The San Francisco call., 1906-06-23
Architect Says None but
Class c Structures
VIII Be Built.
Many Skyscraper Plans
Have Already Been
Reduced.
Construction Of Fireproof
Edifices Is Discour-
aged.

III the building law ms drafted fs
passed to print, according to the opin-
ions of leading architects and engi-
neers, San Francisco Will be recon-
structed of class c structures. The
city will be rendered liable to the raw
ages of another great confiagration,
they say. Insurance rates will soar
skywnrd. assert these men. and the
scheme of constructing an nrtistically
beautiful city VIII be nuIlffcd.
Cheap buildings of brick and wood
viii be built to conform with the fire
ordinance and the city will be little
better of for substantial structures
than 1t was before the fire. Already
plans for a number of projected sky
scrapers have been abandoned and
many more representing the enterprise
of wealthy business men are being al
tered to bring them under the class G
type of building.
NJ. V. Politeo of the firm of Cunning
ham & Politeo, architects and engi-
neers. is loud in his denunc!ation of
the proposed new building law. He has
appeared before the building commit
tee of the Supervisors and argued to
show why the height of class A struc
lures should not be restricted to one
and one-half times the width of the
streets on which they are built. Archi-
tect Politeo expressed his views as fol-
lows yesterday:
STREETS TOO NARROW.
Regarding the present height limit.
as set forth in the new building law,
which understand is to be adopted by
the Board of Supervisors, / will state
that as the law has been written it
Will do away entirely with the class A
building. The width of many streets
in San Francisco Is such that it will
not permit Of a building being erected
over eight stories high.
1T is possible to build class c struc-
lures six stories In height. Therefore
an owner cannot afford from a stand
point of investment to build a class A
structure which will cost 80 per cent
more than a class c building of the
same number of stories The man own
ing the class C building could rent his
apartments for less money than the
one who erected the class A structure.
The fact OF the class A building be-
ing situated next to a class c structure
would increase the insurance rate. The
class structure would burn, and when
city of class buildings burns, no
hreproof edifice could stand. This was
demonstrated in the recent fire.
The class G building is built of
brick walls, with wooden Joists, grid
ers and columns. The cost is much less
than for a class "A structure of the
same size, so where is any incentive
for property owner to erect class A
structure when he can make more
money from class C building. pay the
same insurance rate and be in no more
danger from a conf1sgration than If he
owned a class structure?
MANY PLANS CHANGED.
The proposed building law has been
the direct cause OF changes in the
plans of many large steel class A
structures. for which plans have al
ready been drawn up. The new law
makes no mention of restrictions for
buildings facing on squares. A build
ing on narrow street facing Union
square can be no higher than were it
situated on street not having
frontage on park or square.
The Schroth building. which was to
have been eighteen stories on Stockton
street, facing Union square, will be
changed to a six-story structure by the
owners IL the law is enacted as 1t is
now written.
The History building, to be rebuilt
on the old site on Market street, oppo-
site Grant avenue, has already been
changed from a twelve-story class A to
a class c six story building. Bancroft.
the owner, says that he will not erect
a class building when there are to
be SO many class C buildings.
The building to have been erected
by A B. Clark on Second street was
planned for a class A steel structure.
but has been changed to a class C
building.
so the Supervisors can see what
damage is going to be done the city IL
the present building law is put In
force The erection OF buildings is be-
Ing held back on account of the build
ing law, and many large class A struc-
lures, which would now be in course of
construction may now never material
ize"
Architect Politeo's views are shared
by many well-known architects and
engineers.
the declination of cbarl.. 2 Mi,.non