MODERN TENEMENT HOUSES 



19T 



MODERN TENEMENT HOUSES 



By JONATHAN A. RAWSON, Jr. 



NEW YORK CITY 



THERE are now being completed in New York City two groups of 

 tenement buildings, which without doubt embody more real im- 

 provements in tenement house construction than have ever before been 

 seen in any one structure. Both groups are on East 77tli Street near 

 the East River. One is being erected by Mrs. William K. Vanderbilt, 

 St., and the other by the Open Stair Tenement Co. Henry Atterbury 

 Smith is the architect in each case and similar buildings after his de- 

 signs are soon to be erected in Hoboken and further downtown in New 

 York, in West 47th Street. 



Whether science, learning or practical common sense has con- 

 tributed more to the latest improvements in tenement-house construc- 

 tion as revealed in these buildings, it would be hard to say, but which- 

 ever it is Mr. Smith deserves the credit. He has given many years to the 

 study of this problem and it was some time after he worked out its solu- 

 tion before he was able to persuade capital to adopt his plans. iVll of 



Pig. 1. East 77th Street, New York, looking West. Vanderbilt Tenements on 

 the right, and those of the Open Stair Tenement Company on the left. 



