New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-08-25
6,6l5 Homes
Being Erected
In BROOKLYN
Buildings to Accommodate
1881 Families Force
Landlords TO Refrain
From Raising the Rents
Millions Being Expended
Drastic Court Action Also
Given as Reason for Few
Increases in New Leases

Residents Of Brooklyn propose to
circumvent the rent profteers by
building for themselves. With October
nearing, an unprecedented number of
applications for building permits are
being filed at Borough Hall, it was
learned yesterday. Real estate agents
when questioned, admitted that few
increases in rent are being asked for,
and that where any change is medi-
tated, it is inconsiderable. They gave
IS their reasons: CD that in 80 per
cent Of the cases taken TO court judg-
ment is in favor of the tenant; CD
that the large number of new build
ings going up will make people in
creasingly independent of both agent
and landlord
Up to last Saturday plans filed with
the Building Department of Brooklyn
totalcd for this year 6,6l5 buildings,
to accommodate 1881 families This
is more than double the work planned
for the entire year cf 1920, which
provided for 1857 dwellings, costing
S25,997 ,473, and designed to accommo-
date 4,688 families.
viii Total $780, 600, 900
The Assistant superintendent Of
Buildings said yesterday that he an
ticipatcd the currept years buildings
would total 100000, 900 in cash value.
Each week the demands represent two
and three million dollars worth of
building. For the week ending Angus St
20, there were 1911 applications for
brick and frame building, to cost S.
156,545. During the same week last
year there were only ninety-onc appli-
cations, representing a total expenGi-
ture OF S404,975.
In addition to the latest appiica ions
MED, 1t was pointed out by the Assist
ant superintendent, that large numbers
Of buildings now are under way. and
that they should do much to relieve
the shortage of supply and to stabilize
rents throughout the borough The
brick one and two family house is the
favored among the applications A con
siderable number Of frame houses arc
gong up. but few tenemcnts.
Increases Are Slight
A member of the real estate firm OF
Howard c. Pyle & Co., 201 Montague
Street. handling many apartments in
the popular Columbia Heights section
SAID that about 10 per cent Of their
tenants had been notified of a slight in
crease to 60 into effect on October /
He cited an instance where a tenant
who paid $35 for two rooms in 1914
will have to pay $55 after October l
Another tenant who originally paid SAC
and is now paying sos viii be obliget
to pay $50 after that date. He added
however. that 80 per cent Of the rent
ing business OF the firm IS done with
the poorer classes. and that there viii
be no increases for them.
Fred Lang, real estate owner. of Al
Court Street, said that none of his hun
dred-odd tenants would be raised a
cent. His apartments range in price
from $3.50 TO S3l.25, and are in the
vicinity of Montague Street He said
shat although he had made improve
Inents in the property recently his new
leases are the same as formerly He
argued that he is getting fair return
on his investment and is satisfied. In
few cases he is even reducing his
rents. He denounced the graspinr
Spectator. and pointed out that the
courts arc becoming more drastic every
day in their treatment OF the "rent
hCes." Mr.. Lang is lawyer as we'll as
4 real estate AGENT