Model Flathouses

Plans are maturing for the erection of flat houses on Manhattan Island by a syndicate comprised of French, Belgian and Dutch capitalists. It was learned the other day that a representative of this syndicate, which is said to have unlimited resources behind it, has been in New York for several weeks. Leading architects of New York and Paris have been for some time at work on plans for a series of flat houses of various classes, all of the buildings to be of a style never before attempted in New York. They will embody the best features of the French and American ideas in flats and tenements.

The efforts of the syndicate will be directed toward the erection of three different classes of houses. One will be for the wealthy class of tenants, a second for those of moderate means and a third for the poorer people. It has been decided to begin with the type for the wealthy class, and the syndicate has already secured an option on an entire block of ground between Madison and Fifth avenues in the neighborhood of One Hundredth street, upon which- it was stated the other night by J. Durham, the sydicate's representative in the United States - a building costing in the neighborhood of $1,500,000 will be erected. It is said that ground will be broken within a few weeks. The building is expected to be completed by the latter part of next spring. In the meantime options have been secured on several pieces of property in the neighborhood of Ninth avenue and twenty-third street, where the syndicate proposes to begin during the winter the construction of a gigantic flat house suitable for people of moderate means. These apartments will rent for from $35 to $75 per month.

This, it is said, will only mark the beginning of the operations in New York of the syndicate, which contemplates the expenditures of large capital in this particular field. The syndicate was formed nearly a year ago and has been at work ever since perfecting its plans. Mr. J. Durham of Paris, When seen recently at the Hotel Manhattan by a reporter for the New York Times, said:

"European capitalists have long been tempted by the inviting field offered in New York for investment in a style of dwelling embracing some of the continental features. The principal feature wanting there is the interior courtyard, which, after all, is the salvation of the flat house. The beauty and sanitary value of the European courtyard have always been recognized by the American builder. but on account of the space uecessary to be sacrificed the plan has not been adopted. The American capitalist who has been able to realize from 12 to 15 per cent on his investment in flat houses built on the prevailing plan is naturally unwilling to adopt the European method, which would lower his profits. We will be satisfied with 2 or 3 per cent at the beginning, and we believe that the superior beauty and convenience of our homes will meet with the instant approval of the average tenant. It is an experiment, of course, but we are willing to lay out several million dollars on the scheme at the start and have every confidence of realizing handsomely.

"Our first building will be designed to compete with the highest class flats in the city, such as The Navarro and The Dakota, which, by the way, have courtyards, but such in name only. Our scheme is to adapt the French idea to the American requirements. The building will occupy an entire block running through from Madison to Fifth avenue. For various reasons I cannot divulge the exact location, but it will be in the neighborhood of One Hundredth street. The ground is unincumbered by buildings. The building will have a frontage of 200 feet on each avenue and 420 feet on each cross street. It will be built of light limestone and red brick, and the street frontages will be finished in the highest form of architectural art. The primary feature of the structure, however, will be the interior courtyards. There will be two of these, each 100 feet square. One will be entered from Fifth avenue and the other from Madison avenue.

''These will be laid out in flower gardens, with fountains and statues and furnished with rustic seats, etc, and will constitute small parks. The windows of the flats opening upon these courtyards will be fitted with balconies supported by pillars and columns in the highest form of art. By means of these yards every room in the various flats will be perfectly lighted, as the building will be limited to seven steries in order to carry out this scheme. The structure will be absolutely fireproof, and the interior fittings will be on a scale of richness and completeness equal to the best class of flathouses in the city. All the modern conveniences will be installed. The rental for these flats will certainly not be any higher than those now charged for flats of  the first class in New York and,' we think, can be made lower. "

The projected building for tenants moderately well provided with money will be see the same general plan, the only difference being in the interior furnishings and the extra conveniences. We will not use less than a half block for any building, and all will be provided with one or more architecturally decorated courtyards. Furthermore, no building will be higher than seven stories, in order to give every tenant the advantage of the light from within as well as from the street. Later we will try the same scheme in the tenement districts. If one or all of these classes of buildings prove a success, the syndicate is prepared to construct a large number. The headquarters of the syndicate will probably remain in Paris, but branch offices will soon be opened in New York."