The San Francisco call., 1910-04-24
Want Change IN
LAW ON BUILDING
Owners of Property West OF
Powell Street Suggest New
Class of Structure

The plight of the property owners in
the district west of Powell street and
east of Van Ness avenue, whose small
holdings viii not permit of profitable
fire proof construction of the types
now allowed by the building law, was
set forth in a communication sent to
the board of supervisors yesterday. A
suggested remedy for this state of af-
fairs was presented for the boards
consideration.
First calling attention TO the fact
that the district was densely popu-
lated before the fire and that the ad-
jacent business district has been en-
tirely rebuilt. the petition said:
The continuation of this state of
affairs is not only an unsightly
reproach TO the progresss of the
city, but is a practical confiscatlon
of the property in the district and
great detriment to the business dis
trict already rebuilt.
AS all property owners are de-
sirous of making their property
productive, and as many thousands
would be glad of an opportunity to
live close to the city, there must
be some cause for the stagnation of
this district.
HOLDINGS MOSTLY SMALL
It is to be found in the fact that
in this district the holdings are
mostly small, formerly improved
with wooden buildings, now within
the fire limits. It is manifest that
the cost of buildings of the class G
type, or better, is impracticable on
these small holdings. The cost is so
great that banks will not lend the
money to improve. The income
would not pay the interest on such
an investment. The thickness of
the walls required is so great as to
cut down the aVaila BILE area be-
yond the point of profitable con-
struction.
Referring to the fact that the fire
limits under the charter can not be re-
duced in area and that wooden build
ings are prohibited therein the petition
which is signed by D. s. Dorm, presi-
dent; Thomas F. Prendergast, secre-
tary; Geodge G. Potter, John E. Mullin
Henry NJ. Englander and J. T. Harness
directors; G. H. Umbsen & Co.. A. ].
Rich & Co.; D. Samuels, THE Lace
House; D. Samuels realty company
offers the following solution of the
difficulty:
The only solution would be the
engineering one of devising a type
of building suitable for small lots
possessing all the advantages of
class c construction, being equally
as hreproof, and yet Of moderate
cost. This association has taken up
the work Systematically and thor
OuEhly- 1t mas consulted with en-
inent building engineers, practical
builders, financial interests, etc,
and proposes a new type of build
ing to be known as clas d and de-
scribed in the ordinance hereinafter
referred to, which will be as good,
from a standpoint of fire protec-
ton, as a class c building, will be
agreeable to the charter provisions,
and, 1t is believed, Will be salts
factory to the insurance interests
and to all parties concerned.
NEW CLASS PROPOSED
Accompanying the petition was the
draft of a proposed ordinance defining
new class OF construction, class D
which was recommended for adoption
The proposed class Of construction is
to be permitted anywhere in the city
outside of the fire limits and on any
lot within the fire limits Of % foot OF
less frontage.
1t provides for wooden sheathing
with metal lath Innings and cement OIL
terra Gotta backings between, or a 4
inch course of brick anchored at every
~ Ins, a 70. @%,T I14I