Evening star., 1932-07-02
URGES REPEATING
OF CITY AREAS
Practical Modernization OF
Homes Proposed to Real
Estate Boards.

Practical modernization of homes
and the adoption Of plat plans Tor un-
developed residential sections to pro-
vide blocks having four times the area
of the present average size are pro-
posed by Leonard P. Reaume, Detroit,
past president of the National ASsocl-
alton of Real Estate Boards, as vital
Developments of the future real estate
practice.
Addressing the annual convention of
the association this week at Cincinnati,
Mr.. Reaume outlined the moderniza-
ton of dwellings now being carried on
in Detroit, Is houses at time, to illus
trate feature of the real estate busi-
ness of the future.
Urges Replatting of Areas.
Urging the blotting out of the exist
ing plat lines of the outlying districts
OF American cities, wherever practical,
and a replatting of those areas to make
a new type of residential district better
fitted than the old-fashioned Subdi-
vision for this motor age, he contended
such a program would increase the
interest of homeseekers.
81 have in mind making residential
blocks two blocks wide and two blocks
long, thus eliminating one street each
way. The result of this. would make
1t possible to provide beautiful play
ground for the garden side of the
residences built on these properties, "
he said
ITO illustrate, assuming now that a
residence block is $50 feet wide and
700 feet long, the lots in the block are
lis feet deep with 20-foot alley in
between. BY eliminating one street
each way you would then have block
500 feet wide and 1,400 feet long. You
could then make your residence lots $50
feet deep, and have a playground in
between 200 feet wide and 400 feet
long. BY properly designing the homes
to be built around this playground,
you could provide that all the homes
face the garden, or playground, thus
offering those who build their homes
in such super-residence blocks not only
the advantage of having a beautiful
garden and playground for their chill
dren, but safe place for the children
as well
THE economy resulting from cutting
of one-half of the streets improve
ments in subdivision, plus the added
price that could be secured for the
residential lots offered in such blocks,
would, in my judgment, produce the
same net result that is now obtained
by offering much smaller lots at the
prevailing low prices
Holding that modernization of pres
ent-day homes is a definite need, Mr..
Reaume pointed out that in Detroit.
according to recent survey, more
than "A per cent of the city's 181. .667
single homes, more than 48 per cent
OF its $3.50 two-flat buildings and
more than 81 per cent of its 1890
apartment houses are more than II
years old.
While 17-year homes are not obso-
lete, it is very evident that they will
need to be modernized if they are to
attract the attention of the prospective
home purchaser of today" he said.
I'VE are now carrying on such a prof.
ect in the city of Detroit, undermining
rs homes at time 1t Is surprising
what advantageous low costs you can
get at this time with the right kind of
purchasing department"
1t Is important that the person who
undertakes modernization of homes
should know what gadgets are In de-
mand and what ones it will be of value
to incorporate in the old structure. he
pointed out. Spraying basement walls
and ceiling with white waterproof
paint, for example, makes old dungeon
ike Easements attractive and useful.