RECORD OF TESTIMONY AND STATEMENTS IN RELATION TO 81 



NECESSITY FOR DISTRICTING PLAN 



hotel owners and jewelers in the City, as well as other prominent business 

 men. 



New York as a city is looked upon by the whole country as one whose 

 example should be followed in matters of commercial interest as well as in 

 civic affairs, and the example we set will have its effect upon the whole 

 country. What is now done by us will leave its imprint on the future de- 

 velopment of most of the large cities in the West. 



The section alluded to is probably the greatest retail section in the world. 

 Already haphazard building has tended to reduce taxable values for the City 

 and to largely destroy the same values for the owners of property. It is 

 high time that some real constructive idea of development for a city such 

 as this should be adopted. To permit the selfish interests of an individual 

 to interfere with the growth of the City as a whole is entirely unreasonable. 

 Such selfish interests should be subordinated to the interests of the majority. 

 No business man would consider seriously today attempting to run his busi- 

 ness successfully without some well defined and preconceived idea as to what 

 he wished to accomplish. No more can a city like New York grow as it 

 should without some such definite purpose in mind. I noticed in the papers 

 this morning that a few individuals opposed the plan proposed by your Com- 

 mission, but such opposition seems so individual and entirely personal that 

 in my mind little consideration need be given it. 



If New York is to maintain its supremacy it must be developed along 

 constructive lines, and this cannot be done, if not done under the proper 

 control. It is of vast importance to the City that the value of real estate 

 be conserved, and already we have many examples showing how entire dis- 

 tricts and areas may be depreciated. 



If the ideas as laid down by your Commission are followed values will 

 return and the consequent increase in revenue from taxes is an assured 

 result. This is of immense benefit to every dweller in the City of New 

 York whether he leases, or owns property, or pays rent. Manufacturing and 

 factories should absolutely be confined to one area, and in this area modern 

 loft buildings suitable for the workers as well as the owners should be 

 erected. Buildings in which the workers could live could be built in the 

 immediate vicinity, affording greater conveniences to everyone and lessening 

 the constantly increasing congestion in our subways and surface lines. It is 

 inconceivable to me that anyone who has the interests of New York at heart 

 could, under any circumstances, be in favor of haphazard building as com- 

 pared with that along constructive lines. 



I sincerely hope that the people of New York will make it their per- 

 sonal affair to do everything that they can to aid this great constructive 

 work that your Commission is endeavoring to have made a law. 



Statement by Albert S. Bard, Secretary, The Municipal Art Society, 



March 29, 1916 

 Districting necessary for orderly development 



Of the general plan to district the city into residential, business and 

 industrial districts, the Society has no criticisms to make. It believes that 

 the principle of specialization by regulation lies at the foundation not only 

 of any orderly development of the city, but of a conservation of property 

 values and the creation of satisfactory living conditions. We especially 

 approve of the creation and protection of exclusively residential districts. 



