The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1926-03-09
DELIGHTED DISTRICTS" CURED BY zonINc

Zoning and City Planning are spreading very
fast through Florida Nearly every day some item
appears in the public press of this great common
wealth, wherein progress because of City Planning
is pointed out. Key Vests opportunity is waiting
at her municipal gates.
In the middle of last summer one of the most
enthusiastic and forward-looking of our adopted"
popu,ation Frank w. Lowering. whose home is in
Medford suburb of Boston, Massachusetts,
brought to the attention of our city through the
columns of The Citizen splendid series of five
articles on 'Zoning and City Planning For Key
West The Planning Expert for the Common
"almost textbook on City Planning" Mr.. Lover
ing has been for some years a member of the board
in his home city.
He was here for a month in February and
shortly before he left for the cebound NORTH spoke
before the Key West Women's Club upon the sub.
ject so near to his heart and of such unquestoned
value to this or any city.
He suggested that the proper committee of this
progressive organization might start this work, and
expressed his certain knowledge that under
way it would operate for the real and lasting bene
fit of Key West. He said frankly that he did not
in the least degree qualify as expert in any
sense of the word whatever, but that he had seen
and could testify to the great and good results such
an ordinance would bring to pass.
The Citizen believes the Key West Women's
Club is preparing to go forward in this tremendous
civic movement. And The Citizen stands ready to
help in every way it can. Things are happening
in thesreal estate and building lines here every
week which seem to make it imperative that there
be no delay With comprehensive coming plan in
to tell with reasonable certainty whether the
various districts or zones" will develop along
business, industrial or residential lines.
Under a zonng ordinance the generally APP
propriate use of land win be defined, and this
should and will tend to stabilize realty values and
prevent "blghted districts" The so-called "blight
ed districts" those where buildings become run
down and values decline. If there is coming
ordinance other cheap, unsightly structures may
replace the old eyesores; should there be a good
home in the neighborhood, shoeshop or quick
lunch or funeral parlor may legitimately spring
into being
These are desirable in their place, and neces-
sary always but always in their place Zoning pre-
vents this blight on residential sections by COM
polling such business to go where it belongs, that
is. in q business district.
The segregation of trade from homes viii
make it possible for home owners to be protected
from the discomforts Of factories, stores and what
not locating in the immediate neighborhood; they
viii be protected from lowering of property
values by the intrusion of Objectionable uses of
adjacent properties.
The Citizen sincerely believes with Mr.. Lover
ing that Key West should be laid out now under
city plan, and it believes further that there is
able. no more capable, no better equipped
organization in the city to start this program iri-
tensively than splendid Women's Club.