RECORD OF TESTIMONY AND STATEMENTS IN RELATION TO 93 



NECESSITY FOR DISTRICTING PLAN 



If the existing loft buildings above 27th street and east of Sixth avenue 

 were not to be used in the future for manufacturing there is no reason 

 why these buildings could not be used for salesrooms, for wholesale job- 

 bing houses or as manufacturers' sample rooms. Quite a number of them 

 could be altered at relatively small expense into office or mercantile buildings. 



Statement by Robert S. Binkerd, Secretary of The City Club of 

 New York, March 28, 1916 



Importance of districting 



It is hardly necessary for me to appear before you to say that the work 

 of your Commission has the hearty support of the City Club. You know 

 that in every step we have given all the assistance in our power. The suc- 

 cessful accomplishment of your work is not only by far the biggest thing 

 before the City of New York, but it is the most momentous step in city 

 planning undertaken in this country. It is something toward which the 

 minds of intelligent and far-seeing men throughout the country are already 

 directed. 



Protection cf small parks 



What I have to say deals with a few of the large questions. With 

 regard to details we will file a brief. 



We have already stated that your preliminary plans in our judgment 

 do not sufficiently protect the surroundings of the small parks of the City 

 so as to make them the sustaining hearts and, in the future, the real neigh- 

 borhood centers of residential districts. In your present proposal you have 

 made great progress in remedying this situation. This progress, however, 

 still seems insufficient, as it is very important that the streets which are 

 immediately behind these small neighborhood parks shall also be restricted 

 to residential purposes. If residential streets have a park in front of them 

 and business and manufacturing pressing immediately behind them, their 

 situation will be exceedingly precarious. 



We appreciate that there will be small parks in which you will not be 

 able to follow out our recommendations. The discovery of these parks will 

 be a matter of considerable moment. Wherever you cannot protect a small 

 park as the heart of a residence district, there is a prima facie case that a 

 park has been located where one ought not to be. This knowledge will be 

 of great usefulness to the city authorities, not only in the question of any 

 possible sales of such parks, but also 'in the location of new parks. 



As rapidly as we can, we are making a survey of all the small parks 

 of the city, which will be filed with you for your assistance. 



Business on first floor of residential buildings 



We think you would be able to accord fuller protection to the sur- 

 roundings of the small parks if you would establish a fourth classification, 

 which would recognize the wide-spread combination which consists of a 

 store upon the ground floor and of apartments and living quarters above. 

 We earnestly urge the creation of this fourth classification. 



Protection of the suburbs 



There is a natural tendency to look upon the outskirts of a city as 

 something which is going to more or less take care of itself. Generally not 

 much attention is given to the restrictions imposed upon this part of a city. 



