204 COMMISSION ON BUILDING DISTRICTS 



ditions in New York; but, after all, tbere is a general similarity in cities in 

 civilized western countries the world over; and the results of districting in 

 Germany and Austria cannot safely be ignored by us in our effort to decide 

 upon the wisdom of ourselves adopting it, but, on the contrary, these results 

 in these countries where it has had such a thorough trial should be give:i 

 our careful consideration. 



Zone plan based on health and safety 



( )ne of the arguments for districting in German cities was the decrease 

 in fire hazard by segregating factories, but more emphasis was laid on 

 greater efficiency and decrease in risks to health. As buildings are much 

 more substantial in Germany than here, the argument for districting on 

 account of diminished risk of lire would apply with much greater force in 

 New York than in ( iermany. 



The districting ordinances in Germany have been passed upon by the 

 courts. In 1894 the question was brought up whether the building police 

 had the right to issue the zoning or districting ordinance for a part of 

 Greater Berlin passed in 1892, and the decision of the court was that the 

 building police had the right to issue that regulation, because it tended to 

 increase the public security and health. It has also been determined that 

 the zoning regulations as they affect the city as a whole must he considered 

 in the decision of the court ; that it is not fair to pick out, for instance, the 

 district where the regulations are most severe and pa'-s upon that by itself, 

 the entire plan must be regarded. 



Statement by Frank B. Williams. Chairman, Committee on City 



Planning, City Club, April 11. 1916 

 Purpose of districting 



The City Club has already expressed its hearty approval of the main 

 purposes and principles underlying the work of your Commission in its 

 districting of this city as expressed in your tentative report, and of the 

 application of those principles in the various boroughs as exhibited in your 

 tentative resolutions and the plans carrying them out. In a pioneer 

 endeavor of this magnitude and difficulty it would be most remarkable if 

 there were not mistakes which, if uncorrected, would most seriously mar 

 the finished work. It is because you fully realize this fact that in your 

 main- public hearings and private conferences with regard to this huge task 

 you are devoting so much time and such patient attention to criticisms and 

 suggestions. It seems to he the universal feeling that never has there been 

 a commission more hard-working, more patient, more open-minded, or 

 more fair. 



It is your hope and belief — indeed the object for which you are work- 

 ing — that the district regulations which you are drawing up and applying 

 shall produce in each of the individual districts of the city a type of devel- 

 opment which, when once it has occurred, will of itself render it difficult, 

 if not impossible, to erect types of buildings in these districts alien to that 

 typical development : and therefore make it equally difficult or impossible 

 to change the regulations underlying that development. For this reason 

 ■any but minor mistakes in these regulations at this time are likely to he 

 irreparable. 

 Criticism of tentative plan 



We believe that there are mistakes in your tentative resolutions and 

 plans; hut that, fortunately, these mistakes may be remedied, not by radical 



