Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-10-19

Stabillzng Of property values by prohibit
ing the encroachment OF industries into
home sections. with consequent decrease
IN residential values through obnoxious
proximity and increased fire risk is under
consideration by the commission on zontng
and dlstrlcting the city. appointed early in
the present month by Mayor Smith The
members Of the commission are also en-
deavoring to ascertain what amount Of
realty values has been lost to Philadelphia
because OF the absence of these restrictions.
According 20 the Philadelphia Housing
Commission, this loss amounts TO millions
OF dollars while the city's income through
tax returns has suffered correspondingly.
The coming commission was appointed
October I. II was authorized by Councils
last spring. and was the outcome OF a sug-
restion embodied in the "smothered" report
Of the advisory committee on municipal
finances which conferred with Mayor
Blankenburg In 1912 on the financial re-
qulrements of the city.
One Of the principal suggestions made by
the committee is the idea which the zonins
commission now has under consideration
with view to increasing the municipai
resources
The committee recommended the adoption
BY the Board of Revision of Taxes of sew
eral features Of the New York system OF
assessing realty. among which is tine
classification, so far as seems wise ana
practicable. of buildings into various types
or classes and the preparation Of a factor
Of value for each class, so that the con-
struction cost of any building of par
tcular class can be readily ascertalned by
multiplying the proper factor by the total
humber of square feet of floor space or
by the total number OF cubic feet Of con-
tents of the building"
PRoTEcTIoH NEEDED
Following the suggestion the City Parks
Associatlon In its annual report issued
March 20. 1915, makes the following com
msnt:
Into the midst of the most exquisite
portion of any of Philadephia's justly IA
nous and world-known suburbs any kind
OF Industrial establishment may at any mo-
ment be injected. There is now no effective
protection Not only cities and towns, but
suburban counties. need this power of pro-
tect'ng residential areas. and hence residen-
tial values. by means of residential zones"
The canyon-lilSe effects resulting from
failures to zone districts and the conse-
quent occupancy of sections devoted to busi-
ness houses by office skyscrapers come in
for crit cism by the same body. Other i'm
pairing consequences. including the depre-
eiation In property values. are cited as
follows;
The necessity of limiting the heights OF
buildings in Philadelphia is becoming more
imperative every month. The Chestnut
street canyon is becoming deeper and
darker, and hence more dangerous to
health. with the erection OF each new sky
scraper. When Its south side Is built I'm
as the north Is today being built up for
the two or three blocks near Broad street.
the utter inadequacy OF this sixty foot
thoroughfare will be demonstrated too late
Tor action.
LEGISLATIVE ACTION
The Legislature should enable the cities
~ fenhsylvania TO deal with this destruc-
i've agency-destructive of health and life
and ultimately Of property values--and to
deal with II as each section of each city
may require II should. consequently, au-
thorize the division OF cities into districts
ana confer power on each city TO adopt for
each district such regulations as may be
most appropriate for IT,"
assessment OF property owners for inn
provements is another municipal revenue
suggestion made by the City Parks Asso-
eistion. when a park or parkway Is
opened In suburban territory" IL urges,
" Is obvious that In the course OF five
or Ten years the abutting properties enjoy
great enhancement In value caused
primarily by the expenditure OF the tax.
payers money for the park or parkway.
Inc creation or construction OF such i'm.
b.ovements is. therefore. regarded In many
states as an advantage TO the owners OF
sne property so benefited. who are, there
~, compelled to pay In proportion 10 the
r.nehe Such payments are usually spreao
~, over period OF some ten years the
teyments thus being made 10 follow, not
"sgsae' the aecrual OF the benefit
:. me method OF excess condemnation is
n%e used generally IN European cities
- reconstruction projects. When a new
street is opened through the built-up por.
80, sn or city, not only the property ac-
s.s.y seay required for the street itself, but ad-
,sonai property on each side. is taken
nsr py purchase or condemnatlon--ex-
,hsprl1'ion. as II Is called IN Europe--and
excess property is then either resold
rented on long-term leases. In this
~ frequently the whole cost OF such new
'-''oushfsres 49, is paid out Of the profits OF
s ~. resale OF the abutting ground without
s 1rs permanent charge on the city's treas