The evening world., 1902-11-21
Municipal Art Society Recon-
mends Removal of All Build
Ings Except City Hall and
County Court House.
70 AFFORD NEEDED RELIEF.
Suggests condemnlne Land Between
Chambers and Reade Streets from
Hall Of Records to Broadway for
Public Building.

A special committee OF the Municipal
Art Society, consisting Of Calvin Tom
kins, Chairman of the Committee on
Perks; Charles c. Hatght, Chairman Of
the Model City Committee, and Charles
r. Lamb, Chairman of the Committee on
Th%oroughfares. has completed a report
regarding proposed changes in and
about City Hall Square.
The committee recommends that all
the buildings in the park except the
City Hall and County Court House be
removed; that the ground area OF the
County Courthouse be not extended;
and Reade streets, extending from the
New Hall of Records to Broadway, be
condemned.
Follow CIRCUITS Suggestions.
These recommendations follow the sug-
gestions Of this committee since the ad-
ministration Of Mayor Gilroy, n also
follow the suggestions made by Comp
troler Grout. paving The way for a
large Municipal building in the block to
be condemned.
Tho recommendations Of the COM
mittee are as follows:
First. That all buildings except the
old City Hall n County Court House
be promptly removed from City Hall
square. the City Hall being the one
structure within the park limits at once
20 cred!table in It's architecture and of
such historic interest that its preserva-
ton should he indefinitely provided for.
The removal of these buildings will af-
ford great RELIEF where it is most needed
and will make 1t possible to alter the
lines OF the street and sidewalk along
Park Row and the passages through the
park In such a manner as to greatly
facilitate travel.
IncOnBruous Court House.
'~second-That the ground area OF the
county Court-House be not enlarged.
This building. incongruous in design,
ana taking up area which should have
Deen lett open, will become more OF
an obstruction as the result OF any at
tempt to enlarge 1t, The existing pas
cage between 1t and the City Hall Is at
present inadequate. and any extension
OF It's limits to the south Will not only
SIowd travel stu more. but the build
lngs would also crowd each other to the
architectural disadvantage OF both. To
extend the building to the east or west
would result In serious curtailment OF
OPhNN- LAlbNly. lie cADelHo
for radical changes will Be very heavy,
put necessary room for the courts can
ne provided more promptly n ad-
ye~ntageously either by interior altera-
buildings on the north side Of Cham
pers street, where such place, not now
used by the city, is Immediately avail
be provided in one OF the other OF the
proposed municipal buildings hereinafter
mentioned.
.ThirdI,AsSnminG that the property
Row. Chambers street and Centre street
rs TO pc taken for bridge approaches.
then this committee distinctly advises
SSSmbers and Reade Streets, extending
Broadway. be also condemned. The
ings on this site, can be Immediately
utilized for mnnieiP9l purposes at a
al present paying Sic, $50 for only a few
rooms on three floors. II this Is dom at
once the realty will be secured at the
lowest possible figure"
TIT Committee. in speaking OF what
the results of these recommendations
would be within three years, say:
What the Result Would he.
a. City Hall Park between the Post
Office and Chambers street cleared of
distractions, attractive and spacious to
IN extent that can now be scarcely
imagined. n a fitting site for genera
lions to come for every class OF adorn-
ment hat may make beautiful the
place, or commemorate historical events
or characters.
"a striking bridge approach to the
grandest bridge ever built. The best
housed and most compactly and con-
Yeniently grouped municipal offices that
any city ever had. Economy, conven.
fence and civic pride alike dictate that
New York seize this opportunity to
provide for herself in such a civic CEN
tire as neither Is needed nor could be
bad elsewhere"