The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-03-12

ne Commission on Building Districts
and Restrictions hes transmitted to the
loard Of Estimate y tentative report
sreosnt!ns plans for the districting Of
ne ave boroughs Of New York city.
III plane provide for residential. busl-
ne1 and Industrial districts and for
ihs limitation Of the height Of build
an and the area Of the lot that may
,De covered. The commission will now
q series of public hea rigs on
ths tentative report and plans. AID later
submit a final report. which II approved
by the Board Of Estimate will definitely
establish the proposed plan.
THIS will constitute the most impor-
,snt step yet taken by any American city
toward the direction OF the building Of
Inc city IN accord with u well con-
s.dered plan. II is expected 70 stop
hsphazard. heterogeneous development
and substitute a common sense plan
c. building control.
The commission has taken UP the
work begun by the Heights of Build
ings Commission. appointed by the
Board OF Estimate In 1918. Following
the report Of hat commission In 1914
,fs necessary Legislation was promptly
secured and the present commission APP
po,n,ed by tho Board Of Estimate to
rork out and recommend a compre-
landve district.ny plan. Onward NJ.
Baxett, formerly chairman Of the
Heights Of Buildings Commission. Is
row chair man OF h districting commits
SION. It's membership contains leading
representatives Of the real estate. lend
ing and civic interests of the city.
Walter Stabler. comptroller Of the Met
,cpolitan Life Insurance Company. has
been active In the commissions work.
servine Rs chairman Of the Manhattan
aub-committee. The commissions score
tary, Robert II. Written. and c~onsuitant,
George r. Ford. have had charge Of the
expert work IN tho elaboration Of the
tentative plans. Herbert s. Swan has
served as investigator. John T. Fox as
transit expert and George w. Tu.tle
and Edward NJ. Law a. engineers.
Il Tho general features Of the proposed
regulations have been explained In THE
.s-S. but sincs the scheme was outlined
" the commission has been asked to recon-
Tend a restriction against apartment
houses in various private dwelling dis
t-icts that are threatened with an in
'Sssion OF apartment houses. Such a re-
'strlction. the commission believes, would
~ many cases conserve property values.
IN "A good residential section the coming
o. inc apartment house usually means "a
considerable loss to all owners Of private
iouSes. The slight Increase in the value
- the land t. not sufficient to Offset the
.s'stinct depreciation in the value of the
building. sometimes the apartment IL a
.src parasite. There would be no eco
'o'nic eason for its construction were IL
lot for the open spaces and attractive
slrrouniings created by the private
dvelling character OF the neighborhood.
This economic reason In destroyed by the
erection Of "A few apartment houses and
a. the sane time private dwelling values
sre greatly deprecated. Under such
conditions n restriction against apart.
iient houses would be of social and eco.
.onic value.
The commission says that compare,
've,y few OF the strictly private dwell.
ing sections can he long maintained a.
ruch anywhere within. say. twenty-five
minutes by rapid tranei. Of the centra'
oNce and commercial centres. The de.
lnand for housing space becomes ~
creat that the apartment OF fiat is ar
economic necessity for all save a com.
curative few. II Ia important. however
maj wherever 1t is economically feaslh,,
r. maintain such cases of private resi-
ssrres that legal safeguards be thrown
around them. This will not only con
serve property values but will retail
within the city many citizens who worl,
"herwis" move TO the suburbs. TIL,
retention OF the citizenship OF a create