The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-08-29
Will Become Dark Unless the
Building Height Is Limited,
Say Streets Friends
POINT TO DEPRECIATION
OF PROPERTY VALUES
Would Restrict COrnice Line to
125 Feet-BOard of Estimate
Urged to Act


OF the city. Robert Grier Cooke, presi-
dent OF the Fifth Avenue association,
and Bruce N. Falcour, counsel. have
submitted brief to the Building
Heights commission OF the Board OF
Estimate In favor or keeping skyscrap-
ers on the avenue.
InrOads OF that nature have already
been made by fifteen buildings on the
avenue more than twelve stories
high, two being of twenty stories, one
OF nineteen, seven Of eighteen, one U
sixteen, three OF fifteen and one OF
fourteen. The association demands q
halt In this sort Of progress.
Perhaps the most important argu.
ments In favor of limitation Of the
height of buildings upon or near
Fifth-ave," the brief reads. may be
summed up as having relation to sun
shine. light, air, wind currents, fire.
congestion In traffic and living condi-
tons. the prevention Of wider area
Of improvements, aesthetic considera-
lions. the loft building menace and
the unique character OF Fifth-ave.
Would Mar lts Charm.
1T must be remembered that Fifth.
ave- IL the chief promenade of the city
during the daytime, and thousands of
people are attracted to II daily by
It's cheerfulness and gayety. II 1t be.
comes q dark and gloomy thorough
fare and takes on the appearance OF
the downtown canyon-like streets. It's
charm to the large part Of the general
public who use II for purposes OF
pleasure or recreation will be large
ly gone.
I'm the neighborhood OF high build
ings the force Of the wind appears to
be greatly intensified and the air cur.
rents detected and twisted In some
cases into q veritable maelstrom.
which produces conditions that are
uncomfortable and inconvenient for
men and particularly unpleasant and
iisagreeable for women. II the ave-
nue. were permitted to become lined
With many more buildings as high as
the Gotham and the st. Regis condi-
lions on windy days would become
highly disagreeable. II not intolerabie.
"One OF the most important prob
lens which Fifth-ave. is now facing
Is that Of the congestion in Its street
10 interrelated with high buildings.
F1fth-ave. has probably the heaviest
vehicular traffic of any street In the
new world, and with the exception Of
q few streets In London probably OF
any street or avenue In Europe.
Traffic Congestion.
Despite the fact that 1t has been
recently widened its conditions OF
congestion have increased to a point
where the comfort and convenience
OF the public are seriously affected.
owing to the long and vexattOus Pc
RODS Of delay in northbound. south
bound and crosstown traffic. The con-
tipued erection Of tall buildings in
creases this congestion by bringing to
the avenue added thousands OF people
and continuously larger number Of We
hicles. commercial and otherwise
"The greater the number OF tall
buildings that are concentrated on
F1fth-ave. the fewer will be the i'm
provements In the areas adjoining.
Neighboring districts will suffer In
consequence, and hundreds Of ugly
old brownstone houses will long con-
tinue to exist which might otherwise
be replaced by attractive modern
buildings of moderate height and
graceful architecture.
'The thing. however, which presents
the-most serious menace to the dis
tInctive and unique character Of the
avenue. as II has long been known In
the past, Is the increasing presence OF
loft buildings In the Ffth-ave. dis
trict. Many of these buildings are
cheap in construction and appearance
and are at the same time Of consid-
cradle height, the highest reaching to
about eighteen stories.
These buildings are crowded with
their hundreds and thousands OF gar
ment workers and operators, who
swarm down upon the avenue during
the lunch hour and clog the sidewalks
and again at the end Of the working
day as they crowd their way home
ward to the east side, all at about the
s3me time.
Property Values Affected.
these buildings with their attend.
ant conditions have practically ruined
that part Of the avenue which lies
between Fourteenth and Twenty-third.
sts. and have entirely altered IT. for.
mer high class character, driven away
ito fine shops and affected IT. property
values.
"They have recently been cropping
out all tho way up to Ttftisth-st., and
1t present threaten to destroy, or at
least seriously impair, the character
of the entire avenue up to that point.
II 10 anticipated that restriction OF
building heights would result In dis
couraging, at least to some extent.
this type Of building, and In any case
It would reduce the present increase
Of congestion due to the number Of
workers and operators drawn TO this
district by cutting down tho number
Of floors in buildings OF this type.
when the present city commits
Z sion was appointed In March to in
vestigate the question Of height limb
tation throughout the whole city the
necessity for legislation concerning
Fifth-ave. In particular was recognized
In the resolution of the Board Of Esti-
mate which authorized the appoint
ment Of the commission. for in this
resolution an early report was spsci-
6cally requested upon the subject of
height limitation on and near Fifth
ave. In advance OF any report upon
the entire city. The claims OF the
avenue upon this subject have thus
booa ofIlcially recognised By the city.
A~f-A~