THE ARCHITECTURAL ANNUAL

113

HOUSING WAGE-EARNERS

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED BY MODEL TENEMENTS

THE NEW BUILDINGS TO BE ERECTED BY THE CITY AND SUBURBAN HOMES COMPANY-A DETAILED DESCRIPTION BY THE ARCHITECTS-ELIMINATION OF INSIDE ROOMS AND THE ABOLITION OF NARROW COURTS PROMINENT FEATURES-STOREROOMS AND BATHS

REPRINTED FROM THE "NEW YORK EVENING POST"

N appointing an efficient commission to investigate the question of the housing of the poor in New York, the Governor of the State focussed public attention upon a vitally important problem, for it is said that over two-thirds of the people of Manhattan Island live in tenement houses unadapted to their wants, and incompatible with their health and moral advancement. But without waiting for the State to remedy the evils in tenement construction several citizens determined to attempt to solve the problem themselves, and to offer suitable homes for the poorer classes at low rentals.

The City and Suburban Homes Company was formed with that object in view, and it was the pioneer in a most needed reform. The officers of the company are: President, Elgin R. L. Gould; Vice-President, Samuel D. Babcock; Treasurer, Charles Stewart Smith; Secretary, George W. R. Fallon. Directors: R. Fulton Cutting, chairman; Joseph A. Auerbach, Samuel D. Babcock, John D. Crimmins, W. Bayard Cutting, Elgin R. L. Gould, Adrian Iselin, Jr., D. O. Mills, Isaac N. Seligman, Charles Stewart Smith, Cornelius Vanderbilt, Alfred T. White and George W. Young.

objectionable features, while all the essential requirements of suitable dwellings were to be furnished.

The competition attracted 170 architects, who submitted 300 plans. Of these, the designs prepared by R. Thomas Short of the firm of Harde & Short were awarded the first prize. These plans, somewhat modified, have been adopted by the City and Suburban Homes Company for the next group of tenements which it will erect on the east side.

The following description of the projected improvements was furnished by the architects:

The building will be six stories high, each unit covering 70 per cent. of four city lots, and 30 per cent. being left vacant for light and ventilation. No part of the buildings will exceed two rooms from outside to outside. This has been called "the secret of the whole tenement house problem," because it means that there are no dark interior rooms. Each building will contain ninety-two separate apartments, twelve on the ground floor and sixteen on each upper floor. Every apartment is to be Every apartment is to be a complete and attractive home in itself, consisting of two, three, and four rooms, with two or three closets, private hall and toilet; 75 per cent. of these apartments will have a front outlook.

Through the Tenement-House Committee of the Charity Organization Society of New York, a competition was recently arranged which had The elevation, while not highly ornamental, a threefold purpose: To stimulate the intelligent will avoid a cheap appearance, being simple but interest of architects in the scientific and eco- of good architectural design. The entrances will nomic planning of city homes for working people; be attractive, with jambs and pilasters of polished to encourage the building of model tenements by granite. The buildings will be semi-fireproof. demonstrating that such buildings could be made The entrances and staircase halls throughout will to yield satisfactory commercial returns; and to be entirely fireproof; the staircase hall will be obtain type plans of high character adapted to enclosed with brick walls, and the floors of the the conditions which prevail in this city. It was halls throughout will be of fireproof construction. required in the demands formulated by the Com- The stairs from the cellars to the roofs are to be mittee, that plans should show economy of con- fireproof, wide, and easy of ascent, well lighted struction, convenience of design, good ventilation, and ventilated. One of the most important and cheerful outlook, and concentration of light and an entirely original feature will be the arrangeair space; and that they were to provide more ment of the staircases to secure cross-ventilation clear rentable area than the "double-decker' through them from one court to another throughplan, avoiding, at the same time, all its recognized out the entire block.

On February 12, 1900, the jury appointed by the Tenement House Committee to judge the competitive plans reported that in its opinion no previous competition ever presented so many varied and valuable suggestions for structural improvement and comfortable living in tenement houses. About three hundred sets of plans were submitted; these the jury reduced to twelve, and then on the first ballot, by a vote of five to one, selected Mr. R. Thomas Short's design for first prize, and it is now being executed in a slightly modified form.