SLUM TO GARDEN CITY

Evening Star, Issue 19381, 15 October 1926, Page 5

SLUM TO GARDEN CITY

NEW YORK TENEMENT AREA A MILLIONAIRE’S PROPOSAL. Press Association —By Telegraph—Copyright. NEW YORK, October 13. Mr August Heckscher, capitalist and philanthropist, has presented the mayor (Mr Walker) with plans for the demolition of New York’s lower East Side, which is the best known slum in the world, and replacing it at a cost of hundreds of millions of dollars. It is understood that Mr Heckscher is willing to contribute 100,000,060 dollars of his private fortune towards the undertaking. Ho proposes: (1) That modern apartment buildings, parks, fountains, and tree-lined avenues should replace the present congested tenement district; (2) that 500 of Now iork’s wealthiest men should promise a contribution of 100,000 dollars cadi for five years, such 250,000,000 dollars to iorm the nucleus of the investment necessary ; (3) that the State and city should expend equal amounts towards the plan; (4) that the present dwellers be rehoused by the city temporarily while their homes arc being rebuilt; and (5) , that the rents in the new district should be dependent upon the paying capacity of the tenants. |