New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-01-19
TIE yEW MUNICIPAL BUILDING.

Mayor Grants bill for the erection OF new
municipal building in the northeast corner Oh
the City Hall Park has been introduced IN uhe
Assembly by Mr.. Crosby, who expresses a de-
cided but not enthusiastic approval OF tne pian'
In general, MIR. Crosby holds the views which
have been avowed repeatedly in The IklB-
uNE. and we are not sure that he goes Iurther
than we are willing to 60 in supporting the
main features of the Mayors proposal. On
two points. at least, we should desire to see
the bill more precisely drawn. We have not
the least doubt of Mayor Grants good faith IN
selecting the site, but the strongest convlc-
tons of an official constantly subjected to in
penious pressure may undergo honest modlii-
cations, and, moreover, the Mayors tenure OF
life is not less uncertain than that OF his TEL
low-citizens. The bill, therefore, in our opln-
ion ought to specify the northeast corner OF
the park as the site for the new building. In
the second place, the limit of cost is not liked.
This is rather dangerous defect A generous
maximum should be allowed by all means. but
the glittering possibilities Of an unlimited ex-
penditure should be concealed as soon as pos
sible. Such a dazzling prospect is bad for
weak eyes.
In conceding the possible advantages OF put
ting the new building in the City Hall Park
THE TRIBUNE does not withdraw its opposi-
ton to any and every scheme which would
| operate seriously TO cucumber the open spaces
now existing there Mayor HewitSs common
sense strangely deserted him when he adyo-
Gated the erection Of two huge nondescnpt
structures having quasi connection with the
City Hall, and apparently designed for the ex-
press purpose of monopolizing as much as pos
sible Of the unoccupied space The City Hall
| is a building Of which the people are justly
| proud. Scarcely another structure in New
| York has stood so well the test Of sound ludg-
ment in architectural matters, and If there
were no other objection TO the plan of saddling
| il with couple Of grotesque riders" the fact
that they would completely destroy its SYM
metry and make it an eyesore instead OF con-
| ISOLATION would be enough. But it would be en-
tirely possible to put up municipal building
on the site proposed by the Mayor which would
be open to a similar objection, though In lar
less aggravaing form. The city does not want
structure there which will dominate the sit
uation, thrust itself upon the attention and
virtually obliterate the best features Of the
City Hall If any building is to rise there it
should be solid, simple and comparatively low.
II is possible to conceive of building which
would be ample for the purposes proposed, and
which would take its place naturally and I'M
obtrusively, would seem to belong there, and
would produce the always agreeable impression
| of fitness and utility. Such a design need not
be petty nor awkward. The City Hall itself
| is compact and modest, but 1t is undeniably
beautiful in outline and proportion.
On the main question of the necessity and
economy Of a new municipal building there
ought to be no division of opinion. There is
no sense in paying to individual property
holders for inadequate and inconvenient ac-
commodatons rents exceeding in the aggre-
gate the interest upon an Investment which
would provide commodious quarters for de-
partments of the city government now be-
slowed under private roofs. There is, above
all, no sense in trifing any longer with the
danger of confagration which would destroy
Invaluable records and involve real estate
titles in an inextricable tangle. The new
building, which will house the RegisterS office
ought, whatever its location, to be absolutely
lireproof in every part. A second building, fol
the use Of the criminal courts is also needed
and the city now owns in the premises occu'
pied by the freght-house in Centre-st, Of
! which the lease viii soon run out, perfect site
for that purpose. But the most imperative re
quirement Of the municipality is such building
as Mayor Grant has In mind and If his bill car
be made to furnish absolute protection from
those misfortunes which the choice Of sit'
within the limits Of the City Hall Park would
naturally involve, THE TRIBUNE will not OBJ
jet to its passage.