+ COMMISSION ON BUILDING DISTRICTS 



courts and open spaces, the location of trades and industries and the loca- 

 tion of buildings designed for specified uses. This draft amendment was 

 passed by the Legislature, approved by the Governor and became a law 

 April 20, 1914. (See Appendix I.) Pursuant thereto the present District- 

 ing Commission was appointed. 



Taking up the work where the former Heights of Buildings Com- 

 mission left it and using its data, investigations and report, the Commission 

 has during the past two years made an exhaustive study of the entire sub- 

 ject. The Committee on the City Plan of the Board of Estimate placed 

 at the disposal of the Commission its expert staff. The Commission has 

 made an extensive study of the present distribution of population and of 

 the present and proposed transit facilities, including a detailed transit time 

 zone map showing the estimated time from 14th Street, Manhattan, to every 

 section of the city, under the new dual subway system. Maps have also been 

 prepared showing the distribution of factory employees in the places in 

 which they work throughout the city; also maps showing graphically and 

 in detail the assessed land values per front foot throughout the city. With 

 the aid of insurance and real estate atlases, maps have been prepared for 

 each borough showing at various periods in their history the transit lines 

 and the building development and its use for residential, business and indus- 

 trial purposes. The present building development has been most carefully 

 studied and maps have been prepared to show graphically and in detail 

 the height of each building and the percentage of the lot covered by it. 

 Maps were also prepared showing existing grades, contours and other topo- 

 graphical features. The entire area has also been studied in detail and on 

 the ground by members of the Commission and its staff of experts. 



The Charter amendment under which the Commission is acting directs 

 it before submitting a final report to the Board of Estimate to make a 

 tentative report and hold public hearings thereon at such times and places 

 as the Board shall require. Accordingly on March 10, 1916, the Commis- 

 sion submitted to the Board a tentative report and the Board fixed as dates 

 for public hearings March 27th, 28th, 29th and 30th, and April 3d, 4th, 

 5th, 6th, 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th, 17th and 18th. In addition to the hearings 

 above specified, adjourned hearings have been held as follows : April 20th, 

 May 4th, 8th, 9th, 10th. 11th, 15th, 18th, 22d, 24th, 25th and 31st. 



The tentative report included a brief discussion of the general prin- 

 ciples involved in the proposed plan and a draft resolution with accompany- 

 ing maps embodying the plan in detail. The tentative report and maps were 

 printed and distributed widely among interested individuals and associations. 

 Many of the maps were also printed by various newspapers. A steno- 

 graphic record was taken of the public hearings. The general opinion 

 expressed was overwhelmingly in favor of the general plan outlined. Not 

 a single organization and only two or three individuals expressed dissent 

 from the general principle involved. Many individuals and associations 

 testified strongly to the urgent necessity for the adoption of the plan pro- 



