The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1915-11-13
Building Code Was
Evaded, Corporation
Counsel Declares
PLACES CALLED
ASSEMBLY HALLS
Owners Get Around
Fire Regulations By
Subterfuge

Despite the advice OF the corpora.
ton counsel, the city building com
mission has issued an illegal permit
10 Jacob ;. Wentzel 70 build a NOV
ing picture theater on Michigan ave,
near Th.rty-frst.st II is said that
II other the ~ permits have been
illegally gransrd during the past
year and a half.
The commission 5 Illegal action on
the vented permit came 10 ligh
when William Burnsein and JACOB
Cohn. owners OF heater across the
street from The Vented theater site.
attempted 10 prevent competition by
having the permit denied on the
ground that II vas in direct viola
t.nn OF The building code
Assistant Corporation Counsel
James r. Lee investigated the mat
ter-an. informed Mr.. VENTED and
i.- architect. c. Howard Crane, that
the new theater was beng erected
In violation OF the code. the permit
having been issued by the building
department contrary to the advice
OF the corporation counseFs Office.
The architect refused 10 stop work
on The theater. insisting that the
owners rights were established by
the permit
Mr. Lee the nadyised the commits
sion TO issue stop-work notice.
and notify MHr Crane and his en-
ploysr to appear before them and
show cause Why the illegal permit
should NOT be revoked. insisting that
the mistake OF . public official does
not waive an ordinance It Is with
in the province of the mayor 10 re-
woke the license OF every motion
picture house 10 the city that IS
now operating in collation. OF the
building code.
The building code defines a minor
theator as building in which mo-
tiou pictures are shown. and having
a drop but no movable scenery, the
seating capacity being limited 10
400 Minor picture theaters must
conform 70 stringent FIRE regn.
latons They must = ploy a house
fireman and in addition must have
certain fire appliances Also, they
must be erected Of hreproof matoe.
rial
IN order TO increase the seating
capacity OF the newer theaters ana
10 save the extra cost OF the fire ap-
planes, the applicants nave sought
20 have minor tn @er interpreted
as au assembly hail, the seating ca
pacity Of which Is limited TO 900.
The assembly hall IS defined as d
place having no movable scenery,
and only occasionally used for as
mhly purposes The code does
not include the motion picture the
ater in the provision regulating as
maly halls.
The Empire theater on Woodward
ave Is said 10 have been the first
small motion picture 10 obtain an
illegal permit under the assembly
hall prov ION The Empire permit
vas issued a year and a half ago.
Building Inspector Henry A. Du-
pom, insists that he obtained a err
bal opinion from Richard |. lawson
former corporation counsel, TO the
effect that a small motion picture
house f. an assembly hall under the
tIe.=-P placed an the provision
u he code
Counsel Ice has written q letter
10 the building department making
his view on the Illegal granting OF
assembly hall" permits matter of
record The building department Is
constantly having trouble interpre,
ing provisions IN the complex code
which nobody including Chief In
spector Dupont seems 70 under
stand thoroughly
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