Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-05-23
PUBLIC BUILDINGS AND
CITY PLAN COMMISSION
Purpose of Municipal Body and What Has Done for Newark
Structural Designing and Its Value.

the form of a city plan Immediately
becomes apparent.
Germany has solved this problem
to such an extent that it is difficult
to estimate the far reaching effects
of the municipal regulations in many
of its cities. As an example, each city
Is divided into a certain number of
zones-sometimes as many as sixteen,
in which only certain types of struc-
lures can be erected. This inhibits
the very Objectionable intermingling
of factories and residences, so COM
mon in America. A further instance
of civic foresight in the building of
the German city is the establishment
of a height limit to which buildings
may be erected This limit Is usually
greater IN the centre of the city and
gradually decreases toward the sub
urbs. The establishment of uniform
building heights is a very common
practise in Europe, and lends much
dignity and attractiveness to their
cities, q marked contrast to the char
acteristic irregular skyline of the
American city. There are many mu-
nicipal regulations similar to these
which can so regulate the develop
ment of a city as to make 1t neces-
sarily a unit in every sense of the
word.
Most important of all public build
ings are those in which our municipal
and Federal departments are housed,
among others court house, city
hall, a postoffice, hall of records, a
State capitol, etc. 1t is ofttimes very
expedient to group these buildings
into what is commonly called civic
centre, thus establishing a very
efficient means for the conduct of
official business and incidentally
creating a public plaza in which there
are unlimited architectural possibil-
tiles. This centre may be so con-
structed as to form the centre of the
citys street system, with all radial
thoroughfares conVerging toward it.
Cleveland is now spending in the
neighborhood of S1S,000,000 in the
creation of such a civic centre. Den
yer, Seattle, Baltimore, St Louis and
i many other cities have large civic
centre projects now under way.
| In Newark we have a different
situation, for, while we have all of
these buildings. there is little neces-
! sity grouping them about an eXpen-
sive civic centre. Until now the City
Plan Commission has devoted it's en-
deavors to other fields which are
much more pressing. To be sure,
Newark has no large public plaZas
similar to those IN many OF the larger
European and American cities, which
are such pleasing attributes in any
city, and we could now well afford
to create a few before our oppor-
tunities are lost. I refer particularly
to the situation at Market street in
the vicinity of the Pennsylvania Rail-
road depot, where the extension of
Central avenue will terminate. Here
are unlimited possibilities if the Off
cials of the railroad and city can CO.
operate The City Plan Commission
has published several plans of what
could here be accomplished.
Another most favorable opportunity
has presented itself at the junction
of Elizabeth and Clinton avenues,
where the city will soon come into
possession Of a large tract of land
known as the Hayes bequest. Too
much cannot be said in favor of these
public plazas. for they not only afford
much-needed breathing spaces in the
centre of the city, but the buildings
which face them are thus placed in
their proper position and set off as
they should be.