The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1920-06-25
HOUSE BUILDING PLAN

There is in Jacksonville, as is gen
5 orally known, a very considerable
) shortage of houses. Ever so man,
I families are anxious to own thei,
, homes, instead of being compelled tc
r live in cramped quarters, at high rem
| tails, but lack the necessary funds to
| purchase a reasonably-sized house
and lot that will meet their needs and
desires. Many young couples, just
starting the home building, would
much prefer to make their residence
in an an individual house rather than
an apartment. With comparatively
little help from outside sources they
would be enabled to do this. True.
there is some small degree, or amount
Of help available but it is entirely in
adequate to meet the demand. This is
tue of cities other than Jacksonville
But let us look at home and see what
can be done. to alleviate a condition
that it is possible to remedy.
In New York exists the same con-
dition as is found in Jacksonville, but
on much larger scale, of course.
But we may profit by what New York
Is doing to provide more homes for
the thousands now practically home.
less in so far as individual ownership
is concerned. The Real Estate Board
OF that city has a housing commit
tee. The other day, at conference
with parties in interest these were
among the practical developments:
A pledge Of 1000 building lots su.
coordinate to first mortgage, so that
home builders will not be forced to
make cash payment for land on which
houses are to be erected. Following
the pledging of the money on second
mortgage by the leading institutions
at Wednesdays meeting Of the sub
committee on investment and CAPITA. !
Yesterdays action was highly salts
factory to the forces working to solve
the housing problem. Announcement !!
that a mass meeting of employers
will be held in week for the purpose
of asking them to take membership
in loan association organized by the
committee, with view OF building
homes for their employees, with the
leading institutions pledging about 60
per cent of the cost of house and
owners Of property subordinating the
land, valued at 20 per cent, on first
mortgage, employers will be asked to
pledge the remainder, or nearly all of
it, so that their employees may have
homes built for them virtually on the
basis of their good character and rep
utation for honesty alone.
Here are practical plans for house
building that are capable of far
reaching effect-first, to give oppor-
tunity to those who desire to own
their homes and at the same time to
give opportunity to employers to help
employees to help themselves while at
The same time binding more closely
The relations Of the two parties, the
employers and their faithful, ambi
.ious employees. The latter of itself
nay 60 long way toward quieting
much Of the labor unrest, especially +
I widely extended in practical appli-
,ation.
A plan, similar to that proposed in !
new York, can be successfully worked
Tut in Jacksonville If the Real Es-
ate Board here, as there, will get be-
md the movement, their efforts sup
',emented with those Of employers, >
and lot owners. The plan -
: worthy of serious consideration as :
solution Of very serious problem y
Jacksonville Times Union.