Huge Block to Be Built in Rue Lafayette: Largest in China Although flats both for residences and offices are a common enough feature of the central district they have' hitherto not appeared in the western district, with the exception, we think, of the block in Avenue Joffre. With land at its present prices and the general cost of, it must have occurred to not a few people that well designed flats surrounded by sufficient land would contribute very materially to the solution of the housing question; and very much better materials might be employed in such a building, proportionately with the amount of space offered each tenant, than those at present commonly to be found in the appalling jerry-Duilt rabbit hutches which are being allowed to disfigure the Western residential district.
Not a little interest, therefore, attaches to the large apartment building which Mr. J. H. Blackstone is at present constructing in the extension of Rue Lafayette, This building is the largest of its kind this side of San Francisco, and contains in all some 31 apartments. 'Of these there are 20 large apartments containing four rooms. together with a pantry and a kitchen, three medium sized apartments consisting of three large rooms with' kitchen and pantry, and eight small apartments composed of living room, a bedroom, a bathroom, and a kitchen, suitable for single ladies or bachelors.
All bedrooms have adjoining them bathrooms with hot and cold water in abundance, and the latest modern conveniences. The kitchens are fitted with ice boxes, gas rings, fireless cookers, and small laundry tubs. All the floors of this building are of parquetry set in pitch on a concrete foundation with the exception of those of the corridors which are of mosaic or of tarazzo, Each apartment is connected with the main entrance hall by telephone.
Swimming Pool for Residents.
The building contains a private swimming pool, a large social parlour, where refreshments will be winter garden, and a roof garden commanding an extensive of the Ezra Estate, and the of the French Concession. There are moderately large grounds adjoining, which contain three tennis courts free to all tenants, and also 12 garages. The exterior of the building is yuare and imposing and is covered veneer of cement and granite, which has the appearance of stone. The total ground space is 192 ft. by 69 ft. with a height of 72 ft. all told. There are five floors with a space between floors of 10 feet. 'The rents, it is understood will be, for ' the large: apartments Tls. 148 to Tls. 152, medium apartments Tls. 115, and for the smaller flats Tls. 85 per month. This includes all hot water theating, and the servants' quarters, and also all rates and taxes. Meals, will also be served in each flat required.
The architects are Mr. Blackstone and Mr. Johnson, and this is one of the first buildings to be built without a Chinese contractor.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.