RECORD OF TESTIMONY AND STATEMENTS IN RELATION TO 199 



NECESSITY FOR DISTRICTING PLAN 



The effect of vegetation is local. Trees and grass concentrated in parks 

 cannot take the place of vegetation on streets and individual house lots. 



Protection of the senses 



In addition to furnishing essential living requirements such as air, light, 

 water and food (the last two not here considered), it is necessary for the 

 health and well being of human beings to have their natural senses properly 

 protected. Sight, sound and smell are all influenced by housing conditions 

 and come within the proper scope of building restrictions. The relation 

 between odors and street ventilation has been mentioned. Sound is likewise 

 influenced by the proximity of buildings to each other, by their height, and 

 by the character of their walls. Large high buildings placed near together 

 greatly increase the amount of noise in the street. Buildings of stone, brick 

 and concrete reflect sound and produce echoes. Wooden buildings are less 

 likely to reflect sound. The character of the pavement is of course an 

 important element. Noise greatly increases fatigue, notably the fatigue of 

 mental workers. It is especially objectionable in residential districts because 

 there it may affect the very young and old, and the infirm, as well as all 

 people during their hours of needed repose. 



The importance of outlook, the psychological effect of view, especially 

 sky view, is a matter closely connected with public health. Here again the 

 aesthetic influence of vegetation is important. Nervous diseases in cities are 

 on the increase. The protection of the nerves of the people by preventing 

 offense to the senses is a matter which properly comes within the bounds of 

 public health administration. 



Need of districting 



It may be. argued by some that while all of the foregoing statements are 

 admitted the regulations governing buildings should be general throughout 

 the city and not different for different districts. This, however, is not the 

 case. In a city like New York there must be buildings of different character 

 suited to all sorts of uses, and even in residential buildings there are bound 

 to be differences due to the varying financial ability of the people to provide 

 homes for themselves. 



Granted that indoor conditions are more important than outdoor condi- 

 tions, but to a considerable extent dependent upon them, it is obvious that 

 architects cannot design buildings so as to obtain the best interior conditions 

 unless the exterior conditions are definitely established. Nothing in the 

 history of housing has been more distressing than the objectionable condi- 

 tions which arise from the changes which take place in entire districts. The 

 residential section of to-day becomes the business section of to-morrow; 

 houses are vainly altered to meet the new conditions, the results being almost 

 always unsatisfactory. Individual houses built to secure the maximum 

 amount of light and air suddenly find their windows blanketed by high walls 

 on adjoining property. Had this been known in advance the original 

 building would have been constructed on different plans. It is so obvious 

 that it need not be emphasized that the more permanent the space between 

 buildings, the better can the architect adapt the interior to the exterior con- 

 ditions. This is in itself a sufficient justification for the regulation of the 

 height and area of buildings, and for the imposition of different restrictions 

 on different districts. 



Residential districts need more severe restrictions than other districts ; 

 industrial regions need less severe restrictions than business districts. It is 



