He was also president of the Boston Society of Landscape Architects. The limitation of the height of buildings is an important issue in civic development, for it affects land values, the character of improvements, and the entire outward appearance of the central districts of the larger cities. Many complex factors enter into the matter of height in other types of structures, such as safety, architectural value of spires and towers, commercial need of stacks, etc., which confuse the principles involved. Insufficient light and air in the street and in the building will result from too great height of the front elevation of the building on the street line. Loss of architectural effect will result when the building has such a great height that it cannot be viewed at a proper angle.
Some limitation is therefore necessary for the protection of the general public.
In determining a reasonable regulation of height, it will be noticed at the outset that the factors of congestion and light and air and, to a large extent, also the architectural effect, vary in nearly a direct ratio as the width of the street upon which the building faces. Width of street would, therefore, seem to be an essential element in the regulation of building heights, though it is frequently ignored in regulations now in force. For comparison, five continental cities have been added, to indicate the universally low limitations of building heights abroad. Of the cities having regulations, the height is limited in Baltimore, to 175 feet, except towers, spires, etc. Buffalo, not exceeding four times the building's least horizontal dimension.