Garden Rents Cut to Attract New Tenants

Hunneman and Company, landlords of the University's Botanical Garden Apartments, yesterday offered new tenants a drastic cut in rents for 15 still empty two-bedroom suites.

The firm told a prospective renter he could move in for 14 months on a 12-month lease. He was asked to sign the lease now and start paying rent two months after beginning occupancy of the suite.

The company is willing to do this for all new renters, in an attempt to fill the long empty rooms. It will not, however, cut the rents of present tenants.

Tenants Complain

Hunneman decided on this action after receiving complaints from present tenants and refusals from prospective ones about the high rent. The two-bedroom suites cost from $160 to $165 per month.

Other complaints from residents continued to pour into the real estate offices. Most cite the lack of any sound-proofing between the walls and between floors.

Company spokesman Edward L. Francis said yesterday that the materials used in the floors was a special tile, designed for soundproofing. He added that $1,400 had been spent on further noise muffling since the buildings were completed.

Another gripe was the refrigerators. All refrigerators in the project are gas, and sit directly below wooden cabinets. Several occupants claim that the exhaust has been so hot they were forced to put asbestos pads on the cabinet bottoms.