New-York tribune., 1912-01-18
FAVORED CIVIC CENTRE"
All. Green Proposed Courthouse
Site Now Being Discussed.
PROJECT COMES UP TO-DAY
"Shortsighted Economy" It's Only
Danger, Says Henry w. Sack
EFT, Reviewing Situation.

The proposal that the city Of New York
acquire a large area on either side Of
Centre street to the north of the new
Municipal Building as a Civic centre
with the new county courthouse as the
dominating feature, will come up for con-
slderation this morning before the Board
of Estimate and Apportionment through
Borough President McAneny as chairman
of the Committee on Corporate Stock
Budget.
The project has met with general ap-
proval and Is supported by all the leading
civic associations concerned in the city s
betterment. small number of objectors,
however, have questioned whether the city
should incur the expense involved, md one
newspaper critic has asserted that no
person of the standing or character Of the
late Andrew II. Green stood sponsor for
the scheme.
This was yesterday called TO the atten-
ton Of Henry W. Sackett, a vice-presdent
Of the American Scenic and Historic Pres
ervation Society, who was closely asso-
ciated in its work with Mr. Green, who
founded II. Mr. Sackett Is chairman OF
that society's committee on courthouse
site and is also counsel for the trustees
of the Andrew II. Green estate. lie not
only declared that the proposed plan had
the hearty Endorsement Of the Scenic So
ciety the Bar Association, the County
Lawyers Society, the Municipal Art So
ciety and other kindred associations, but
that Mr.. Green had himself been the first
to propose the taking Of this very site for
the purpose and was working TO bring that
result about at the time of his death.
AS a lawyer and member OF the New
York Bar Association" said Mr. Sackett,
my first thought naturally is on behalf
OF the site for the new courthouse; but, as
representing the sentiments and principles
for which the American Scenic Society
stands, the establishment of the proposed
civic centre is OF vastly more Importance.
Through the wise action of our present
city officials" Mr. Sackett continued. "the
city OF New York seems at last on the
point Of securing what publlc-spirited citi-
zens for nearly twenty years have earnest
, ly been working for, an appropriatiate
and adequate site for its municipal struct-
ures-a civic centre in which dignified and
beautiful public buildings shall be so
grouped, planned and constructed as to
satisfy practical and artistic requirements
Z
Apparently the only threatened danger
to the success Of those plans is the same
one that has blocked the progress OF simi-
lar efforts I'm the past. This is the raising
OF a misleading cry prompted by false
and shortsghted economy. The surpris-
ing part OF It IS that this cry should come
now, as i'm previous instances. from those
from whom, instead of opposition, sturdy
furthcrance might fairly have been ex-
peCted.
1T was some sixteen or seventeen years
ago that civic societies and men of disin
tcrested public spirit, like Andrew ii.
Green, were urging the city officials TO ac-
qulre not only the ground on which the
new Municipal Building Is being erected,
but also the entire block north Of City Hall
Park from Centre street to Broadway for
the site OF the courthouse and other mu-
nicipal buildings.
"AIl OF this land could then have been
purchased for a small part OF its present
value and for sum that all would now
recognize as a small burden for the city
10 assume. But so urgent and vehement
were the protests made by the representa-
tives Of timld and unwlse taxpayers that
tho project was postponed again and
again. while the market value of the prop