New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-09-14
Toronto Building LdwS
May Help S0lve Problems

tenement houses and OF garages to be
used for hire in private house localities.
The Council has passed a large number
of such ordinances and their effect is no
ticeabe throughout the city. Several OF
the suburbs are carefully protected for
detached private homes. The result is
that the city itself is made permanently
attractive for the residence of wealthy
citizens who otherwise would move OUT
side Of the city limits.
There is little doubt that one OF the
main causes of the constant migration OF
well-to-do people from New York City TO
New Jersey. Westchester County and
Long Island is because the city gives no
assurance that any given locality viii not
| be invaded by apartment houses or fac
tories. The form of the Toronto ordinance
shows so well the directness of method
that will quote It:
Whereas, by the consolidated munich
| pal act. 1903, as amended by the act
passed in the second year of the reign
of His Majesty King George V, Chap
/ ter 40. Section TO- cities having a popula-
/ ton OF not less than 10000 inhabitants
are authorized. by vote OF two-thirds
OF the whole council, 10 pass and enforce
/ bylaws 10 prohibit, regulate and control
the location. on certain streets. to be
named in the bylaws, Of apartment or
tenement houses. and Of garages 10 be
used for hire or gain;
"'And. whereas. il is expedient that tbs
location OF apartment and tenement
houses. and of garages TO be used for hire
or gain. should be prohibited on the
streets hereinafter named;
Therefore. the council of the corpora
ton of the city OF Toronto. by vote OF
two-thirds of the whole council, enact as
follows
Then follow the frames of the streets
and parts OF streets that are protected.
People who see no use for land except
constantly increasing prices will say That
such ordinances restrict values. This is
true. Land value will adapt itself TO the
purpose for which the land can be used.
and II II can only be used for private
dwelling houses IL will not advance SO
high as il will If it can be used for apart
ments But when a property owner has
built a private house on his land an in
vasion of apartment houses often Injuries
the value Of his house more than ii in
creases the value OF his land on which
the house stands. Thus the actual nome
owner is usually hurt, instead OF helped.
In the same way, an apartment house To-
cality is injured by an invasion OF fac
tories. This Is seen on some OF the side
streets near Fifth avenue. between iith
and 30th streets. where there has been
no way OF preventing loft buildings that
are i'm fact factory buildings) invading a
store and apartment house neighboraood.
The Toronto City Council is also en-
powered by law 10 pass ordinances COM
polling buildings TO stand back a desired
distance from the street line. Usually
one property owner is willing TO build nis
house well back from the street II he can
be assured that his neighbors will be COM
PEELED TO do the same. Toronto officials
consider that these ordinances help house
owners 10 get more light and air. and also
the city TO get the benefit of wider streets
without added expense to the city. In
New York II has been deemed necessary
for the city TO take and pay for an
easement for courtyards il il wanted
TO compel houses to stand fixed distance
away from the street line. 1t is held
that to prevent man building up TO tho
street line is equivalent TO taking his
property without compensation. Never
theless. the tenement house law prevents
covering more than about so per cent OF
lot with building. This law is recog-
nized as being proper health precai-
ton. although il prevents the owner from
using part of his land. A setback Inn
itation. IL il could be justified by consid-
erations OF health. would undoubtedly
be upheld by the courts OF our state.