The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-04-18
9Th AVE. BEGINS
FIGHT AGAINST
HIGH BUILDINGS
Association Asks Limit Of
Is Feet to, Restrict Tall
Apartments.
WOULD. AROUSE PUBLIC
= ThOroughfare's Beauty Is
Menaced by Invasion of
Ugly Skyscrapers.
PROPERTY VALUES HURT
Heavy Decline in Realty Prices
Estimate Board to Be
Asked to Act.
PROPERTY VALUES HURT

campaign to bar apartment
houses from further encroachments
upon the beauty Of upper Fifth ave-
nue. was launched yesterday after
noon.
. Al meeting held in the Bankers
Club. at which garbage cans and other
unpleasant things associated with
the tall buildings We're heatedly dis
cussed, the members Of the Fifth
Avenue Association voted to wage a
bitter warfare upon what they con-
slider to be not only a menace to
property owners, but to the city as
well. a committee headed by Michael
Dreicer was named to call the matter
to the attention of the public.
The grievances of the members. most
OF whom own property on the Avenue
OF the Allies" are various. Tall apart
ments. II was asserted. have been so. af-
fecting real estate values that adjacent
property sells frequently at about one
third Of the price OF few years ago.
Wealthy persons, II was said. refuse to
build private residences upon the avenue
because Of the ever,increasing number of
twelve story apartments.
The plan Of the association is to work
for a restriction whereby the future
erection Of buildings exceeding seventy
hve feet in height on the territory
bounded by Fifth and Madison avenues
sixueth and Ninety-ninth streets should
be halted.
The members declared It would be ur-
profitable for any one to build apart
nent houses at such a height. Those
already standing average 15o feet In
height.
Affects Public Generally.
This is a matter affecting the people
At, large" Mr.. Dreicer declared at the
OFFICES Of the association. sac Fifth ave.
nue. and we would like all persons who
feel interested to communicate with us
New York city needs at least one beau.
tiful avenue. The municipality Is ma
teriaIly affected by the result that de-
probation, in this fine residential section
will have upon taxes. The, beauty o,
the Metropolitan Museum Of Art Is i'm.
paired by apartments already erected
and planned directly opposite that Rs-
thetic structure. Our campaign mus,
therefore appeal net merely to owner.
OF residences facing Central Park, but Il
all who are interested in preserving the
attractive spots Of the city"
Lawson Purdy, who is active in tn,
movement. charged that many owner.
are attempting to extort high purchas,
prices from holders OF adjoining tract,
by threatening to raise the unwelcom,
apartments on their property.
This Is nothing short Of blackmail.'
he declared. He characterised as "in
decent exposure" the exhibition of tn,
brick sidewalks. which were never de
signed for exhibition, which must never
theless tower above the adjoining resi-
dences.
Gage e. Tarbell, a director OF the as.
ISOLATION. said it would be damned
shame II the people of the city of. New
York should let these apartment houses
further interfere with the beauty ot
their CITY," He called the builders oi
the structures rent profiteers."
Property Valuations Lowered.
In referring to the effect that apart
mont houses have had upon residence.
on the avenue Mr.. Dreicer declared
that the property of J. b. Duke, neal
Seventy eighth street. had fallen OF
probably from. a s2,5O0000 sale valu.
30 about s1.0o6.00o because of a twelv,
story building on the corner. He sait
that property adjoining the tall apart
nent at SixtY-third street sold recently
for $4,000 when II should have brough
at least 100000.
Mr.. Purdy estimated the value OF tn,
property affected by these apartment
at 100000. 600. AS an apartment hous,
section. he said. it would be worth con
siderably less to the city In taxes thai
as an exclusive residential section.
Mr.. Dreicer explained that the mem
bers desire to arouse public sentiment
through which they hope to influence th
hoard OF Estimate to place the desire,
restriction upon the property.
Named on the committee to conduc
the campaign are Mr.. Dreicer, W. f. S
Grlswold. William Solomon. Frank u
WELLER and Judge Gary.