New-York tribune., 1909-02-04
HIGH AND Low ARGUMENTS.
Divergent Views OF Plan to Limit Height Of
Buildings.

committee Of the Board OF Estimate held a
public hearing yesterday the ordinance recently
passed by the Board Of Aldermen. which tncorpo-
rated in tts measure the recommendations OF the
Building Code Revision Commission. In effect this
ordinance would limit the height Of buildings fso-
ing streets less than forty-hve feet In width 70
1S5 feet Streets Of greater width are allowed oy
the ordinance to have buildings to height Of 800
feet and this limitation is further extended to 800
feet where the building Is constructed in parks or
fronting on plazas-
Controller Metz, chairman Of the committee,
called upon Calvin Tomkins, of the Board OF
Trade and transportation. and he presented the
view of his organization in opposition to the pri-
posed ordinance
TT is not a matter Of height he said. In his
argument but OF light and air. A fat height Of
low buildings extensive buildings facing
narrow streets. Even now the buildings upon
which low Limitation has been imposed are the
darkest In the city. It is but natural that there
should be intensive construction the price
of land IN lower Manhattan connpels the owners
TO get all the space they can on their sites We
have no objection to how high building may go
as long as angle of light is provided for. This
should be from 10 IS degrees. and with this pro-
vided for building could to any height"
President Badd of the New York Board OF Fire
Underwriters said that his organization against
the high buildings because of the confagration
danger. He said that with uniform height
of buildings the difficulty in lighting fires would
be greatly essened
In answer to questions Of Mr.. Metz. he declared
that II there very serious fire in the con
gested districts Of New York it would bring as
result financial ruin 20 the business in the section,
and also probability of bankruptcy OF the local
insurance companies.
Mr.. Badd. speaking further Of t1e needlessness of
high Office buildings. made the assertion that If
Limitation of 15O feet placed office buildings
there would still be enough room TO house all Of
fees for fifty years to come
"A devastating fire in New York would mean not
only local calamity but national and world
wide disaster said Mr.. Badd-
Charles z. Lamb OF the Reform Club. also dwelt
upon the necessity Of angle of light He asked
that the size Of the angle be calculated from the
width of Broadway any other thoroughfare upon
which the structure faces.
Speaking for the American Institute OF Archi-
tects. Eectus D. Litchfeld that the evils re-
sultant upon high buildings were darkened build
ings and streets and congestion of thcroughfares
For the Architects Institute he asked that an or
dnance be framed which should compel recessons
from the building lines light courts and limit OF
volume. No limit OF height was mentioned, as the
Limitation of volume. in Mr.. Lltchhed's opinion
would take OF the height.
Ernest FTagg. the designer of the Singer Building
spoke in favor of unlimited height The dan
GER he said. is not in the height Of buildings but
that they built in such compact shape that
light and air are shut Tenements he declared
would be unhealthy they Il they
built higher upon smaller OF ground
The air and light 10 be gained by build
ings, Mr.. FlaKg thought. would reduce the NOR
tally rate. He, too in favor of construction
that would allow the angle of light to reach
the street and every room OF the building Build
ngs OF great height. contended the architect. were
not horrors. but things Of beauty. The real need
he pointed out. limitation of occupied area
but no Limitation of height
NJ. De Selding took up the problem from the real
estate mans point of view. The limit 9f buildings
he asserted. reached when the limit OF ele-
vator service reached.
John De Witt Warner, of the Municipal Art So
ciety. had nothing but praise for tall buildings.
Air and light supply, fire proof construction and
relief from congestion. ne said. had all been ef-
fected by structures of great height.
John Martin, representing the committee OF con-
gestion of population. made the statement that a
Limitation of heights would produce cubicaI build
ings. and consequence a loss or air and light
Mr.. Metz asked for opinions in favor Of the rec
concentrations Of the Building Code Commission
but a voice was heard. The hearing was then
closed