The San Francisco call., 1906-06-24
IGNORES
BUILDERS
REQUEST
Board Refuses to Remove
Height Limit From
City Law.
Coleman Says Amend
ment Can Be Made
Later if Desired.
Protest in Behalf Of Glass
A Structure Is in
Vain.

Ignoring the protests of .architects
and engineers who urged that the re-
striction on the height of class A build
ings be removed. Supervisor Coleman
had his building ordinance passed to
print yesterday as finally framed by
the committee. This means that all
buildings VIII be restricted in height
TO one and half times the width of the
street The ordinance will come up for
final passage one week from tomorrow.
If the people Of San Francisco don't
like this ordinance" said Coleman in
answer TO those who spoke against the
measure. they can have 1t changed.
1t can be amended at any time. / re-
port the ordinance for print without
amendment"
The contention of the protestants
was that the Limitation affects the class
4 buildings alone and that it is mani
festiy unfair TO investors who are de-
sirous Of rebuilding the city. When
the committee was called upon by Su-
pervisor Gallagher to present a re-
port Coleman stated that owing to an
accident to the press the ordinance
could not be printed until Monday, but
he recommended that those who desired
10 speak on the subject be given an
opportunity.
J. D. Galloway. an engineer who was
member OF the subcommittee that
drafted the building ordinance, gave
some reasons why there should be no
limitations Of height on class A build
ings. He explained that as the ordf-
nance was originally drawn it was the
intention to allow all class structures
to be two and one-half times the width
Of the street He said in part:
The class p and c buildings are not
affected by the width of the streets
4 We believe that the penalty on the
better class OF structures is entirely too
severe. II will mean practically that
there will be no class A buildings A
man does one OF two things Either
he puts up high class building or a
cheap one. For example, on Kearny
street he can put up a nine-story class
A building or a class B structure of
seven stories. The difference in in
/ vestment IS so great that he Will build
class b
You understand there are certain
requirements in putting up a class A
building whether IL be for eight stories
or twelve"
Supervisor Coleman interrupted to ask
J how many class A buildings there were
previous TO the fire and was Informed
( there were in the neighborhood of
twenty-five Replying further, Gallo
way said that experience has taught
that the class A building is the only
kind to build, but IL It cannot be of a
certain height IT would not be profit
able investment.
There was an argument as to where
class A buildings would be located in
the future, and Galloway said that
there are many such buildings in con-
temptation and that personally he
knows OF twelve handicapped by street
restriction.
Architects say" he continued. that
with the exception of Market street
they cannot build with the proposed
Limitation and have a paying invest
ment. You will find you are placing
restrictions on the buildings that stood
the best. 1 have in mind d building
4 across from Shreve's for which the iron
has already been ordered II this ordi-
nance is passed that iron must be
thrown away"
Senator Sims followed with similar
plea but Supervisor Coleman had evi-
IDENTIFY made up his mind and would
\ consent to no change.
I The tax levy was fixed at 1892 on
every 500 of valuation. Supervisor
Gallagher explained the necessity for
a higher levy than last year by stating
that II was the intention to dispose of
possibly $12.00o.000 of bonds unsold and
the interest must be cared for The
levy. showing the apportionment for
the various funds, is as follows:
General fund .......-...... .s5ss
Fireman's relief pension fund ..... O0a2
Common school fund ...-.............. .1lT0
Library fund -.-.--.................. .0l5a
Park fund ,.-........-......... .0100
Hospital bond redemption aud interest OI 45
Sewer bond redemption and interest. 1000
School bond redemption and interest. . OJ29
Street bond redemption and interest. .o24l
County jail and additions 10 Hall of
Justice bond redemption and interest. .OI05