The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-09-12
OFFICIALS APPROVE
 AUDITORIUM SITE {. BY CAPITOL PARK
Dr. Barrett, the Location Com mittee and Many Experts Agree That Spot Is
 Desirable

Dr. N. A. Barrett, president of the city commission and chairman of the auditorium site committee, believes that the best possible selection has been made in the site on Eighth ave- nue and Twentieth street. His stand is indorsed by the com mittee and the architects.
 "The auditorium site committee feels secure as to the wisdom of the selection of the site in view of the following facts" said Dr. Barrett.
 "The committee was unanimous in it's decision as to the ground selected being the proper site. The selection had the unanimous approval of the city commls- sion after full investigation. It had the unqualified endorsement of representa- tice of the Alabama chapter or the Amer ican Institute of Architects. It had the hearty approval of specialist Tn auoi- torium architecture, who, after gong over the ground expressed himself as pe-
  the beginning of the civic center ldea; and it has the approval of great mum bers of citizens who have gwen speciai thought to the auditorium question.
 TO consider complaints and of the pro- nosed location of the city auditorium on Eighth avenue and Twentieth street. members of the site selection committee met yesterday in the office of pr. Bar rett in the city hali.
 data Of the complaints and criticisms and looking thoroughly into the matter. the commit tee prepared a report, extracts rom which follows:
 COMMITTEES REPORT
 "In the selection of the auditorium site we believe we have solved the ques- tion of location admirably. We firmly believe that when the public is acquain- ted with all facts that led to our decision, they will approve the selection.
 "On August 8, Birmingham voted $SU' 900 to build the auditorium The Clty Commission and public spirited citizens met shortly afterward and appointed a committee to select site. The commit- tee was composed of pr. N. A. Barrett, I. Ellis Brown, Mrs. Houston Davis. J. Frank Rushton. Mrs. w. D. Smith and R. A. Brown.
 "The committee immediately got to work and invited all who possessed, con- trolled or knew of suitable locations to make suggestions. Six sites were. sub mitted. The majority were rejected be- cause competent architects advised that the ground would have to be at least POD bv ROO feet to accommodate the building.
 .'The city had only $500.0O0 to put into the auditorium and as the lowest esti- mate of the building was s50o,o00, it was necessary to secure the lot as cheaply as possible.
 ..Our location has convenient street car service to accommodate people in every section of the city The size of the lot minimizes congestion. Parking space IS provided for automobiles.
 Some criticism about the noise from the trains will not disturb entertainments state that the noise from occasional trains will not disturb entertainments in the auditorium.
 ARCHITECTS APPROVE "Every architect who has gone over thu ground has stated that fear Of noise is entirely unnecessary. Mfr. Lamb. one oi the leading authorities in theatre and au- ditorium building. looked over the site 2 few days ago and stated that he consid cred the location entirely satisfactory He also stated that the location selected was a splendid basis for the civic center idea.
 So far as we can learn. every audi torium in the country has a street cal line in close proximity. The Metropolitan opera house and the Hippodrome ir New York are surrounded with stree cars elevated lines and all kinds of nois, traffic.
 The committee also kept in mind thu civic center idea and every architec asked states that the site lends itself ad mirably to the civic center idea We believe we have made the bes possible selection of site and recon mend its purchase by the City Commis sion"