New-York tribune., 1907-01-24
GREAT CIVIC CENTRE,
Why Plan Should Be Completed bg
N61C DO1cntO7un Courthouse.

To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: An editorial In your issue of yesterday In
tsrested me than little. The present writer.
as far back as Afteen or twenty years ago. IN COM
pany with several prominent architects and with
the late Andrew H. Green Qndeed. at his sugges-
tom. had interview with the then Mayor OF
the City OF New York and advocated the acQuisi-
tion OF much OF the land bounded by Chambers
street. Broadway. Reade and Centre streets
might be required the site OF municipal build
ing to accommodate all the administrative depart
meuts Of the city and county not already provided
for in the City Hall and POstOffce. the principal
facades. Of course. TO be Chambers street and
Broadway
think most OF our lawyers would. for profes-
sional convenience. much prefer this site TO any
up town. and I that most OF cultured
citizens would heartily approve the accomplishment
Of what you Justly style "the noble plan' OF "a
great civic centre" IN tho close neighborhOod OF
two OF the most beautiful structures in our city
the old City Hall and the Hall Of Records
But be that as It may. the particular point wish
to make is an architectural Ons. II your sugges-
ton were carried out. namely balance the stately
Hall OF Records on chambers street and Centre
street with another similar structure on Chambers
street and Broadway. ard to raise a high pile be-
tween the two. opportunity would be afforded
70 Obvtste the great defect-and most serious
One-from the artistic point OF view. that is the
tOpheaviness OF all the "skyscrapers" heretofore
constructed And this without challenging the
possible adverse criticism-that by inwardly slop-
the side boundary wall oc skyscrapers abutting
against other skyscrapers, wedge shaped spaces
would be formed - them. not calculated 20
please the eye. however conducive to ssTatiOR and
ventilation.
For il the city owns the whole site on the north
the SOUTH stde). from Broadway TO Centre street,
the sOuthery. the westerly and the easterly inclOS
Ing walls OF your proposed central mass, above the
two corner adjunCts, could all be built with that
juOcts 10 it's summit-characteristic OF Egyptian
architecture. and which efficiently preclUdes the
topheaviness so oppressive 20 the eye In most sky
scrapers
At the time OF our interview with the Mayor the
high building born OF the great and constantly
increasing cost OF land on Manhattan Island. but
thanks mainly TO the elevator more and mort
effectively evolved BY mechanical genius. al
skeletoned skyscraper. The advent OF the latter
however and its apparent defiance OF Old-time Inn
itatons 10 altitude in building construction.
largely relieves the problem of providing sufficient
requisite OF site Is concerned and much OF the
block fronting Reade and Centre streets prob
ably need not be acquired by the city.
In the Old World one sees rhe same sites success
years by buildings devoted TO the mfnistration OF
religion and law, those needed breakwaters. when
occasion calls. against the resistless inflow OF in
furious theories and against the excesses OF popu-
Even commerce and finance. IN their higher rela-
tiOns, usually abide for hundreds OF years 20 the
regions. though, of course. retail trade fol-
lows the .hiftngs In locality OF the househOlders
doubted that the local steadfastness OF these
cies In tho conduct OF life. however !mperfectly
corruptly administered sometimes religion. law,
commerce and hnance-has largely contributed TO
the prosperity and continuity Of historical cities
New York. Jan IA 1907.