The New York herald., 1921-09-26

houses being newly remodelled and the
signs had appeared recently. But fur
ther investigation showed that the
signs had been there for some time and
the reason that the apartments have not
been rented is because OF the large sums
asked. The landlords have refused to
como down and the tenants have refused
to pay prices as high as $3.50 to $3.50
for small apartment, sometimes with
only a kitchenette
After October L. 1t is predicted by some
who profess to know something about
rents, there will be a drop I'm prices
That hoped for condition depends. how
ever. according to an experts explana-
tion, on the supply OF apartments, which
regulates the demand.
In the reconstructed upper East Side
district. near Sutton place. apartments
are being offered. or were quite recently.
for smaller sums For instance, for
SIS month you could get a three room
and bath with kitchen apartment COW
ering an entire floor In an old fash
ioned brownstone house. And some
others that are being remodelled nave
an extra alcove effect that is almost
q separate room. Many of these have
shops on the first or basement floor, Or
both. but frequently separate en-
trance has been arranged for the apart
ment tenants
More s"To Let" Signs Now.
A year ago few apartments were to
be found vacant at this season any
where below F'ifty-ninth street. either
east or west. Now almost every block
has at least one agents sign annonnc-
Ing q vacancy, and as many az four or
five have been counted in one block.
Some of these apartments, OF which
there are two on floor. are high In
price, which Is the reason they are still
displaying the For Rent" sign, the
agents admit.
Upper East side apartments. unless
you 10 very far east. are still command
ing a high figure and agents are asking
long term leases. Yet many of ths
latest style apartments, even those In
the Park avenue district. display the
real estate agents sign, which Is 20 en-
couraging to the weary homecseker and
almost as frequently just as discouras-
ing. In some OF the apartment build
ings near Central Park rent has been
raised $50 per cent. at one jump. But
this happens when the original tenant
decides to move out. usually away from
the city, and the incoming tenant. un-
aware OF the price at which the apart
ment rented last year, is asked this tre-
mendous increase. Some seven room
apartments near East Eighty-slxth
street have been doubled In rent and the
tenants have been asked to sign leases
for five years each.
In search for an apartment for two
costing not over $3.50 a month a visit
to one OF the leading Murray Hin agents
revealed that he had nothing except
two rooms and bath effect for that
price. For anything with n kitchen they
are asking from $4,000 to $4,000 a
year. But these are In first class
houses and have all modern conven-
fences.
On the upper West side you meet
even q greater number of the welcome
For Rent" signs And there you still
may get your choice of variety OF
apartments. but the average price ranges
around $4,000. Rem ,mbering tho limit
of s1.so0. and recalling also the desire
TO got something for much less II you
can. you scan the list OF available homes
and realize that In the best neighbor-
hoods you must be content with two
rooms and bath and kitchcnettc at
$500 n year. or possibly you may find,
as the reporter did. n four room apart
ment with kitchen for which s1.400
was asked. There was one apartment at
$500 which a small family might FIT
into that had living room, two bed
rooms. bath and kitchenette. This was
one Of the most spacious discovered and
was handy to the subway.
BY going beyond the Harlem dividing
line you can find lower rents. For In
stance, there was a six room corner
apartment on the West Side. above 170th
street, at $1,000 n year. Above that. in
thn yonlxere section were such offerings
as five room apartment at $1,000 a
year. and still another near by. with six
rooms and bath, at $500. At $3.50 n
month seven room apartment with two
baths was offered.
All of which seems to show that the
only way for a family with a small in
come TO be comfortable Is TO be incon-
venient. Apartments that are conven-
ently located and have the advantages
OF plenty OF light and sunshine and are
accessible to subway. elevated and sur
face cars are still being held at high
rentals.