Court Ruling Speeds Sheepshead Waterfront Change See Dwellings Law Enforcement Close To Confiscation Brooklyn Real Estate Board and Property Owner Groups Appeal for a Moratorium on Enforcement to Save Thousands of Tenements The enforcement of the Dwellings Law as it applies to tenements erected prior to 1911, has already led to the closing of 200 buildings in this borough since the first of the year, and unless the law is amended or a mortatorium declared, several thousand additional buildings will have to be permanently abondoned, the Brooklyn Real Estate warns. "This Is not siniDlv a Question of closing a few buildings which might be deemed dangerous to health or life. Rather it involves at least one-half of the 66,000 old law tenements within the city which provide living quarters for well over a million persons," the board points out. No reasonable person will agree that fire hazards and other dangerous living conditions should be eliminated for tenement house occupants, but forcing 1,500,000 persons to move from their present quarters knowing that there is no place to go is cruelty, to say the least. "A social crisis will be forced on New York by the Multiple Dwelling Law," says John H. Halluck, chairman of the Allied Property Owners Committee, If it is allowed to remain as it stands today, when it is realized that its certain result will be the eviction of all ten ants from at least half of the 66,-000 old-law tenements in the city a compulsody movement of twenty-one percent of the city's population from tenements, yes, but to what? "Undoubtedly the legislators who enacted the law that is proving such a boomerang to the very people they were interested in helpingwere inspired by a splendid purpose. They had been lead to believe that it was possible for owners to comply. The plain facts are that they can't. Neither private owners nor trustee institutions can be deprived of their Judgment or sense of duty by legislation that is lofty in purpose but cruel In application. Owners are faced with two clear alternatives as the law stands today; etiher they must: "This is not simply a question of closing a few buildings which might be deemed dangerous to health or life. Rather it involves at least one-half of the 66,000 old-law tenements within the city which provide living quarters for well over a million persons. While it Is true that many of these persons will not be permanently dispossessed, nevertheless the making of the alterations required by law would make it necessary to vacate the structures while the work is being done. Many owners will find it impossible to make the alterations because of the high cost involved and therefore will have to abandon their buildings. How are the people who are to be driven from the old-law tenements to be housed? That is a question which those who are advocating a strict enforcement of the law have riot answered. "If the low income group is to be housed in modern buildings, then let those who are in favor of abolishing the old-law tenements, be frank about their intentions. Let them propose a separate law for this purpose, provide the necessary funds and last, but by no means least, make provisions to care for the several hundred thousand families who would lose their homes. "To folic -v the present procedure and attempt to destroy thousands of buildings through amendments to a law which was never intended to deprive owners of their equity nor tenants of their places of abode is a dangerous subterfuge." Eighty Houses To Be Erected In Elmhurst Operation Leads Plans riled Last Week at Queens Filing Office Small dwelling operations predominated in the building plans filed last week at the Queens Building Bureau in Long Island City, with one development to contain 80 one-family houses for Elmhurst leading the list. The large project is sponsored by the Curtis X. Matthews, Company of Woodside, which estimates the total cost of the operation, not including the value of the land, at $239,000. The houses are to be of brick construction, and will be erected in Ankener Ave, south of Calamus Ave, and In 79th St, near Calamus Ave, on plots 20x37. The plans were prepared by the building organization. The outstanding apartment project in the list for the week, which story apartment house for a site reached a total of $945,200, is a four-in Jackson Heights to cost $220,000. Bravdey Realty Corporation of 943 50th St, this borough, will build a four-story fourteen-family apartment house at the northeast corner of 28th Ave. and 33d St.. Long Island City, at a cost of $25,000. The plans were filed by Wuest & Bailey, architects. Kent Homes, Inc., of Ridgewood, filed plans for ten two-story brick side of Fleet St., west of Baldwin dwellings to be built in the south Ave, Forest Hills, each 20x35, and to cost $40,000. The plans were prepared by Arthur E. Allen. Three one-family dwellings will be erected in the east side of 155th St, south of Nassau Boulevard, Flushing, by J. E. Miller of Richmond Hill as owner. The cost of the project will be $9,500. L. Dana-cher prepared the plans. A one-story brick warehouse has been planned for a plot on the south side of Dumont Ave, 441 feet east of 84th St, Ozone Park, by Adelphi Paint and Color Works, at an estimated cost of $10,000. The plans were filed by M. Kampe, architect R. C. Brown will build a two-family brick dwelling -on the east side of Shore Boulevard, 25 feet north of 21st Drive, Astoria, to cost $9,000, and W. Singer will build a two-story frame dwelling at the northwest corner of 51st Ave. and 66th St, Woodside, at a cost of $6,200. Prominent Builder Joins BayRidge Firm David F. Brown, widely known in borough realty circles and for the past 15 years prominent in the ac tivities of the Bay Ridge section as builder and civic worker, has Joined the office staff of the real estate firm of Sullivan St Kushner, Inc., Bay Ridge realty organization. Mr. Brown, who is a charter member of the Realty Brokers of Bay Ridge, Inc., was the builder of Yorkshire Homes Development at Lynbrook, L. I, which was very successful, so he brings to his new enterprise long experience as a builder and operator. He Is widely known in veteran circles, having been the first commander of the Bay Ridge Post of the American Lesion. He served in France during the World War and was decorated for bravery under fire. Since Joining the realty iirm, Mr. Brown has closed several important deals in volving apartment and private dwelling property. The officers of the Sullivan-Kushner Company are Frank X. Sullivan, president; Johrv E. Sullivan, vice president; Joseph M. Kushner, secretary, and Samuel Kushner, treasurer. Investor Buys Downtown Parcel R, M. Dlnsmore 5s Co., Inc., as broker, sold the one-story brick building, 90x90, approximately 5,550 square feet, occupied by the prhwsrU Trucking Company, at 75-79 Columbia St, corner of War- ten, to a client for investment. Varied Parcels In Deals Closed By Realty Firm Hy. fe D. Agar, Inc., realty firm which recently opened large quarters in Remsen St, sold during the past few weeks the one-family dwelling at 164 S. Portland Ave. for a client of Frank E. Devis, attorney; the two six-family dwellings at 4606 and 4608 6th Ave, for the Lincoln Savings Bank; the six-family dwelling at 469 E. 49th St. for the Manufacturers Trust Company; the six-family dwelling at 848 Bay Ridge Ave. for the Bank of New York and Trust Company; the store building at 1750 Flatbush Ave. for Charles Trunz; the store building at 2394 Coney Island Ave. for the Bank of New York and Trust Company. "From the inquiries received during the past few months we feel that this Spring will show a revival of buying not experienced since the boom days of 1928 and 1929," said C. J. Ruggiero, sales manager of the organization, in announcing the deals. APARTMENT IN DEALS The four-story apartment house at 171 Bay 17th St, corner of Bath Ave, consisting of 18 suites, has been sold by R, M. Dinsmore & Co, Inc., as broker, to a client for investment. The brokerage firm also sold the one-family, three-story dwelling. 659 Jefferson Ave, to a client for investment. Progress Being Made in Improvement of Sheepshead Bay I c f 1 J . y) v Falrchild Aerial Surveis, Inc. Airplane view of the properties along the shore rront of Sheepshead Bay taken by the city for the widening of Emmons Ave. The dotted line indicates the new southline of the avenue. (A) shows land under water south of the new southline of Emmons Ave. acquired for waterfront improvement. (B) Additional land acquired south of the new line of Emmons Ave. (C) Area in which the Lundy interests have riparian rights. (D) Lundy property. (E) Mott Corporation property. Plan 75 Houses On 15 Acres in Merrick Area Merrick Homes, Inc., has purchased 15 acres at the corner of Camp and Merrick Aves, Merrick, and expect to erect 75 homes during the Spring and Summer months. The development is known as Merrick Arms Estates. The first group of five houses is now in course of construction. One of these has already been sold and will be occupied upon completion. The Colonial type will predominate throughout the developments-five and six-room models with attached garage and all conveniences. The homes are sold with FHA financing on a 20-year mortgage plan. This sale was made by Herman E. Strangfeld of Strangfeld & Elliott of Merrick, which handle the sale of the homes. Mr. Strangfeld says there Is a great deal of activity and interest in small farms. He also reports the sale of seven acres on Merrick Ave. near the Southern State Parkway, which is to be cut up into small chicken farms of two-acre size with modern bungalows. OFFICE BUILDING SOLD Wm. A. White & Sons, as brokers, sold the 11-story office building on a plot 31x125, irregular, at the northwest corner of 5th Ave. and 36th St, Manhattan, known as 392 5th Ave, for the Bowery Savings Bank, to an Investing client. The property Is on the city's assessment roll at $1,150,000 for 1935. The White organization, who are now managing and renting agents for this property, have been retained In the same capacity by the buyer. Land Company Anticipates Active Real Estate Period Lewis & Valentine Company, one of the largest owners of real estate on Long Island, has in the past few years been buying up some of the large tracts including 1.000 lots at Freeport, 1.250 lots at Bayside, and 250 lots at Mineola. and several lare tracts of waterlront land through the Glen-Cove-Smithtown section. One of the Lewis & Valentine Companies has been active in building golf courses in this area, including some of the well-known courses, such as Pomonok, Flushing Meadow, Laurelton, Old Flushing Club and Lawrence, and who as sembled the land for many of the larger clubs, including Woman's National, North Hills, Lakeville, and others. This company has recently made contracts for the landscaping of several large tracts of land in anticipation of an active real estate market, including the developments such as Seawane at Hewlltt, the As-tor Development, at Port Washington, and the High Farms development at Glen Cove. The company has oeen active in securing large tracts of land for all cash and then refinancing the ventures and parceling the land out to builders and developers. Joins Sales Staff Of Bay Ridge Firm A notable addition to the sales staff of the Colonial RfNrV Company, Bay Ridge realty firm of which Frank Matrunola is president, is Arvid F. Rosnell, who is widely known in real estate and banking circles. Mr. Rosnell attended Manual Training Hiph School and Browne's Business College. He was employed at the Manufacturers Trust Company borough office and the Federal Reserve Bank, the Bowery Savings Bank, and was resident manager for several years for large apartment houses in Jackson Heights. He also managed property for Frederick Browne & Co, and property which his parents ownei in Bay Ridge. BRITISH FIRM LEASES The first U. S. store of Woodhouse & Co, Ltd, British and Canadian ; furniture and clothing company, I will be located in the Marlbridge j Building at the northeast corner of 6th Ave. and 34th St, Manhattan. Utility Employes Buy in Woodside Hub Homes in Woodside are attracting employes of several of New York's large utility companies to the community at 63d St. off Queens Boulevard, according to a statement by the builders. Part of this group of purchasers include the following employees of the New York Edison Company: Emil Fitter, George Grobe, Squire R. Barret, Fred Abt, Walter Wool-ston. The mortgages on these homes were financed through the New York Edison Savings and Loan Association The homes in the community are about five minutes from the Queens-boro Bridge and contain .six large rooms with finished recreation room in basement. They include an au- ! tomatlc oil burner and garage. REALTY FIRM MOVES Hamilton, Isclin K Company, Inc., have moved from 85 Madison Ave.. Manhattan, to new offices at 515 Madison Ave., corner of 53d St. APPOINTED VQ George S. Horton ( above), former president of the Brooklyn Ral Estate Board and president of Bulkley & Horton Company, has been appointed a member of the Committee on Real Estate Finance of the National Association of Real Estate Boards. Edward A. McDougall of Queens Is chairman of the committee. Mr. Horton has had wide experience in fimnrc and real estate matters. For : ? years he served as president oi the Lafayette National Bank of Brooklyn, a position which he resigned to become chairman of the executive committee of the bank. Mr. Horton is also a former secretary of the Real Estate Association of the State of New York. Lockwood Decision To Transform Area Into Modern Venice Elaborate Program of Borough President Calk For Development of New Artery, Park and 577-Foot Bridse The following awards were outstanding under Justice Lockwood's decision for the Sheepshead Bay improvement: Dominick Hotel Prop'ty Lundy's Restaurant . . . Old Lundy Property... Mott Property Rockaway Ferry Tappan's Property . , . . Asked $229,000 436,714 210,756 294,786 208,357 247,200 City's Figures $112,264 129,509 15,000 86,316 76,454 112,972 Assessed Received $65,000 $125,000 105,000 145,000 Riparian 20,000 105,000 115,000 90,000 100,000 115,500 116,000 Merchants Ask Police to End 'Curb Trading' Protest Against Groups Loitering on Court St. as Law Violation A determined effort is being made by property owners in the two skyscraper blocks on Court St. between Montague and Joralemon Sts., to rid the area of "curb realty brok ers," who stand in groups for hours and block the sidewalk, in transacting their business, without regard for the rights of pedestrians or the merchants along the thoroughfare. During the past week a movement was started by managing agents and tenants of the large buildings in the street to bring the matter to the attention of the Police Department and demand relief from what they describe as a flagrant violation of traffic regulations. A. George Go'den, prominent downtown realty man and managing agent of 26 Court St., one of the largest office buildings in the borough, Is leading the campaign to remedy the condition. In the movement are William S. Irish, vice president of the Bank of the Manhattan Company; the manager of John Davis, clothing store; the manager of Childs, restaurant; the manager of the Liggett drug store; manager of the United Cigars Store and other tenants along the bloc!:. Should Bp Stopped by Police "The loitering brokers in conducting their business on the sidewalk instead of in an office make the street almost impassable," said Mr. Irish in commenting on the prac tlce. "It seems to me that blocking the thoroughfare in fhat manner should be stopped by the police." the banker remarked. "Pedestrians, many of them women, are Jostled in their endeavor to walk along the sidewalk, or are compelled to take the risk of stepping out in the path of automobiles and trucks to avoid the groups," Mr. Golden complained. This condition has gone on for several years, it was pointed out, growing worse all the time. It is particularly aggravating in the Spring and Summer months, and with the blossoming of fair weather, the groups increase in number and persistence. The "brokers" hold long conferences, sometimes noisy arguments, utterly regardless of the fa.-t that they are blocking the thoroughfare. The merchants along the area are making a strong appeal to clear the street of the condition, and declare that they intend to carry the complaint to the Mayor if the situation is not remedied, since it is entirely uncalled for and a violation of the traffic law. By VINCENT R. KIRK Federal and city plans. for the transformation of the Sheepshead Bay shore line from an area of shabby old fishing shacks, boat houses and quick getaway restaurants to a modern Venice, with Emmons Ave. fronting the bay, another fShore Road or Riverside Drive, made big strides last week when Justice Charles C. Lockwood In Supreme Court announced awards totaling $2,060,-245, for the 546 parcels of property taken along Emmons Ave., for water front improvements. The elaborate program of Borough President Ingersoll, which includes the widening of Emmons Ave. from 80 to 120 feet, extending from Shore Boulevard to Brigham St., the easterly terminus of tha thoroughfare, may ultimately develop an arterial highway skirting the borough. He hopes to see the north side or Shore Boulevard from West End Ave. to Sheepshead Bay Inlet widened and a highway bridge constructed along the line of Ocean Ave., then east to West End Ave. If the War Department approves, a park may be opened. Mr. Ingersoll's plans call for a bridge with a roadway 60 feet wida and two footwalks each 10 feet wide, the total length of the span being 577 feet. If the War Department approves the project, the work will be dona by CWA employes, it has been announced. The city has conceded what tha owners are entitled to for property taken to make the vast program possible, and the next step is to speed up the construction of new bulkheads. Awards Exceed Appraisals The awards were less than half the total sum asked by the owners, which amounted to $4,278,968. City experts gave appraisals less than the awards. The entire cost is divided between city and borough, and there will ba no local assessments. Herman Meltzer and John H. Finn, assistants of Corporation Counsel Windels, presented the case for the city. The largest single award was $145,000 for the Lundy restaurant, which has been moved from water's edge to the new property across Emmons Ave. Justice Lockwood declared that the entire property, including land under water taken by the city, and the block front on which the establishment now stands, was purchased in 1926 for ft total of $375,000. Outstandng Awards The Lundys asked $210,000 for their land that was titled with riparian rights and for the latter rights Justice Lockwood awarded $20,000. Nothing was allowed for the old wooden restaurant building that extended partly over the water, because in all these years, the court held, the riparian rights did not allow the property to be used for restaurant purposes. For the famous Tappan property that was on the southside of Emmons Ave., opposite the restaurant. $116,000 was awarded. For the Rockaway Ferry Terminal, long the landing place for "Howard Reid's Ferry," that carried passengers to and from Rockaway Point, Justice Lockwood awarded $100,000. The Mott Operating Company was awarded $115,000 for its property on the westslde of Emmons Ave, Restaurants Prohibited Prior to the consolidation of the Town of Gravesend with the City of New York in 1898, the town owned the lands under water in Builder Buys St. Albans Land For Home Colony Louis Levy, builder, has purchased an eight-acre tract on 227th St., north of Linden Boulevard, St. Albans, for a new development, to be called "Dream Homes." Plans are being prepared to build 106 solid brick and steel homes, in the low price range, that will Incorporate many unusual features. Ground will be broken lmmedlatelv in order to have the first group of ten model dwellings roariv tnr. nnh. lie inspection by the middle of April. "The most Important factor In mir building program," says Mr. Levy, "is to keep the price at a minimum, because we want to attract the low wage earner who heretofore has not been afforded nn opportunity of owning his own home." Continued on Page 2 A. N. Feistel Joins John F. James Staff Arthur N. Feistel, prominent borough realty man, for the last 15 years associated with the real es-state office of James B. Fisher Company, has Joined the office stall of John P. James & Sons, one of the oldest realty firms in the borough. Some of the finest residences in the borough have been sold by Mr. Feistel during the past drcade, including a number of show places In the Prospect Park South section of Flatbush. He resides at 257 Fenimore St., and has long been identified with civic and fraternal organizations here. He brings to his new position long experience In the sales and apprasing field of the real estate business.