Omaha daily bee., 1919-12-19
HOW TO Make A
CITY BEAUTIFUL
TOLD BY EXPERT
E. N. Bassett Of New York
Explains New York Zon-
ing System to Com
mission.

| z. M. Bassett, counsel for the
height of buildings and city plan
commission, New York City, speak
ing yesterday afternoon in the city
council chamber and in the eve
ming at the Chamber of Commerce,
stated that the zoning law which
was adopted by his city was one OF
its greatest boons, and by the same
token Omaha will enjoy similar
benefits through the adoption of a
coming plan such as will be pre-
scented to the city council within a
few weeks.
Mr.. Bassett, who is a lawyer, be-
came interested in the distribution
of population while serving as a
member of the New York board of
education.
In the council chamber he ad-
dressed members of the city council,
city planning commission and
others. He attended dinner at the
Chamber of Commerce, arranged by
the Nebraska Chapter of the Amer
lean Institute of Architects, Omaha
Building Owners and Managers as
ISOLATION and the Omaha Real Es-
tate board.
Mr.. Bassett arrived from Chicago
yesterday afternoon and returned
Immediately after he spoke at the
Chamber of Commerce. He is at
tending 4 zoning conference in Chi
cago. .....
"When we started our coming
program in New York" he said,
I'VE took everybody into our con-
fdenre. We conferred with every
one who could throw any light on
the subject. We held many meet
ings. Finally, no organization op-
posed the adoption of the zoning
law, because they all realized that
| the purpose was to stabilize the use
and value of property.
1--WE realized that the future of
cur city was greater than our past
and this will apply to Omaha. The
coming law has been one of the
greatest benefits that ever came to
New York. A coming law is the
proper exercise of police power, be-
cause it conserves light, air, health
and safety. The courts are support
ing this exercise of the community
power to promote health, morals,
safety and the general welfare of the
community. This power should not
be used arbitrarily or discriminatory.
Chaotic Building"
an New York we found that the
real problem was to correct the
chaotic effect of unregulated build
ings. Outlying districts were being
spoiled by sporadic factories which
occupied per cent of the area and
destroyed 95 per cent. Buildings of
excessive height were depriving ad-
| Joining buildings of light and air,
as we'll as destroying the appear
ances of streets and overtaxing the
sewers. Public garages went into
residential districts, reducing valua-
tons 10 times the value of the Of
tending garages. The sporadic gro
Gerry or meat store would go from
! the business to the residential street
and apartment houses invaded prl-
vate residence districts. The result
was,a migration of many home own
ers from New York. 1t was specu-
lative proposition for anyone TO
erect a fine home, because he did
not know when a garage or apart
ment house would invade his reigh-
borhood.
Everybody knows the curse and
expense of blighted district. The
loss to city because of buildings
becoming obsolete before they are
worn out is enormous.
1--WE found that New York was
becoming uneconomical. A commits
sion of skyscrapers was created and
that was allowed by zonlng COM
mission, regulating the use, height
and area of buildings. Garages may
now 20 only in industrial zones. ex-
cept in special cases which are
passed on by board OF appeals.
The sporadic factory has been pre-
vented and there are no more TAG
tories going out to destroy resi-
dental values. Private residential
neighborhoods are protected from
the sporadic store, which plan IN
c-eases the value of the business
street, because business remains
there, and it also increases values OF
the residential streets"
Mr.. Bassett asserted that the same
principles will apply to Omaha or
to- any other city. He stated that
10 American cities are now working
under the zoning plan and that 80
other cities are now ready to adopt
plans or are preparing maps.
Explanation was made during the
meetings that the zoning law under
which the Omaha city planning COM
mission has prepared maps and
ordinances, was enacted by the state
legislature and was modelled after
the New York law.
Mr.. Bassett stated that real and
substantial progress will follow the
adoption of a proposed zoning plan
by Omaha.