The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-07-25
ESTATE NEWS
Elaborate Building 0rdin-
ance Prepared by In
speCtor McNeill.
WILL THE ALDERMEN PASS 1t?
Some Say 1t Is Too Severe in the
Matter Of Alterations and
Removals.
WILL THE ALDERMEN PASS 1T?

Building Inspector McNeill has prepared
for adoption by the Board of Aldermen an
ordinance placing new restrictions upon the
erection of buildings, particularly within
the fire limits. 1t provides that all outside
or party walls shall be constructed of iron,
stone, brick or other fire proof material.
All foundation walls m u be laid not less
than four feet below the surface of the
ground on a solid foundation. The footing
or base course under all foundation walls,
piers, columns or posts resting on the earth
shall be of concrete or stone, and if unde a
foundation wall shall be at least eight inches
wider than the bottom of the wall. Founda-
ton walls will all have to be at least four
inches wider than the wall resting upon
them. In cases of dwelling houses not more
than t~hirty-iye feet in height, twelve inch
brick foundations may be laid, or stone
eighteen inches.
DWELLING HOUSE WALLS.
The outside and party walls of all dwell
ing houses must not be less than 8 inches
in thickness, and walls exceeding % feet in
height must be II inches in thickness at least
Is feet above the curb level walls more than
So feet high, and not exceeding 45 feet, shall
be not less imam IL Inches Unlcki anu I'D Ieeu
and not above So the walls must not be less
than II inches throughout; so feet and over
must be 16 inches thick up to the height of
20 feet above the curb level, and II inches
from there on.
All buildings other than dwellings more
than 30 feet high must have one or more
brick or stone partition walls not less than s
inches thick, so located that the distance be-
tween two such walls shall be not more than
% feet. When the building exceeds 30 feet
in height IL inch partition walls must be
used.
PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
All public buildings now being erected. or
hereafter to be erected are to have doors
swinging outward of sufficient width and
number to allow rapid egress in case of fire
or panic. No place of amusement, hall CT
public building, shall hereafter be erected
within the city limits unless plans and speci-
f~ications be submitted 10 the Building In
spector for examination. All walls shall be
built with headers every sixth course. The
mortar to be used shall be composed of lime
and cement. Foundation walls must be laid
in cement. All front walls must be securely
anchored to side or party walls, every four
feet in height. In no building shall wood be
placed within eight inches of the inside OF
amy Cue.
ALTERATIONS y REMOVALS.
No walls already built shall hereafter be
used as a party wall.
No building erected for the purpose of a
dwelling shall be altered so as to beused for
any other purpose, except with the consent
of the Building Inspector.
No frame building shall he raised, en-
larged. altered, built upon or removed from
one lot to another unless a petition, with a
drawing or sketch showing the height and
size of the proposed enlargement or altera-
ton, together with a full description of the
same, be submitted to the Building Inspec-
tor. Every wooden building with a brick
front which may hereafter be damaged to
onc-half its value may be rebuilt; but If
damaged more than one-half its value, it
shall be torn Down n removed. To deter
mine the actual loss where the question is in
dispute, it shall be decided by two disinter-
ested persons, and three, il necessary. Such
arbiters are to receive $5 each from the
owner of the building for services. The
owners of frame buildings who shall move,
| enlarge OF. alter them in violation of the pro
visions of the ordinance shall subject him-
self, the architect, master builder, master
carpenter or whoever assists in the work to
| a fine of $50 for every twenty-four hours
after notice shall have been given to replace
the building. No frame or wooden buildings
shall hereafter be built inside the fire limits,
and no frame building to be used as a fac
tory, dwelling OF any other purpose shall
exceed t~hirty-fve feet in height.
COMMENT ON THE MEASURE.
The ordinance is considered an excellent
one in many respects, but the Aldermen will
not pass it without a fight. Some say it is
aimed in part at spectators like Mr.. 2. A.
Somers. There are two sections of the or
dinance which would undeniably affect his
| style of business. The first prevents any
building erected for dwelling purposes being
altered so as to be used for any other pur-
pose except with the consent of the Inspector
Of Buildings. This section is to prevent
repetition of the occurrence at Wayne and
Varick streets, where Somers altered 8
dwelling and made a store of it. The sec
ton is regarded as placing too much power
in the hands of an employe of the Board.
The other section directed at Somers pre-
vents any frame building from being al
tered. enlarged, raised on moved.
These sections do not meet with the APP
prevail of some OF the Aldermen, and they
viii probably be knocked out.