New-York tribune., 1921-12-18
Westchester.'s
Biggest Year
Just Ahead
Civic and Private Improve
ments of Recent Years
Have Not Been Fully Cap
italized, Says Observer
By Stephen L. Angel

/ DeHeVc, III lSZz experience inc mOSt
active year of it's history. There are
many reasons to justify this prophecy.
Market conditions have steadily i'm
! proved since July, 1920, when the fe-
verish market of the preceding months
broke. The building costs have been
materially reduced in this same period
likely to be fairly we'll established for
the next five years. With the continued
gradual return of geenral business to
normal many homeseekers who have
not had to buy will take advantage of
the present market, which is as favor
able for them as it is likely to be for
four or five years.
The movement in lots and building
sites which has shown a marked in
crease during 1921 lis certain to grow
during 1922. The acreage market,
which is always the last to 1eel price
readjustment and which has seen no
general change for ten years, will start
lieve, been the mature judgment of the
men best able to judge of the acreage
1 market that about 1923 will see great
activity in that line, with an increase
in market prices rejecting the recent
fundamental improvements that have
taken place throughout the district as
we'll rs the general upward trend of
real estate values. This feature of the
market will, believe, be presaged dur
ing 1922 by considerable though iliet
buying of acreage at present prices for
the rise that is inevitable.
Why Land Values Will Be Higher
Fundamental Improvements have
been made throughout the county
which, on account of the war and the
ensuing adjustments, have not yet been
reflected in the land prices. The Bronx
River Parkway Drive probably will be
completed during 1922. The short sec
tions of the drive now in use enable
observers with imagination to realize
something of the benefit this improve
ment will be not only, to Mount Ver-
non, Bronxville, Scarsdale White
Plains and the other sections inmedi
ately adjoining the parkway, but to the
entire county.
The adoption of zoning ordinances in
Yonkers, New Rochelle and White
Plains (to which list Mount Vernon
will soon be add-ND has done much
toward safegual,%..,: investments in
those communities.
L uc WdVcI supp. ducoCiVH, "HlCii
was rapidly becoming q source of con-
Germ in Mount Vernon, Scarsdale and
other sections, has been solved in these
communities by municipal purchase of
the plants and the planning of compre
hensive improvem ents. Studies are
being made to take care of the future
growth of the county, with compre-
hensive county water supply system.
Schools have been developed as never
! before. Many miles of highways, both
new and old, have been surfaced with
macadam, concrete or brick. The grow
ing interest of the voter in the affairs
in new independence at the polls
which is being reflected in the more
careful execution Of their duties by
the public officials. Extensions of tele-
phone and electric light and power
service have been made up to the limit
of the ability Of the companies. The
amendment to the state constitution
permitting a change in the form of the
county government offers an oppor-
tunity for more effective government
at less cost, which will surely be i'm
proved.
The extensive golf and country club
Developments of the last year and a
half have done much to increase the
Westchester hills.
Where Trading Will Be Active
The opening up Of the Sterling es-
tate properties back of Harrison and
Rye will provide an additional oppor-
tunity for further growth of these com
munities. The recent activity that has
been noticed throughout the Hudson
River district, which was quiet for
such long time before the war, is
we'll justified, not only by the charm
of living near the american Rhine
but by the interesting historical asso-
Citations Of all that countryside old
established communities that stand
along the banks of that famous river
and the many attractions and advan-
tages of that section. The activity
that has been so noticeable in Pelham
New Rochelle and Larchmont is sure to
continue during the coming year. Per-
haps the greatest increase of activitv
OF all will be felt in the upper part of
the county, from the Hudson to the
| Connecticut boundary, where the lower
acreage values are, and where the ac-
tivity of 1920 was the least in evidence.
These wonderful hillsides, valleys and
peaks are sure to call many city dwell
ers to seek them for health, pleasure
and more abundant life.
Surely need not comment on the
crowded housing conditions inside
greater New York, the congestion on
Manhattan, the misery of being a
straphanger to Washington Heights or
the Bronx OF the handicap which the
children suffer who attend the crowded
New York City schools. The city
dwellers who would escape these things
must go to the country.
There has been no reduction in rents
of private houses in the suburbs, for
the simple reason that practically no
: private houses are built for rental pur-
poses, and, therefore, the supply of
rentable houses is acquired mainly
through changes in che plans of indi-
vidual families, forcing them to vacate
their homes at time when they can
not be sold. 1t will, for several years,
be cheaper to buy a suburban home
than to hire one.
Nineteen hundred and twenty-five
VIII therefore see an activity in homes.
at the lower prices now prevailing,
nearly as great but not as feverish as
lS20, movement in plots and building
! sites that will exceed 1921 and quiet
but steadily increasing activity in acre
age. With all these causes working
toward general activity, the realtors Of
Westchester are sure to have the busi-
est year they have ever witnessed.