New-York tribune., 1902-08-02
BIG PLAN OF CITY OFFICES
MUNICIPAL ART SOCIETY WOULD HAVE
ALL DEPARTMENTS GROUPED
TOGETHER

A plan is being developed by members Of the
Municipal Art Society for remodelling City Hall
Park and adequately housing municipal depart
ments. The project would change the aspect OF
the city's administra tive buildings radically At
present the city offices scattered about In
various downtown buildings to extent that.
besides separating them nconvenently, brings
the rent bill up TO 500. .0OO 1t has already been
suggested. by Controller Grout among others.
that such a charge equals the interest-at 312
per cent-on a little under SS.5OO,OOO- That
the city could advantageously undertake build
lngs to cost this amount rather than continue
paying rent for Office room has already been
urged In The Tribune The suggestion which is
now being informally considered by members of
the Municipal Art Society, and which will soon
be laid officially before the Municipal Art Com
mission is founded on this basis But the pro-
visions of the plan in detail what make it
Of commanding interest.
With the exception of the City Hall, it is rec
commended that the park be cleared of all build
ings This would sweep away the old city fire
house, the City Court, the old Hall OF Records,
all of them abutting Centre-st. and also the
large Tweed" courthouse. north of the City
Hall. This building. which cost with repairs.
between S15.0O0.OO0 and S160U0.000. has never
been satisfactory to the eye for use. and
plans OF remodeing it have never seemed prac
ings would restore the beauty of the park give
the City Hall dignifed setting and allow the
problem of providing suitable room for the city
departments to be worked out unhampered.
The steps urged TO accomplish this would also
add to the whole effect 1t is proposed to ac
quire the property occupied by the Stewart
Building Broadway and Chambers-st, and
also the lots intervening between this and the
new Hall of Records. The Stats zeitung'
block would also be taken up. bounded by Tryon
besides the tract Of land on the east side OF
Park Row north of the bridge terminal. running
back North WiIliam-st. This would give the
city space for buildings TO surround the City
Hall Park on the north and northeast, and make
an orderly, systematic and impressive elevation.
The Capitalization and adequacy OF the plan
are obvious and the cost is estimated to come
within the amount the interest on which is now
paid out in rent The property thus lying on
either side OF Park Row could accommodate
such building as is recommended by William
Barclay Parsons. which would span the street
at the bridge terminal. allow the city to depress
the electric railroad tracks. and make under
ground connection TO the north. while giving
the greatest amount of municipal office accom-
modatiOn in ample If not. indeed. a huge
structure. For the plan contemplates not mere
ly relieving the present congestion, but allowing
IN reasonable way for the inevitable and
stant growth of the city's business.
Friends of the Mayor believe the plan will
prove satisfactory. 1t would. of course, have
to wait upon the cty's ability to command the
necessary funds, but should be capable of con-
summation in dozen or fifteen years. Its pro-
jectors say it is a comprehensive proposition
which aims TO bring economy order and far
seeing considerations of architectural fitness
and dignity into the scheme of the expansion of
the city's departments The suggestion will
presently he laid in due form before the Munic-
ipal Art Commission. which in turn may be ex-
pected to lay it before the Mayor.