| Show I f Cities v Dg Suburban Areas i iI Nearby Sites Ao Occupied As Construction Hears Nears Record of 1920 Many m Many American cities are spreading Into info suburban areas are as aI a a result of the building boom Robert J 3 Myers assistant commissioner of the the bureau of labor statistics concludes after an analysis of ot 1947 1847 construction eta sta More new Dew dwellings irs art being constructed than at any time since great the great boom of 1920 although In Inthe Inthe the fret first six months month of this thu year ear fewer permits were wera issued for new dwellings Inside city limits or zoned areas than in the first six alx months montha T in IMS 1940 Thu This Is why national build- build building 1 ing leg figures based solely on OD building 1 permits may give an Impression that construction Is declining Non Zoned ell Area Gains Gain Construction In the non zoned areas ot of suburbs has haa increased My My- My Myers ers era says because beca use the cost cot of land is il lower usually in the suburban areas In addition the lifting biting of at building controls last December made more materials available to suburban builders There were new building units unit started In the first six months of ot 1947 1941 and completed the greatest number since the boom days of ot 1928 Corresponding figures for tor the first six months of ot 1946 1948 show units started and completed But in the 1947 1941 period only permits were for dwelling units in cities a decline of from tram the city building permits issued during the first six months of ot 1948 1946 Myers says lays the ratio of 01 suburban to city construction has hai been In creasing since lince 1945 when about 38 36 per cent of at construction work was In suburban areas In 1946 1046 suburban building represented about 40 per percent percent cent of the national total In 1947 statisticians Ita believe It will sent lent about a bout 45 per cent Not Back to Farm Farns This definitely U is not a back to the farm movement Myers says The site sites are not farm tarm property The majority of ot them are In sub sub- suburban urban areas areis that have been built up almost as aa completely as II the nearby city areas Our statistics are for tor construction work Statisticians have bave noted one other trend the construction of at more apartment houses bouses They say lay It is too early to make teaks forecasts but that the construction of apartments inside clUes cities Is ts Increasing at present If it ItI I continues upward It may reverse the trend toward a higher ratio of ot dwelling units In the suburbs Statisticians believe liberalization of ot rent controls may have bated apartment construction The bureau of labor statistics forecasts a record near year In the construction Industry during 1947 Its Ita experts predict at least units will be started this year cost cost- costIng costing ing but still well below the time all-time record r cord of ot units started In boom 1925 The bureau estimates the cost of ot building material is up about 80 00 per percent percent cent compared with 1925 prices The otI I i average hourly earnings of ot con con- construction workers is up about 75 per percent percent cent over the 1939 rate A compare ble wage rate for 1925 lInG is u not avail avail- available j aVaU-j J J able J |
