Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-02-02
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY, ?, le2l.
Architectural ugllness and Property
NsIues.

n
Values.
The Rev. Dr. Frederick Nj. kirkus'
rector Of Trinity Protestant Episcopal
Church. recently sent communication
10 the Wilmington papers. in which ne
stated that he was surprised at tho
Isotests against the erection OF the
Parkway theatre at Delaware avenue
and Adams street, which he had heard
h the past few weeks.
DIR. Kirkus called attention to the
tact that the protests are now out OF
order. lie wrote in part;
Wilmington has a building
commission. n Chamber Of Com
ncrce. a Real Estate Association
and a street department. Della
ware avenue has recently been
transformed into n magnificent
thorourhfare, calculated to en-
courage the building art or ar
lists in the very best character or
real estate development. There
Is certainly some seriouus dere-
nction somewhere to account Tor
thc erection Of such a building IN
such a locality. But l MAINTAIN
that the rector Of Trinity Parish
Is the most powerless OF individ-
uals in such n relation. he aims
10 be a keeper of the peace and
!, rrornoter Of goodwill in the
ueiehborhood. He has expressed
his regret at the introduction OF
4 moving picture establishment
INTO the immediate ncighborhood.
though he has only the friendh-
est feelings towards its promo
tera He has quietly protested
70 the proprietors about the char
actor of tho building. and he has
let IL go at that. While the stock
holders list includes a large num-
Der OF residents In the immen-
ate neishborhood. whose vested
rights would seem to be impaired
bv the erection OF such build
ing. and whose power to prevent
il was quite obvious
strangers 10 the city who have
passed the Parkway building in the
mast few days have commented on It's
peculiar appearance. The question
has naturally arisen. why such an
uciv structure in such n pretty neigh
borhood? In another portion Of his
communication DIR. Kirkus stated
~The theatre building, is architecturally
objectionable 10 many-a hideous
brick structure. closely resembling a
Uindowiess storehouse or warehouse.
,rich as IS generally located in a re-
mote corner OF the industrial section
~ n town. II is FAR less picturesque
shan an ordinary roundhousc or rail-
road shop. and its blank waIl fronting
~, Adams street is an offense 10 the
ueirhborhood which il takes grea'
oeal Of charity 10 excuse.
II Is surprising that the residents o.
that section who own stock. N TINS
enterprise did not insist upon more
pieasing building being erected 1t Is
an architectural truism that beauty
,osts no more than ugliness. Those
stockholders may find that the value
of their neighboring property IS I'M
paired by this building.
In certain continental cities there are
boards which pass upon the plans OF al
architcts and $ contractors before
shade Of earth is turned. II the build
ing 10 be erected would prove out O
harmony with neighbOring ones. the
ARCHITECT. is required TO change his de-
sens. The city of Milan, Italy, has nae
such a board since medieval times
Paris has had a similar one for seVera
centuries. The architectural beauties
of both cities are largely due TO the in
nuence which those respective bodies
have exerted throughout the years.
Several American cities are carrying
out this idea 10 a certain extent
through city planning bureaus, whlci
aim 10 make the communities IN ques
non ones Of beauty for future genera
,,ons. and not merely ones Of utility 10
,ba present one. Wilmington ha
neither a board of building censorship
nor a city planning commission. Bu
as DR.. Kirkeus has aptly pointed out
we have a building commission
Chamber Of Commerce, a Real Estat
Association. and a Street Department
IL seems that one Of these group
should be able to command enough in
fuence 70 prevail upon citizens TO con
struct buildings which viii not mar tn
appearance of any given neighborhooc
and what is more 70 the point. viii nc
cause a general depreciation of proper
~ values.
It appears that it is too late TO remed
the present condition under discussion
But surely this viii serve as an exam
pie Tor the future. Perhaps the mex
time that large structure is TO b
built in a residential neighborhood NOR
persons viii take an active interest i
rhe matter II is TO be>hoped that Ia
promoters who are responsible for thi
bit Of architectural ugliness may part
make amends by showing nothing bu
cIessl. decent and beautiful films in thi
theatre.
Delaware farmers are finding it dif
ncuIt 20 figure a profit on sweet pota