New Britain herald., 1919-07-09
GARAGES AND PUBLIC BUILDINGS

GARAGES AND PUBLIC BUILDINGS
 The Common Council will meet to- morrow evening in special session to consider the passing of an ordinance which will prohibit the erection of garage buildings in the vicinity of schoolhouscs and other public build ings. The advisablity of having these busy, noisy and often dirty trade buildings in proximity to structures which are given over to the uses ot the public is extremely questionable. Garages are necessary 10 the welfare of a city, but they arc out Of place near a school building. Factories and garages, the latter particularly, are by no means factors for promoting the physical welfare of the children, they are bound to be menace despite the care taken with ma chimes operating from them and in front of them. This argument alone should insure the pas sage of the ordinance.
 In addition to the above, the noise in and about a garage IS not conducive to aiding in study, and the busy streets in front would pry many child's eye from it's school book, whether the lchild were willing or no> Finally, the 1schools are built as a rule, with an Iidea of beautifying the surroundings / as we'll as making use Of the situation. What place may be rcstful and sooth- ing to the eye and sense with black facaded garage next door? Why must garages be placed near public build ings? They have a duty to perform but the auto dealer can conduct his business as we'll a bit removed from the center as he can on a street used E. for school or public purpose.
 Ii has also come to our attention that it is purposed to construct a gar age on West Main street, just East of the Hicks property and one door re- moved from the New Britain Institute The board of that institution has reg istered protest. We hold no brief for the Institute, for West Main street, or for the park across from the pro- . posed site of the garage. We have no interest in that vicinity greater than the interest Of any citizen of the city Of New Britain. But we believe that the city would mako a great mistake ill allowing the erection of the elifce. As handsome $ fl may promise to be i 1t will be bound to become unsightly. We can not make our taste agree with \ the erection of a garage within a few < hundred feet of the Institute and across from the entrance to the park. \ Surely there arc better places than this \ for a garage. Why violate one of the spots about the city which should be ' a beauty spot with a building of the disturb those who wsi. to study, in d building erected for that purpose, bv placing 6 haven for backfiring motors alongside of it? Why offend the vision 2 of one who wishes to enjoy the beauties of Walnut Hill park by sticking an un- gainly edi1lce at it's very entrance where the first impression will be one of disgust? The Library is a public building, it is the property of the pec- pie of New Britain. The park is owned by our citizens. Why should they not protect their own goods by refusing to allow deteriorating con- struction on nearby ;and? Pride should debar this without question.
 It is time that New Britain awoke to the possi bilitics of harm to it's own property, of danger to it's own chill dren. It is time that it enacted legis- lation to guard against these things for it's own good. It is not a matt CT for argument by residents of the par ticu1ar district in question. II is mat ter of interest to everyone who takes any pride at all in the possessions of the community.