Imperial Valley press., 1925-08-31
LONDON FOLLOWS
U. S. in BUILDING
IDEAS, IS REPORT

London is rapidly taking on the
physical appearance of an American
city and it will not be many years
before the British eapital Will be-
come the prototype of our great
American population centerS in point
of buildings. according to Herbert
5. Martin. viee-president of :. w.
Straus & Co. who has Just returned
ftem an extended visit TO London
and the continent.
AN amazing transformation is
now taking place. Mr.. Martin said
yesterday in discussing the London
building situation. Both in bus
mess and in residential types, Lon
don is taking up the typical Ameri
can idea. AS Il result, American
building interests are constantly
coming into closer contact with the
London situation. Our architects
and builders are being called upon
to assist in the innovations being in
iIoduced and there undoubtedly is
being created strong demand for
American capital for building pur-
poses which. in my opinion. will
grow steadily stronger as Londoners
become better acquainted with the
advantages of American types of
buildings
The servant problem and high
taxation are clements that have
much to do with the present remark
able transformation. Many of the
old London families find themselves
financially unable to maintain their
hCMeS ON the elabrate scale that
existed before the war, combined
with which is the difficulty of OBJ
taiHing efficient servants. Conse
qLently there is Il growing demand
for apartment houses. \ brief walk
through the fashion, Bile Mayfa:r :r
! district reveals many empty homes.
People simply are being forced to
/ seek accommodations in hotels and
! apartments.
! There is also a great demand
fer medium price accommodations.
/ The London clerk is having "a
hard time to find adequate housing
: facilities. There is also Il great
! demand for bachelor quarters in
/ Lordon and / believe some of the
large projects for single men or
women or for small families who
! desire limited quarters, such rs we
! have in America, could protitably
De duplicated in London.
Rebuild Regent Street
Regent street is rapidly being re-
l.uiit with wonderful structures Oc
cupied by department stores and
speciality shops. Property along
this thoroughtare is mostly held un
der the old crown leases and the
lessee shave found that they cannot
secure renewals unless they agree tC
pat up modern buildings. Conse
qucntlv the old brown stone build
ings that have been distinguishin.
mark along Regent street TOR gen
Grafton are giving way to American
office and shop buildings. All thu
American types of buildings that
made inquiry about both Residential
and commercial were renting well
There are not many high elias
apartment houses in London, bu
those that do exist are full Of ten
ants.
Manv Of the old bank and trus
companies downtown have caugh
the American spirit and are n
building. Even the Bank of En-:
I land--the old Lady of Threadneedl
trad:tionally known as III
last word in conservatism has yjelt
/ ed to the post war tendencies TO tn
extent Of having the interior of il
l banking house quite largely remo'
eled. although its imposing faeat
remains unchanged.
Il = The entire London housing sit u
issa is what would call acute
tcnnd the people there as rule NJ
! ayerse 70 the American building !,
=