New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-05-10
Chaotic Conditions Due to
Regulations, Says Real
Estate Board.
SUGGEST A WAY
TO LESSEN TROUBLES
Favor Making Bureaus of Build
inps and Fire Prevention
One Department.
5y the Real Estate Board OF Brokers
of This City.


The manner Of supervising buildings
nd building construction in New York
.ty can only be described at this time
chaotic. The property owner hardly
lows where to turn. he is confronted on
q cry side by innumerable city depart
~ nts. each having jurisdiction over
something that pertains 10 the construc-
ton or equipment OF his buildings.
The jurisdiction of the various depart
ments Is constantly overlapping. one de-
partment orders an owner to do certain
things I'm connection with his building
and in attempting 10 comply he frequent
~ finds that he IS in conflict with the re-
ouirements of some other bureau or de-
partment.
Complaint heard in every direction
against this economic waste has caused
the Real Estate Board Of New York 20
make an expert analysis of the situation.
The board finds that hardly year passes
lut some new board. commission or ou-
reau is not created by either the begis-
lattre or the Board Of Aldermen 70 reSu-
late or supervise something relating 10
buildings
If some great disaster occurs in build
ing. our legislators at once begin TO WORK
the grst mill of legislation overtime
turning out new laws. creating new COM
n-'-eions. boards. etc. in an attempt TO
i,mcdv conditions supposedly responsible
Cav. he disaster Rarely. If ever, is a.
D. ~
department or bureau to render II more
efficient. the belief apparently being that
only by the creation Of new commissions
boards or bureaus can the conditions be
remedied and the results desired brought
about
II NAV he Of interest 20 sketch briefly
the history Of the supervision of buildings
i'm this city as an indication of the uend
Of legislation.
Prior TO 1892 the bureau Of building
i,spection Of the Fire Department was
charged with the duty of enforcing the
building laws Afterward a department
Of buildings was created by the Les's-
lsture the executive officer being known
rs the Superintendent OF Buildings. TINS
department had jurisdiction over all mat
tiers relating TO construction and inspec-
ton of buildings formerly lodged with the
Fire Department
-, Wy i','1, 80 Cit. of New York
provision was made for a Department OF
BUILDINGS. covering all five boroushs OF
the greater city: this department was
clothed with practically fun powers over
ouliuIi's9' y -, ,,.itt, - do.,,i.
the Md4oi vas gu -.
" III cd1H oi '''V ,...... ..+
Apill L., l''i' '''o -. -
became Jaw - -,
Depdi 'iiIen| t-5,.,!-.. -.
HeHl Vi o.,e. 80. 49,,
teheihen'S' eN''P' III
strucuoh' -
Jahu"IE l. w, '' -.
BUILDINGS was a""iiS'i''' anu
bureau credued IOi ',."
the cohlioi Oh l's ~ esIuI"' VIZ
the superintendent Inns
present III ioioe ,,-
OCTOBER ~, l'H' 'S a0' WI 'io
lature' the Hre lIe'e'''on Id" "o'' ~
erect inns ID" 'a'iste4 Tu I'm -.
uiedU VI .,..o-., -.
VI esl ,,,, ..3.,....r,
Nal ~" - i,',' '' -.
re i"oUSO '"' o'"'" w. -,-,,L....
'e"1 was VI 7"i''~'"
-''huS 10 q" 'ae,o' u.s. i"0' w.
arcah'ile es,aoi'si'ileI''S' o''' a..
AUGUST % $50. d" oiuii'''ii'e PassVI ~
ne hoaIu OIL Aiuei me" oeod'lie oileo'''o .
'"''"'s nv -, 80 -
""o"s sea'''s iesS &c" W. -
ne ooiiuoi u '''V
IL win oe no'eu 'ii"' Co ,io" az VI
ne Legislature Vi Do"'u "a 80, ,o'--.
1tes ne" ooaiu' 'U' '''u ~ ~
SWING " Jui isu'0 'iO" w -.
merry eNe i0'S'u ~ go. - -.
H'eI' VI Jul CO.. ~
- INV easo ','' ''''' ~ ..l,
organization DE S'eii9 ,i''iIs IT, ~. ~