The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-06-29
M.D.'S W Ant OFFICES
They Think Nicollet Avenue Some.
what Too Rich for Their
Blood.
Anyway, All the Good Offices Are
Taken and More Are
Needed.

Agitation for an office building solely
for regular physicians and dentists is
taking form. Several reasons for this
move are evident. one of which is the
rise in rentals, beginning July /.
At, present the physicians are quar-
tered mainly in the Medical block, the
Pillsbury building, Masonic Temple, the
Andrus building and the Syndicate. Not
counting the dentists, there are about 400
regular physicians in the city. Counting
out about 20 per cent for doctors with
offices in residence districts, the remain
der are in down town buildings. Sc
| strongly is the new movement Endorsed
that it is figured that a large structure
put up solely for medical offices would be
rented before the foundation was laid. The
movement has conferred on some site on
First avenue S or further south. First
avenue and Fifth street Is rather a ia
vorite.
Under the new square foot system of
assessing rents, physicians in one Of the
buildings occupied mainly by doctors say
that the rents are necessarily berry high,
and that they are too high because the
building is SO small that the charge for
management and maintenance is as much
as it would be for a structure three times
as large for all departments except that
Of care taking. Therefore, the cost dis
tributed among the tenants comes heav-
lily on each.
When the Dayton, now Pillsbury, build
ing put up for physicians. it was an
experiment. Patronage Of the building
indicates that the plan was success.
Later, when the Andrus building was put
up, two floors were fitted for physicians
and dentists.
The doctors want building with Ger
tain specifications and it appears that
their wishes will be gratif1ed. They would
have building off Nicollet, first ON &C
count of the high cost Of land which
makes rents higher and, secondly, be-
cause Nicollet avenue buildings are not
easy of access from carriages, owing to
the streets congested condition during
business hours. They want it to be on a
cross side street, preferably near the
hospital section of the city and not too
far from the center Of business, say First
avenue and Sixth street.
This building must, of course, be fitted
with special ventilating system, special
electric accommodations, compressed air
equipment, even temperature appliances,
good daylight, etc. Offices should be ar
ranged so that several physicians might
have common waiting-room for their
individual consulting-rooms. They should
be without corners, with glazed tile floor
and wainscoting, so as to allow frequent
flushing.
A physician said this morning that a
building with a small operating room for
minor surgical operations, equipped with
latest appliances. including Roentgen ray
machines, with an operator, to be used
in common by the tenants, and a room for
diagnosis where patients with peculiar or
unusual symptoms might be taken for
consideration in consultation, would be a
winner.
The chief reason for such a new build
ing is the absolute lack Of more office &C
commodations in Minneapolis. There is
not another good office available.