This is done as a business
proposition and ma business way.
This company has taken enough in
terest in the proposition in Medlna to
look the field over the past week, but
nothing more. Sentinel owners have
not dollar invested in the propo-
sition and their only interest is to
see some good company get busy in
Medina. ~ y.
After the first Sentinel article sew
eral local men, with some money,
made a move calculated to accom-
plish something in Medina. But as
soon as some one else took steps to
do something these projectors be-
come peeved because people outside
the city have mind to do something
here. The local company has done
nothing but take steps to secure
few lots, has tried to keep this Sc
cret, and then makes criticism be-
cause outside people, not knowing of
their secret plans, are willing to do
something in this field.
The Cleveland company has mil
lion capital, pays 20 per cent on
common stock and 7 per cent on pre-
ferred, will build 1876 homes in Cleve-
land in 1870, says it can lay it's plans
and build 30 in Medina in, 1921; per-
haps start them in the fall of 1920.
Building SO homes at one time it can
build from Is to 20 per cent cheaper
than the individual, does build and
install family at an overhead of Is
per cent, and at the same time pays 7
per cent on preferred stock and 20
on common. Houses built in this
way are from 15 to 20 per cent bet
ter than the old contractor way, and
variety in architecture assures one
that his street will make a presenta-
BILE appearance.
There is not room for two or three
building projects in Medina. Ii
there is a local proposition with
means and push to do the work let it
come out into the open and not try
and "hide it's light under bushel."
The men who hire labor here are
greatly handicapped because of a
dearth Of houses Tor homes for their
workmen. Their one wish is that
these houses be built, and built as
soon as possible. They favor local.
concern ii it can be done in that way.
Ii local people are not strong enough
or fear to make the plunge, then they
should keep out OF the way and let
some one build who will build in the
proportion that houses are needed.
Two or three cheap shacks won't fill
the bill; what can local people offer?
This Cleveland corporation will not
only build Medina homes but they
will permit Medina money to par
ticlpate in the work and the profits.
Officers Of the company are willing
to come in here and explain the plans
OF the company, show people the pos
sibilities OF filing the present needs
and the prospects for good, healthy
dividends. Then if Medina people are
interested they will go ahead; it not
they will drop out for more favored
company. ~
The need is for so houses in Me-
dina; building in fifties considera-
bic less cost can be maintained ON the
average. That means that the home
getter will pay less than if petty
work is attempted. This doesn't ar
que against man who wishes to
build or 6 going ahead and doing
so. but it does argue that when he
comes to sell them he must do so in
competition with houses built by the
fifties. While this may pare down
his profits, the saving will all accrue
to. the benefit of the home buyer,
and he's the man to encourage at this
time.
The scheme for Medina business
men and citizens to back is the one
that can do something, will do some
thing, can and will do it on a fair
margin of profit and has the organi-
zation that will give quick action.
More enterprises sare destroyed or
minimized in two or three different
groups trying at one and the same
time to do the same thing than in
any other way. Progress in many
small cities is curtailed or even stop
ped by petty attempts to do big
things than in any other way. The
opportunity seems ripe at this time
for something worth while, and a
pecking around the edges won't solve
the proposition. -4 II
Fact is, the need has been here for
some time, and wise men have seen
it. There is plenty of means in Me-
dina and many men could have