The Washington herald., 1921-04-10


yield to the temptation to describe
this latest building project fostered
by the Y. w. c. A. as an experiment
in single. unattached housing. And
as usual the punster will have
stretched the fabric of the truth TO
cover the framework Of his humor.
Naturally enough the Y. w. C. A.
undertook the project primarily tor
the benefit of the unmarried busl-
ness or professional woman whose
desire for a home in the suburbs
was thwarted by her modest IN
come. As the plans took shape and
the negotiations for the purchase OF
a site In the vicinity OF New no
chelIe neared the closing point the
scope of the undertaking was en-
Iarged SO that 1t has finally become
a unique attempt to lower the hish
cost Of building for the young mar
rfed couple as well as for the wom-
an who has not seen Mt to assume
the responsibility of looking after
q husband.
This does not mean that the trous-
cred sex is to be admitted to full
participation in the cooperative
housing colony. Nor does it mean
that mere man is to be barred from
the colony entirely. for that would
result in the collapse of part of the
experiment. He can enter, but must
sacrifice some of his autonomy for
the privilege. He can ind his way
IN through the gates Of matrimony'
only, and he can remain in merely
by grace Of his status as husband
of one of the actual participants.
Within the next week or so the
promoters of the plan expect to sign
the contracts for the purchase OF
the property. They have two alter
nate sites in mind over in Jersey,
but they favor the Westehester To-
cation because Of the train service
which is to be had there. The
scheme, conceived by Miss Blanche
Geary, head of the National Hous-
ing, Building and Construction Bu-
reau of the Y. W. c. A, and worked
out in detail by William F. Thomp-
son, architect, calls for a plot hay
ing a frontage of S25 feet and a
depth Of 500 feet. Down the full
length of this plot a driveway will
be laid at right angles to the main
road. Facing on this driveway Will
be twenty-six compact little cot
taxss, with stucco walls and shin
xied roofs, thinteen on either side
Of the drive. Each house will oc-
2 eupy a plot 40 by 125 feet in size and
will contain from three to six rooms.
AT the further end of the plot space
viii Be reserved for pergolas, a
small recreation building and ten
mis- court.
Through the plot arrangement
the promoters of the plan figure
that they can effect a considerabl bic
saving. The ground cost, they point
out. would be vastly higher il each
Z individual plot fronted on the main
road. This. however, will not be
the only source of economy. for
when 1t comes to buying building
materials at the lowest possible
prices the participants in the triad
colony, as this initial project has
been called. will have at their COM
mand all the extensive purchasing
facilities of the housing department
of the Y. W. c. A.
After taking careful account of
each detail that enters into the cost
Of the land and the building, the
architect, Mr.. Thompson. makes the
startling assertion that he can prac-
tically guarantee that no home in
the colony will cost its owner more
than $1,000. This estimate of costs
will probably meet with stiff oppo-
sition from other architects and
builders, but Mr.. Thompson's as
sertion has the Endorsement of Miss
Geary, who has supervised the erec-
tion Of buildings worth millions OF
dollars during hor ten years as
head Of the construction depart
ment of the Y. W. c. A. 1t must
be remembered. too. that the organ
- q he
sale of the properties and will with
draw from the project entirely as
soon as the houses have been COM
pleted and sold.
Miss Geary has been travelling
around the country working up en-
thusiasm In other large centers over
her scheme for beating the high
cost of building. In many-of these
centers money has been pledged for
the establishment of similar subur-
ban colonies provided the New York
project Is a success. The local pro-
ject has not secured its full quota
Of participants as yet, but Miss
Geary anticipates no trouble in that
respect when the easy buying terms
become generally known. Each oi
the participants will probably be
required to pay down half OF the
entire purchase price, the other halt
remaining on mortgage. II the
house costs 5000 the initial pay
ment will be ;2,5oo. For economy
sake the promoters urge the partici-
pants 10 double up" so that they
can each cut down their initial out
lay TO 1880.
From the construction standpoint
the most Interesting feature of the
colony will ke the apartment cot
tage." or three-room studio dwell
ing -cut down" to At the needs of
the bachelor maid. or two bachelor
maids. as the case may be. In def
erenee to the projects initial pur-
: pose Of helping the unmarried wom-
an satisfy her longing for a home
all her own. this type of cottage
win comprise at least half of the
colony.
up to now" says Miss Geary
In discussing the merits of the
apartmelt-cottage, "the profession
al or business woman who yearned
for . home of her own has either
been forced to relinQuish her dream
or take over q house that is toe
large for her needs and her strength
and too dear for her purse. Yet
why should her single state bar
her from the comforts and salts
faction of home ownership? AS a
business woman myself. I have been
struggling to work out some solu-
tion that would put a horne cut
to At our actual needs within our
reach.
ssTn thfS oaftooa ,na-4-.