The Coconino sun., 1927-03-04
(Contributed)

Has Flagstaff arrived at point
where she must adopt a beautifica-
ton program? Or will time go on
with no plans formulated to make
this community a beautiful spot in
which to dwell; spot SO ideally To-
Gated with stately pine forests encir-
cling and mountain peaks and buttes
in the rear of the picture to form q
background Of which no other city
may boast?
Flagstaff is a new city, city which
has risen with no great forethought
given to the future. To counteract
this haphazard early growth plans
must be made Immediately SO that
projects contemplated in the future
will conform to a given code. This
is not a difficult situation to cover
It simply means that the city govern
ment will make plans that will lead
in a straight line to q more substan-
tial and beautiful Flagstaff.
1t is not difficult to conceive of a
well-paved and well laid out Flagstaff.
Streets of concrete or solid dirt that
will shed water are real necessity
before beauty can be obtained and
lining these same streets should be
curbs with the open space between
them and the sidewalk filled in and
trees growing on an otherwise bare
space, because trees will grow in
Flagstaff. Other cities are beginning
to wake up on the latter point, one
being Douglas, Arizona. That city
has distributed thousands of trees
and shrubs to home owners for plant
ing purposes with the realization that
doing so adds much to the beauty and
character Of the city.
With three points already given on
such Identification program we
hear an undertone of protest regard
ing the cost, etc. It is true that taxes
are high, but Flagstaff is growing
and will continue to grow rapidly
within the next few years. Is it to be
allowed to spread with no effort be-
ing made to control its growth? Now,
1927, is the time to adopt ten-year
program, a program laid out which
will encompass the entire city and
when it has been completed, residents
of the community can come forth and
say with pride, "That is my city, a
city of which | am proud, the city of
Flagstaff"
Now is the time to adopt and en-
force a strict building code Not
merely a code in word but code in
deed. 1t is impossible to pass an or
dinance of course which says that all
homes shall be built of brick, but all
homes can be built in a certain loca-
tion on the lot with no obnoxious
fences and unsightly sheds. Neither
can an ordinance say how large a
home shall be or its construction, but
a certain restriction can be placed SO
as to forestall the building of a
thousand dollar shack alongside a
$4,000 home. In other words, build
ing restrictions can be comfortably
enforced which viii eventually have
to do with the Identification of Flag
staff. This city has no rule which
says that before any construction can
be started building permit must be
secured, except in the business dis
trict. With no restrictions, almost
any type of building may be construct
ed outside of the zone controlled by
the building code used in the down
town section. 1t is not fair to those
who have money invested in real es-
tate and homes. 1t is nowise fair to
the city of Flagstaff.
Such a program as just described
cannot be 'fly-by night" PROPOSE
ton. Before any real good can be ac-