Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-02-24
BUILDING zONEPLAN
FOR CITY BEAUTIFUL
Commissioner BalIinger Points
Out Economic and Art Values
in Structure Restrictions
60.F00T STREET IS BASIS


af not more than $50 feet at the build
ing fine in the central section of the city
and the establishment of districts for
building use with varying restrictions
according to the type Of building are
among the most important features vt
the revised nlars Of thr XoninE Commits
sion. according 10 Walter +. Halling"r.
well-kpown architect and engineer aud
q member of the commission.
1t IL expected that the ordinance will
be ready for presentation 70 Council
within thc nCTt few months. together
with number Of maps illustrating the
proposed changes in thc city's future
building regulations Tho effect Of the
new plans. II approved. Mr. Ballingcr
explained. would be 10 bcttcr the hous-
ing situation by giving more or less
assured value 10 property.
Mr.. Ballngrr said:
"Thc principal objections raised in
connection with tho increased heights of
our modern buildings are, first. the rc-
sulting lack of daylight. not only in the
building itself. but also in the neigh
boring buildings. requiring artificial
light; secondly. the making Of our al
ready narrow streets nothing short Of
dark canyons: and finally. the con.
sestion Of traffic. ct".. to accommodate
traffic especially at the rush hours when
these buildings arc cmrtied quickly. the
latter rutailng immensely increased cx
penSe to the city in policing. etc.
Districts Are Planned
ITO overcome these conditions II is
proposed to district the city, placing
heighth limits in each Of the several
districts, such districts being designated
BY the ratio TO the width Of the street.
xor this purpose the fifty foot wide
street is taken as the basis for calcula>
tjons. In addition 70 tho limit by the
times width Of the street. there is also
a fat limit above which a building may
not be erected. regardless Of the width
Of the street: namely. one times dis
trict, forty hvc feet: one and one half
times. sixty ivc feet two times. eighty
five feet two and onC-half times. 10
feet, and three times. 80 feet. The
three times district includes the portion
around City Hall and for designated
sections on either side in the present
bigh building district. The two and
onp-haf times district consists Of n
much larger area and comprises large
norton Of the central commercial and
Industrial districts. The one and one
and one half times districts are prin-
eipaly residential areas.
"In making calculations for heiShth
limits tho street line is the starting level,
90 that by setting back from the prop
.rty line these heights may be exceeded.
For instance. in n three times district,
for every foot set back the heighth limit
NAV be exceeded by three feet; or in
other worrls. with twenty foot set
back Of $50 feet above the street level
an additional sixty feet is permitted IN
fhe hoichth Of the building.
First. In Philadelphia, probably
the most important feature in coming
Is the use restriction. Of which there
are four kinds of use districts: Ca( resi- :
Dental. (bl commercial, (c) industrial,
(d) least restricted. 49,.
I'm residential districts, in addition
To residences there may be erected
churches. schools. libraries. public ano
institutional buildings and private ga
RACES. and other accessory uses whlch
prc designated. but in which tho cree
tion of industrial buildings and COM
mercial buildings is not TO be permit
Ted. thereby protecting residential dis
tricts from cnCroaChm"nt o. garages
moving pictures. theatres. factories etc.
which tend to ruin residential sections
aud dcprcCiatc property valu"s, etc.
Where Factories Are Banned
"Iikcwiso IN commercial districts
residences are permitted. bur factory
buildings. etc. Or manufacturing build
inRs arc not permitted. with the OK
rcption that accessory uses "mbodyn nI
not more than 80 per cont Of the com
ncrcial huildinGS a." permitted.
I'm industrial districts manufac,
turing plants which are uuobjcctionahl
and which DO not produce objectionable
ndorG CasNCS dust. SmOkr or noises are