The first families-about 500-moved in on March 1, 1940. As new buildings were opened, new families continued to move in. During September 1941 the number was almost 2,000. On different occasions, Parkchester has received as many as 100 "move-ins" in a single day. Vans have traveled long distances across the country. Virtually every State, including Texas and California, is represented in the tenancy. Families have come from other countries such as Canada and Venezuela. For a time it was necessary to place information booths upon the parkways as an aid to chauffeurs.
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The new rent schedule called for an increase of $4 monthly [or two room suites, $5 for three room suites, $6 for four room suites and $7 for those consisting of five rooms.
The letter sent out stated that the increase sought was substantially less than the fifteen percent permitted under the Federal Housing and Renting Act of 1948 and that all who refrained from accepting the offer could remain in possession of their apartments as statutory tenants under the provisions of the Federal and municipal rent control laws.
Response of resident families was immediate and by the end of October the great majority had signed applications for the new leases.
At the close of the heating season in the spring of 1943, Parkchester Management carried out an unusual operation, the conversion of its large central heating plant from oil firing to an arrangement which permitted the use of either oil or pulverized coal or a combination of both. It was the largest conversion of a residential nature in this country and was undertaken to conserve fuel oil for the prosecution of the war. It cost more than $500,000.
More than half of the adult population of the community is under 35 years of age. There are many newlyweds. The
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We reproduce above floor plans taken from two of the many floor arrangements which comprise the
various buildings in the Com-
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munity. Careful planning resulted in the compact arrange- ment of rooms which allowed each apartment the maximum possible amount of floor area.
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The community has been completely rented since 1943. It has a population of about 40,000 persons, equivalent to that of many cities. The management staff numbers about 500 persons and includes a group of uniformed men who are un duty on the grounds day and night.
The community is not to be confused with Government or slum-clearance housing. It is wholly an investment of the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company and represents the vision and the energy of Frederick H. Ecker, Chairman of the Board of Directors. It is one of the largest taxpayers in New York City.
It was planned by a group of men in the front rank of their professions. They composed a Board of Design. The members were Richmond H. Shreve,chairman; Andrew J. Eken, George Gove, Gilmore D. Clarke, Robert W. Dowling. Irwin Clavan and Henry C. Meyer, Jr. Starrett Bros. & Eken, Inc., were the general contractors. Douglas Lowe is the Resident Manager.
In the Summer of 1948, Management notified some 12,000 families that maintenance and operating cost were eighty percent higher than they had been in 1940 and offered new three year leases, effective as of October 1, at increased rentals, acceptance to be on a voluntary basis.
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baby carriage is the community's most popular vehicle. There are 171 perambulator rooms. Youngsters 3 years of age and under, form the largest child group.
Residents of Parkchester pay less than twenty percent of income for rent. They include school teachers, policemen, firemen, salesmen, postal and other Federal employees, owners of small businesses, young lawyers, engineers, newspapermen, bank and brokerage employees, mechanics and secretaries.
During the war defense measures inaugurated by residents and Management in cooperative action were of the most thorough nature. In 1946, the community's two Honor Rolls bore the names of 1,389 residents and 221 employees. There were fifty two Gold Stars. Thousands of families now await the opportunity to move into Parkchester. However, preference is being given to veterans. At the top of the list is a large group composed of veterans who left Parkchester to enter the service.
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