Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-06-07
LIMIT ON HEIGHT
BENEFITS OWNERS
BuiIdjnq Regulation Is us
cussed by New YORK
Expert.
TALL STRUCTURES REDUCE
LIGHT AND AIR FREEDOM
How Restrictions Work Out in Var1-
Gus Large Cities Here and
in Europe.


limiting the height of buildings. Lawson
Purdy president Of the department OF
taxes and assessments of New York city.
has called attention to an argument Tor
limiting the height Of buildings when
should have weight with large NUMBER
Of taxpayers says the Municipal Jour
nal.
This is that the business and popuia-
ton Of the city require certain area OF
floor space, that a twenty story building
will accommodate twice as many ofnces
as a ten-story one. and that ten-story
apartment house will furnish homes TOT
twice as many people as five-story one
consequently the construction OF these
high buildings concentrates on one square
mile the population which otherwise
would be spread over two. thus deprls-
ing the owners of the property in the
second square mile Of rentals which
would otherwise come to them.
That is. it tends to increase to ex-
travagant figures the values OF prop
ertv i'm the congested district. but at the
expense of property elsewhere in the city.
Consequently. all owners OF property out
side of the district where such tall build
ings would be erected should be IN 1avoi
of laws restricting the heignt OF puiiu
renting would thus be greatly improved.
Appeal to Pocketbooks.
Mr.. Purdy, of course did not over
look the important objections to tall
buildings which are necessarily coupled
with overcrowding. which are sanitary.
moral and humanitarian: but. realizing
that these considerations did not ap-
ER~s4 f4
payers, called attention to the areu-
ment stated, which would seem to ap-
peal to their pocketbooks.
He also showed how even owners OF
Ultimately suffer from failure to limit
the height Of buildings. It has been
found in New York that one or two tall
buildings in a block. by reducing the
light and air which reach the lower
buildings, reduce their rental value.
The value Of these tall buildings. also.
is to a large extent due to the fact
that they are surrounded by com
low ones. and should all the
buildings on the block be carried up
to q great height the lower floors and
interior rooms Of all Of them would
greatly depreciate In value and 1t Is
probable that the rentals would before
long cease to pay fair return upon
the enormous sums invested In the
Good Rate Of Interest.
In other words. the owners OF tall
buildings are able 10 realize good
so long es such buildings are the ex-
ception and not tho rule. but when
they become tho rule all of the owners
will suffer, and until they become tho
rule the owners of the lower buildings
will find their returns greatly dfmin-
ished. It would therefore seem that
the owners Of property. sven In tho
congested district. should weleome
Limitation OF the height permitted.
When we consider in addition that.
even at the present time. streets In
lower New York are eonksstsd 10 tho
point Eharo passage on foot Is dim
during business hours. it becomes ap-
narant that with any cons idorabie IN
crease in the number OF tail buildings
this congesting will itself detrnet
from tho value of tho buildings and
drive tenants elsewhere.
Boston Regulation.
Boston regulates the height Of It's build
ings under what is known as an "A ana
p law" Under this act the city 10 d.
vided into two districts District A. or
the business section, has height limit
OF 1875 feet, District B. the residen-
tial part Of the city. being limited to
bindings Of eighty feet There are ex-
ceptions. of course. in the case Of grain
and coal elevators. sugar rennerles'
church steeples. towers and the IKE.
The law has been in effect a number OF
wears and it is giving universal salts
faction. while at the same time making
Boston a better city in nearly every way
Boston has been restricting building
heights for the last nine years, ana SO
has Baltimore In the latter city no
structure is allowed to be built more
than l75 feet high except towers. spires,
belfries and special fireproof buildings.
Denver limits all buildings or parts of
bindings to twelve stories except cam
paniles. spires, domes. water towers and
smokestacks
Los Angeles and Portland.