The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-02-20
CIVIC FORUM HE EARS
 ME RITS OF ZON|NG SYSTEM DEBATED.
Sponsor for Legislation Sees Better Adjustment of Real Estate Values on Pas
 sage of Law

George W. Yancey, attorney, and William J. wynne, city attorney, agreed, in speaking of City zon- ing" at the civic forum luncheon of the Chamber of Commerce yesterday, that it would be civic and individual economy in that it would preserve values of real estate investments, be they residences. apartment houses, garages or manufacturing establish ments.
 They declare that the enabling act was the outstanding item to be con sidered now Until such an act is adopted by the general assembly, em- towering cities to establish zones, the city can do nothing in the premises The only relief possible Is when an objectionable structure would come under the class of a nuisance.
 MT. Wynne said that the bill pre- pared by him and now before the legislature would grant Alabama cities broad zoning powers, but it did not follow that cities should or would exercise all the powers con
 
 compelled to exercise any of them unless they choose to do so and then would exercise suchc of the powers as is deemed wise. The bill was reported favorably by the house committee.
 MT. Yancey laid stress on the du- ties owed society by every citizen claiming it's protection. Individual rights, he said, ceased when they in- vaded the rights of a neighbor. Zoning System Popular.
 He pointed out that one half the states have adopted enabling sta tutes allowing cities to establish building zones, that 66 cities have ex- ercised the zoning rights granted by the acts and that 200 more cities are taking steps to come under the zon- ing provisions. These cities, he said include the most progressive in the country. such as New York and Los Angeles, as well as smaller munici- palities.
 He illustrated the fate of a man of moderate means locating a S3,000 home in a residence neighborhood A neighbor across the street builds a store. Other stores are built The home atmosphere of the neighborhood is destroyed and owners suffer losses of 15 to 25 per cent in values. So the owner of a $15,000 home in a higher-priced neighborhood suffers when an apartment house is located on the same block and overshadowa his investment.
 o O o
 Protect Factories.
 The speaker thought it just as im- portant that a factory be protected in the permannency of it's neighbor- hood. In other words, the stability of investment of whatsoever charac- ter, he claimed, is enhanced by hav- ing the permanent character of neighborhoods established.
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 Race segragation.
 The question of segregation of the races, both speakers contended, could be arranged on the same amicable line, as other racial relations had been arranged. A zoning act did not mean that the negro race would be crowded into any one neighborhood, but that they would be protected in their residence and business neigh borhoods the same as the whites. This matter, they said, could be arranged SD as lo SdtlSly Doln races.
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 The Golden Rule.
 MT. Yancey contended that a zon- ing system was the application of the golden rule in the ownership of property in that it would preserve the character of an entire neighbor- hood and the values of the entire neighborhood. none being allowed to do that which would destroy the value of that possessed by others.
 Next weeks luncheon will be ad- dressed by Henry Upson Sims. who will talk on "The British Debt Ad justment and It's Probable Effect On