CHEAPER BUILDING

Evening Star, Issue 23677, 10 September 1940, Page 3

CHEAPER BUILDING

CO-OPERATIVE SYSTEM REDUCTION OF ROADING IMPORTANT FACTOR Relating the efforts of two young Chicago businessmen, a ‘ Review ’ gives a sketch of one way in which the housing difficulty may he solved. On the outskirts of Hammond, a city with a population of 65,000, these two purchased a block of 34 acres of good productive soil fronting a well-formed road. Their first start was with a garage, which had no sooner taken shape than they were approached by a carpenter, who asked the price they wanted for it. They told him he would have to wait until it was finished and they knew what it actually cost. Tins was no good to him; he wanted it just as it was. A price was named; he went to work and made it into a residence of two compartments, which was all he wanted. Having rid themselves of this they erected a small house of four rooms, with bathroom, but no bath fitted. This again was sold incomplete to a painter. .The next went to a plumber. Under the co-operative system each in his spare time completed the other man’s job. The consequence was that these householders had each a house and an acre freehold for 2,600 dollars, equivalent to approximately £550. As the block was 750 ft in depth, the frontage was a narrow one of 55ft. Their argument was that anyone could grow the same amount of vegetables and garden produce on a long strip as on an allotment with a shallower depth and a wide frontage. The latter would necessitate roading, which they wished to avoid. The land and half-built houses were sold on easy terras, and 4 people who were bringing up families in the slums are, for the rent they were paying for back alley houses, gradually paying off the indebtedness out of their weekly wages. To-day this settlement holds a thriving, contented population, and is held up as an object lesson as to what can be done if you give the people what they want and at a price they can afford to pay. APPLICABLE LOCALLY. A ‘ Star ’ reader, commenting on the above, points out that some system could be introduced here on these lines.’ Roading everywhere is costly, and there is always the question to be considered of loss of otherwise productive land. “ Against that example,” he said, “ contrast our efforts—a quarter of an acre or less with a house which alone costs £1,250 or more to build, on which the rentals are 30s or over; and which never become the property of the occupants. People with average weeklywages or salaries cannot afford this, but for want of a cheaper house arc compelled to pay these rente. They have not the interest in these houses that a freeholder has, and 1 a stitch iu time ’ does not concern them. I am convinced that good, sound, standardised wooden houses of three or four different designs, with timber cut to standard at the millj could be erected hero in Dunedin with all the necessary modern conveniences at a cost of little more than half the above pride.” Further, he pointed out that there were tracts of land within easy distance of - the present tram termini which could he got at quite reasonable prices, and when built upon could, if necessary, be served by extension of the tram or by bus feeder at stated intervals. The tram revenue would benefit, and instead of a rate for a_ paddock each allotment would be paying rates out of all proportion to what was being obtained at the present time. The gas and electric departments would also reap the benefit.