New-York tribune., 1912-03-24

Board Of Estimate bc empowered by IN"
legislature 70 restrict the height Of all
future buildings in the avenue. and within
= certain distance of the avenue in the side
streets. 20 $50 feet, with cornices only l25
feet from the curb, permitting the last two
stories to be built in the roof in the style
Of mansard.
on this point the report says:
Primarily Fifth avenue should, by
limitation OF the height OF abutting build
ings. be prevented from becoming kind Of
csnyon The maximum height Of
buildings which We advise to he authorized
would admit Of successful commercial build
lings. remunerative 70 the owners. and plac-
ing the two upper stories In the roof would
y,fI secure q dgnifed avenue that would
receive a reasonable amount of sunlight
while this may seem 10 ne too slight
restriction OF height, vet in view Of the
situation as it exists it is regarded as a
satisfactory and practical compromise he
tween what would be absolutely desirable
and what relatively seems fair and judicious
for the interests OF the property owners and
Of the city.
This limitation Of the height Of build
irrs should, il possible ultimately be fol-
In the skyline and perhaps facades'
To Avoid "a Cheaper Broadway"
The commission, which is composed OF
Arnold W. Drummer, chairman; Joseph 5.
Auerbach, Edward Holbrook, George i.
Funz Nelson =. Lewis, George T. Mort-
mer and Robert Grier Cooke, secretary. bases
In its recommendations on the broad
ground Of business expediency, pointing out
that any deterioration OF the avenue into
another and cheaper Broadway VIII
mean a decided loss 10 the city in the as
sessable value OF abutting property and 10
the present property owners in the rental
,alues Of their premises II Is in this spirit
that the report tackles the problem pre-
sented by the flooding Of lower Fifth avenue
in the noon hour with factory hands from
adjacent loft buildings.
This is one of the abuses which the com
omission thinks should be aoated Immediate
d. between Sd and 18th streets. IL recon-
mends that the traffic policemen stationed
IN this area make determined efforts TO
keep the sidewalks Unimpeded FOR pedes-
.trianism thereby discouraging the lolterins
tolerated at the present time. II further
points out that the local authorities have
the power now and should limit light man
.ufacture to buildings not more than six or
seven stories in height, since the Asch
Building FIRE amply demonstrated the dan
ger OF using high buildings as factories.
Such a restriction would drive the manu-
facturers of clothing to other sections OF
the city. the report says, where the rental
value of land permits the successiul eA-
,ploitstIon OF lower buildings.
{ But the report goes further still. In con
snecton with the proposed legislation ena-
sblng the Board OF Estimate to limit the
sheght Of buildings along the avenue 1t
recommends that the board pass resolu-
ZION that mo sweatshop, mandatory OF
drygoods or wearing apparel and. no
slaughter house business not already In
stalled and now being conducted along the
said streets and avenues Gncluding Flfth
svenue) for the distances mentioned, shaH
he removed TO or installed or conducted In
any building on said streets and avenues
opposite Central Park or abutting on F1fth
avenue, from Central Park to Washington
Square"
While the validity or such legislation,
tthe commission observes. cannot be said
10 be wholly free from doubt, nevertheless
sthe later decisions OF the courts in other
iiurisdctions-where even more radical
stteps have been taken, not alone IN restrict
Ing the height and character OF buildings
but in segregating business and residence
sections-have led US TO conclude that II
would be upheld"