Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-02-07
M. q. MEpARY, JR.
Talks on Zonlna In Large Cities

Talks on Zonlns In Large Cities
JOINING in large city is to its physical
~ welfare exactly what the laws of order
are to its social well-beng, in the opinion
Of NJ. b. Medary, Jr., who is one Of the rep
resentatives Of the architectural organiza.
tions on the Zonins Commission appointed
by the Mayor.
"Zoning," said Mr.. Medary. 'is tled
up with city planning very closely. Ane
Legislature authorized Philadelphia to up
point Zoning Commission and also one lot
city planning. The first Of these was named
by the Mayor, but the second body was never
appointed. Zoning aims at the best possible
development Of the city physically, taxing
into account the rights of the owners and the
users Of property and those of the pubic as
well.
1.-THE traffic loop was originally based On
the theory that it was desirable to brihg
everything to Broad and Chestnut Streets
but this was without complete realization
of what that meant to the city. 1T Simply
would produce concentration there "h'en
would be impossible.
Spreading the Business Section
"The right theory Of the transit loop was
that the transit lines. instead OF being con
gested at Broad and Chestnut streets, should
60 around the loop. The result of this would
be that the business section would thus be
built up all around the loop. 1t is simply to
do In an intelligent way what has happened
in New York, as the business section OF tLat
city extended north, first to Fourteenth
street. then to Twenty third. then to Forty
"The real problem in Philadelphia is in
such cases as Broad and Chestnut streets.
| 1t already has number OF huse once
possibilities. This is all right as 1t Is now,
But If everybody else followed the same ex.
ample, there would not be street room enough
| to accommodate the persons who used the
buildings.
owners Of buildings. They can do just at
they like as long rs their actions do not
| interfere with the rights OF the public. l
| have in mind n certain building which, by
reason of being higher than the neighboring
buildings. is able to charge very high
rental for its upper floors because of the
| light which il obtained there. Now, higher
| bnilding on the west side would take away
most Of the rentablc value OF the first build
ing because much Of the 'ignt would be shut
ace to the public but 1t Is to the owners
and TO companies holding its mortgages.
"Eyery dollar that Is added to the price
| of land in city becomes permanent bur-
den to the citizens suPpose fr"s. for example
| such n figure that it would be necessary to
srect thirty story buildings to get sufficient
| revenues to pay the overhead and allow n
| reasonable profit to the owners. In this
| event. every one who goes Into such a build :
| inc has to earn enough to pay all fixed
| charges on the building, such as taxes, water
| rant' ianitor and elevator service, etc, be-
fore be can begin to earn anything for him.
self.
IN the city. The only ones who make any.
tS;no ont Of such conditions are the land
sneculators. Zoning simply spreads as In.
tense development over wider area. The
'city loses nothing by 1t, because it gets its
revenue from larger area than 1t did be
fore there Is no diminution In the amount
of this revenue.
The "Set Back" Building
est has been claimed by the opponents OF
uor;ne that the set back building is un.
S;ohtiy, The theory Of coming is that build.
t,ss NAV 20 to a uniform fixed height n md
,hst thereafter. for every so many feet addeG
~ Tho height the upper stories must he So,
SocL a certain distance from the ones he
low But the set back building is MOI
mrIy or impracticable, as is shown by som,
~ The highest bui dings in New York hcim,
Constructed this way. They are more i,i.
teresting nrchhccturally and just as usefn
as the rectangular tyne.
"A great many of these buildings wor,
designed in this way. that Is either pyramid.
Of appearance and utility: The WorI.
Building IL an example Of this and that wa,
built many years ago. before coming had BE-.