New-York tribune., 1894-04-05
DISCUSSING THE HEIGHT or BUILDINGS.

ARCHITECTS BELIEVE THAT IT SHOULD De RE.
sTRICTED-ErFEcT ON REAL ESTATE.
The regular monthly meeting Of the Architectural
League OF Ncw-York took place last night at No.
els Yves, Tlfty-sevcnth-st.. and after dinner dis
c,IsseI the question is 1t or f. 1t not desirable that
a law should be passed restricting the height OF
buildlncs?' George y. Post presided. and at the
guest table sat H. II. Burnham Richard Watson
Glider Alfred stone. u. Adler. Charles !. Berg.
Charles Il. Lamb and Warren II. Briggs Among
the members present were Edward II. Kendall
KENYON cox George l.. Hines. Thomas Hastings.
George Martin Huss Daniel French. Edward IL.
Rlashaeld F. V l.. Hoppin and J. Scott Hartley.
George b. Post opened the discussion, and after
giving an interesting history Of the OF the high
building said that when asked some years ago TO
oxpress his opinion the restriction or the hesht
of buildings he had said that the matter would
regulate itself and ne thought so still There are
M serous enrIneerlng Obstacles In the way OF erect
ing forty-story buding" he said. 'and If client
asked me what sort OF building would bring him
the greatest revenue would one Of forty sto-
res" But Mr. Post dd not wish to be understood
as favorng such structures. The real estate on
which the high building stands he thoughI De-
came more valuable. but the adjacent property de-
preciated. -
In cities where the average width OF the streets
is thlrty.nve feet. a series OF great towers made
the streets CANYONS and while occasional towers
were not Objectionable rows OF these We're
ID II Burnham said "A law restricting the
height OF buildings will not lower the value OF prop
ertv The tendency is to higher values all over the
country and ten-story buildings would Increase the
rental OF office buildings.
Mr. Burnham thought that the elevator question
would do much to restrict the greater height OF
buildings High buildings also impeded traf-
Ne because they produced congested streets.
and this was already apparent III this clty
and I'm Chicago. where Underground ran
WAYS moving sidewalks. and other means or re-
lieyng the congestion were being spoken or con-
pestion plus elevator. plus the Withdrawing or
buildings" he said viii haturaiiS reStii0l '''e
building OF high structures , ,
Wr Adler the architect OF the 3 rum ana
| tho TRANSPORTATION Building. at Columbian
Exhibition said he both sid. of ne gues-
lion and his assertion that the less building leSls
Iation we have the better" loudly appauded
He did not believe that the high buildings would
deprecate the value OF the nearby property oc-
cupied BY low buildings. -,
Alfred stone OF Providence. II. l.. favored such
legisla ton as would make the owner OF a building
over seyenty-hve feet nigh responsible Tor uaHiaSe
done his neighbors' property from fire originating
In his building . =, ,,,u r,s.,,s
Hastings and W. II. Briggs No action was taken
further than the appointment OF a committee TO
report on the subject but the burden OF opinion
was in favor OF restricting the height or buildings
The gold and silver medals awarded TO Raphael
Gtstavno and Lionel Moses respectively for SUI
perIority in drawing and designs. were shown, Dut
no action was taken with regard to the TiHahy
prZe.