50 COMMISSION ON BUILDING DISTRICTS 



atlases of the various boroughs published at various intervals during the 

 past fifty years, borough maps were prepared showing in colors the location 

 of industrial, business and residence buildings. In order to note the effect 

 of freight and water terminals and of improved transit facilities on the 

 location and growth of building development, the rail and water terminals 

 and the transit lines were carefully noted on the building development maps. 

 These historical maps show from period to period the expansion of the 

 built-up area of the city and the development and change of the industrial, 

 business and residence areas. (See Figures 31 and 32.) 



Distribution of existing buildings according to height and area covered 



In order to aid in the determination of the number and character of 

 the height districts to be established and the general boundaries of the 

 various districts, so far as they would be affected by the height of existing 

 buildings, maps were prepared showing in colors the height of each build- 

 ing throughout the city. Similarly, for the purpose of assisting the judg- 

 ment of the Commission in laying out area districts, maps were prepared 

 showing graphically the area covered by each building throughout the city. 

 (See Figures 33-36.) 



Land values 



Comparative land values are a most important and accurate measure 

 of differences in the kind and character of use appropriate for various 

 areas. Values are particularly important in determining that particular 

 intensity of use that is consistent with the most beneficial use of the land. 

 They are, therefore, particularly useful in the determination of the bound- 

 aries of the various height and area districts. 



It is fortunate for this purpose that for the past few years sectional 

 maps have been published by the City Department of Taxes and Assess- 

 ments giving the assessed value per front foot of all land throughout the 

 city. In this case the unit of value is the value per front foot of an interior 

 lot 100 feet in depth. 



From these sectional maps a map of the entire city was prepared 

 showing in colors the various ranges of value per front foot. This enables 

 one to compare at a glance, e. g., values in Flatbush with values in Bay 

 Ridge and values in The Bronx with those of Brooklyn. It also shows the 

 blighting effect on certain sections of an invasion by inappropriate or 

 nuisance uses. (See Figure 37.) 



