New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1908-08-07
TO LIMIT BUILDINGS
Code ReUision Committee Recon-
mends Many Restrictions.

Suggestions as to the methods Of limiting the
height of buildings in New York were made yes
terday to Thomas J. Brady, chairman OF the
Building Code Revision Commission, by the COM
mittee congestion Of population. based on the
report of investigation which the COMMITTEES
has been conducting during the last few weeks
1t is suggested that buildings be limited in helsnt
either the basis of zones within the city, oy
ratio of the width of the street by a system or
progressive taxation upon each story above
maximum or by a fiat Limitation The committee
recommends that an elevator capacity be provided
for each building that will. in fixed time, 10 be
specified as a limit in the code, empty the bulld-
ing of all tenants
Because of the enormous numbers of persons
using in the lower part of the city and
the proportionate increase which will be occa-
stoned by the erection Of additional high office
buildings the committee suggests that immediate
steps be taken to prohibit all vehicular traffic
within certain hours all main passenger
streets south of Chambers street
During the last five years the committee re-
ports, offices accommodating 33,251 persons have
been erected below Chambers street These have
in nearly every case been from fifteen to twenty
three stories high. The assessed values of the
sites occupied by these buildings have increased
nearly IS per cent, much greater than the in
crease in the value of other sites where smaller
buildings have been erected
The sanitary conditions and the conditions OF
light in these high buildings specially inves-
tfgated by DR. John HILL who found that the gloom
cast by high buildings darkens not only the build
ings opposite but also the offices In the
building Along lower Broa dway all offices have TO
be lighted artffciaIly except between o'clock in
the morning and O'Clock in the afternoon while
along Exchange Place, for instance there is d.
rect sunlight for only hours day. High
buildings. the report continues. raise the tenn.
peratJre of the streets and diminish the natural
draft.
A careful analysis Of the development Of office
buildings during the years 1s03-'O7 shows that de-
spite the provision of office space below Cortandt
street and Maiden Lane to accommodate 02s7 per-
this only 81 per cent of the total office
accommoda lions provided In Manhattan. Accommo-
dations for 1897 persons. 1874 per cent Of the
whole. provided between 23d and 42d streets
while in the district between 42d and S6th
office buildings erected TO accommodate 35. $50
persons nearly 10 per cent These figures seem
indicate that the office section IS drifting north
ward.
On the occupied by office buildings
below Chambers street, where there at present
accommodations for 1Ss.45s persons and with an
office level of fifteen stories there will be room for
222 407 occupants an increase of $4,000 which would
twelve to fifteen years. With the office level
twenty stories there will accommodations for
2S5.137 occupants. In this district there has been
addition 70 the factory space.
The necessity of repairing substructures in the
district occupied by high buildings has caused the
tearing up of the streets. 70 the hardship pas
by. especially in places where 200 per
sons pass given point In a single day. In 1907
Wall street between Broadway and South street
torn up for an aggregate 3s4 days and the
conditions obtained in many other streets.