The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-09-20
THE new BLYTHE BLOCK
Will Positively Not Be Built
if MIR. Taylor'S Ordinance
Is Passed.
SAYS ATTORNEY W. H. H. HART.
The Proposed Structure to Be at
Least One Hundred and Eighty
Feet High.

The ordinance proposed by the Fire De-
nartment Committee of the Board OF SUI
pervisors regulating the height of build
ings meets the unqualified antagonisr of
several of the largest property-owners in
this CITY. 1t is argued by those who
should be in a position to know that if
the Supervisors adopt the ordinance as
amended by Mr.. Taylor, limiting the
height of future structures to 100 feet,
it will be the worst blow ever aimed at
San Franciscos growth and prosperity
generally.
81 am bitterly and unalterably opposed
to any such ordinance" said Attorney w.
II. H. Hart yesterday, "because 1t means
a death blow to many structures now under
plation which would not only be
ornamental but highly beneficial to the
City at large. Several of my clients are
directly interested in the proposed or
dinance and if it becomes law, they Will
abandon entirely Improvements that have
been contemplated for several years.
Il refer particularly to the Blytne
block where modern structure OF some
twelve stories or more is 10 be erected,
provided this obnoxious ordinance does
not become operative. We have been sub
iected 10 many irritating delays through
influences over which we had no control,
but now that matters are about IN prac-
tical shape for something definite we are
met with proposition limiting the height
of all buildings to 100 feet or just seven
stories.
GAS the legal representative of the
Blythe estate | desire to say that if the
recommendation of the Fire Department
Committee is passed by the Supervisors
the Blythe block will remain in its present
condition. This must not be construed as
a threat, but as a calm statement of
business proposition, in which the erec-
ton of a paying block so many stories
high at cost of several hundred thou
sand dollars are the only things to be con-
sidered. The day of low buildings is about
over, and we do not propose to be forced
into erecting a six or seven story structure
which could not possibly compete with the
Mills Croker, Chronicle or hall dozen
other buildings l might mention.
Il am not at liberty to give the exact
size of the Blythe block, but this much L
can say, that its least height will be $50
feet The plans as drawn admit of a
structure seventeen stories high, though L
think the limit, provided this ordinance IS
not passed, will be twelve stories. The
Blythe estate can, of course, afford to al
low the present buildings to remain on the
Market-street block, and the parties in
terested will certainly do this ii the 100
foot limit of Supervisor Taylor is passed.
81 have three other clients who expect
in the not distant future to erect mod
ern twelve and fifteen story business
structures, but they will certainly put
their money elsewhere if limited to a
seven-story building. 1t matters not how
handsome or complete the equipments OF
these lesser buildings, they certainly can
not compete successfully with the Mills
or Croker buildings. At least, that is the
way my clients view the matter, and L
heartily agree with them. 1t is to be
hoped for the future interest of San Fran
cisco that the Supervisors will extend to
builders the same courtesy that has been
granted others in the past. Unless this is
done, Market street and other business
thoroughfares will for all time present the
shoddy and unkept appearance of to-day"