New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-07

greater width Will sssuTedly be re-
CURED These arteries are now resi-
dcnce streets. and the houses have been
set back ia order TO provide lava ana
shade and TO remove them from the
dust, fumes and noise Of the street.
They cannot be widened at present. as
the cutting of Of the front lawns
would in large measure destroy the
value Of the dwellings.
''Whcn. however, traffic has 50 IN
creased that the street must be wIdened
IL is more than likely that the street
will Dc no longer desirable for private
residence purposes, and the private
dvyellings viii be replaced by apart
ments OF BY business buildings. The
setback line can therefore be estGo-
lished while the future traffic thorough
fare is still residence street, WIN
advantage 20 all owners, and when the
time comes 10 widen the street 70 meet
traffic needs the setback can be taken
for street purposes, and THIS TOO VIII
be to the advantage OF the owners. by
thus imposing the setback line ana
then widening the street at the very
time that these things can be done
with greatest advantage both to the
owners and the city, the traiiic artery
can be secured al a minimum expense
Old Layout of Streets UnchangeaOle
"A stree. once established is one Of
the most permanent and Interchangeable
features Of the city structure. Build
lnCs have come and gone, but the street
lines OF lower Manhattan have retained
most Of their original idlosyncraSies.
This. too, in spite of the facL that the
burden imposed differs greatly m char
acter and magnitude from any that
could have been contemplated at the
time these streets were opened. This
points 10 the desirabillty OF introduc-
ing adaDtability and elasticity IN street
design. The setback line is A means Of
securing such adantdbIlty and elastic
itv in a considerable measure. When
we consider the practical impOsslDIiIty
Of materially changing street system
once established and improved with eN-
pensive buildings, and when we con-
slider. too. how imperfectly we can fore
see the demands that will be made
upon the street system even fifty years
hence. the Importance Of making the
greatest possible use OF the setback
line as the most effective means OF Sc
curing adaptability to Increasing or
changing street requirements is ap-
parent.
"Prir to consolidation setback lines
were established on number of
streets in Brooklyn by special act of
the Legislature. IN suburban develop
ments il is now quite customary TO
establish setback lines through a re-
strictive covenant in the deed, usually
for a limited period OF years, but some
times running with the land. In many
other cases the setback is established
by voluntary action and its retention
is dependent on the will or within Of
each individual owner. The city
should take advantage OF the opportu
nifty afforded by existing voluntary
and temporary set-backs TO secure the
future economical widening OF streets
where needed and to secure the per-
manont retention Of reasonable and
appropriate open space between build
ings.
Necessity for Greater Space
"The necessity for retaining a great
er open space between buildings is
very imperfectly recognized in resi-
dence sections of the apartment type.
In suburban sections a private dwell
ing built on the street line, with no
lawn or trees in front, is scarcely mar
ketable. In the best apartment sec
tions, however. street after street of
high apartment houses are erected
right on the street line and without
bit Of vegetation between the build