The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-05-01
FOR THE PLAN

THE champions OF the civic center project say that
l the site for the proposed civic center would cost
100000 The site OF the old city hall is valued
100000 10 s2,5e0oea The extension Of Fulton
street eastward and Of Hyde southwark would
add greatly the value Of the property by giving an
important district easy Market street. and by
providing five corner lots and two gore lots
all desirable for leasing purposes Considering these
things II has been estimated that the old site could
be leased rental that would only pay the in
the bonds for the site but would also
the opinion OF some, provide sinking fund for the
payment of the bonds themselves. the end, 1t is
claimed the city would the civic center for nothing
It Is further asserted that the levy necessary to
meet the interest and principal of the proposed bond
issue viii not be considerable For the fiscal year
lslo-1l it wiz be 072 on slo0 II viii gradually de-
crease with the increase of the assessment roll and
for the year lsle-17 win be e545 In the following
year when the payment Of the principal begins it
viii reach its highest figure, es1 and viii again
crease steadily until the whole issue is redeemed
This taking consideration the rental 10 be
derived from the present city hall site If this rental
Is devoted exclusively the payment of the interest
and principal Of the bonds, is contemplated, the
rate viii be considerably lower 1t must be re-
embered also. that with the completion of the new
city hall the city viii paying large for tenn
porary quarters for the municipal Offices During the
fiscal year repairs furnishings etc. cost the city
s20s 1880 and the appropriation for rents was
100000. These figures viii be increased next year
San Francisco has had difficulty in disposing of
previous bond issues and, il is claimed, viii have no
difficulty in disposing Of this one. Granting that It
viii raise the bonded Indebtedness of the city to the
per limit which bond buyers stop il must be
remembered that there viii be no more bond issues
for nonprOductiFe improvements for many years
The needs of city will be amply provided for when
this issue voted The total of s52 800 to which Il
viii raise the voted (but not sold) city bonds viii be
The top notch of bonded indebtedness for years 10
come. The continuous increase in the assessment
roll viii bring San Francisco within the per cent
limit within a few years anyway. So viii the re-
demption Of bonds which is constantly going on
The present site is not adapted to the erection of
proper city hall Its peculiar shape does not adapt ii
satisfactory architectural treatment either for
single monumental building for group of build
fngs Il has adequate approach from Market street
the citys main artery D. II Burnham and his assist
ants tried years 10 make the old city hall site
civic center but finally gave up as mpracticable
They chose the proposed civic center site because it is
practically and architecturay ideal. 1t situated at
the intersection of the citys main thoroughfare and
principal boulevard Future improvements would
make it the and boulevards radiatng
TO every section Of the city.
Esthetc considerations are all in favor of grouping
the city hall the law courts and the public library in
proper relation TO one another central site with
open spaces surrounding them. The great public
buildings Of old world cities are thus situated. and
large of money being spent. both in America
and Europe, in cosdemning and purchasing valuable
lands for just this kind Of improvement Beautiful
public buildings properly grouped add 20 the at
tractiveness of city and draw permanent settlers as
well visitors. thus adding to the wealth and i'm
portance of city.