64 HEIGHTS OF BUILDINGS COMMISSION 



which building lines may be established in the discretion of the council in 

 particular districts or along particular streets. 



Residential and Industrial Districts in American Cities 



The legislation of the past few years shows a distinct trend toward the 

 creation of specially restricted residential districts. Legislation has been 

 enacted by New York, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Maryland 

 and Virginia. Ordinances have been passed in Richmond, Milwaukee, Min- 

 neapolis, Seattle and Los Angeles. 



New York cities of the second class 



The new housing law for cities of the second class, passed by the 

 New York legislature in 1913 (ch. 774), authorized the common council 

 mi petition of two-thirds of the owners affected to establish residence dis- 

 tricts within which no building other than a single family or a two family 

 dwelling may be constructed. A residence district once created shall con- 

 tinue as such until a like petition shall be presented to and approved by 

 the common council. The unit of area for the residence district consists of 

 the lots fronting on one side of a street between two intersecting streets. 



Massachusetts 



In 1912 the legislature of Massachusetts passed an amendment to the 

 general municipal act (chapter 334, laws 1912) that permits every city and 

 town in the state, except Boston, to regulate the height, area, location, and 

 use of buildings and other structures within the whole or any defined part 

 of its limits for the prevention of fire and the preservation of life, health 

 and morals. The power extends to all buildings and other structures except 

 bridges, quays and wharves and structures owned or occupied by the na- 

 tional or state government. 



Minnesota 



The legislature of Minnesota at its last session (laws 1913, ch. 420) 

 passed an act empowering the cities of Duluth, Minneapolis and St. Paul 

 to establish residential and industrial districts. The city council, when 

 petitioned by 50 per cent, of the property owners in a district, may by a 

 lishment, no matter what its character, may be excluded from a residential 

 district. The erection and maintenance of any industrial or business estab- 

 lishment, no matter what its character, may be excluded from a residential 

 district. Even tenements, apartment houses and hotels may be excluded 

 from such a district. In the designation of industrial districts, the city 

 council is authorized to classify the various industries and in its discretion 

 to restrict each class to a definite and limited area. Upon a petition of 

 50 per cent, of the property owners in a district, the council may set aside 

 its original restrictions, and establish an industrial district out of a residen- 

 tial district, or vice versa. 



