Evening star., 1934-07-07
LACK Of SUPPORT
IN SLUM WAR HIT
Public Apathy Blamed for
Conditions, Says Ne'.y
York Architect.

Slums thrive on public apathy, &C.
cording to Arthur c. Holden of the
New York Chapter of the American
Institute of Architects Though ex-
perts are trying TO solve the slum
problem, he points out, their efforts
are blocked by lack Of general sup
port
In 1926 popular demand forced
legislation which gave New York City
the power of condemnation to be used
for assembling land for housing and
getting rid Of dilapidated buildings,
says Mr.. Holden, explaining the
causes Of slum growth.
Very little has been done, how
ever. and there is practically no CO.
operation from the public, who are
still too preoccupied to realize that
as cheap land is built up solidly with
undesirable housing, new problems are
created and the manufacture Of new
city slums start all over again"
Mr.. Holden describes six stages In
the development of slum conditions In
New York. The first stage arose with
depreciation and change in use OF
dwellings more than so years ago.
"A neighborhood was occupied by
prosperous families, who owned the
two-story dwellings that they lived
in. 1t became old fashioned and the
well-to-do owners moved away to
newer and better localities. Their
place was taken by poorer families,
who were compelled to take in room
ers in order to meet the rentals. 1t
also became expedient for two or more
families to occupy single house,
consequently the houses brought in
more rentals and their salable value
rose SO that they could be disposed Of
at a profit.
Development Beginning.
The second stage-property held
as investment-marked the beginning
of real estate development. BY rea-
son of the crowding of several fami-
lies into one house for increased in
ccme, it became profitable to replace
old buildings and improve vacant
lots with high tenement houses, which
stole the light and air from the low
Instead of expanding, New York
commenced to 60 up in the air. These
tenements naturally brought in a
greater income, and this greater re-
turn forced up the value of all the
land in the neighborhood. Specula-
tors then saw the wisdom Of buying
the old houses and holding them for a
probable increase, in land value only
During the third stage-congeS-
tion-the new owner of lot or parcel
of land purchased it heavily mort
gagged, and it was necessary for him
to get as much out of his holding as
was possible. He replaced the old
house with a tenement large enough
to enable him to get enough money
from rentals to pay the interest on
the land.
In course of time solid blocks were
covered with high tenement buildings
which shut out all the light and air
SO necessary to the people who lived in
them. AS fast as rentals dropped
more people had to be crammed into
these tenement houses. so that the
necessary income could be derived
from them.
Serious Congestion.
The result was serious congestion,
as we'll as lessening of the desira-
bility of the neighborhood. In addi-
tion to this, legislative measures were
used to compel standards of health
and safety and these improved stand
ards started a decline in the value OF
buildings. The owners of the old-law
buildings, now considered unsafe and
unhealthy, commenced to lose money
and so they refused to make any re-