CONTENTS LETTER FROM THE COMPTROLLER REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE First Plan Second Plan Third Plan Fourth Plan Fifth Plan Sixth Plan ADDITIONAL REPORT SUPPLEMENTAL REPORT...

April 18th, 1913. Dear Mr. Pratt: It appears to me that the time has now arrived when some definite policy should be formulated regarding a number of needed improvements in the Borough of Brooklyn, with particular reference to a settlement of the court house, bridge terminal and other questions. We have had considerable discussion regarding these matters, and while this discussion has developed, as it naturally would, many divergent views, I am confident that it has also served a most useful pur

Since the appointment of this committee on the 30th day of April, 1913, it has had frequent meetings, conferences and hearings. Conferences have been had with representatives from organizations that have given time and study to the subjects within the scope of this committee. Several public hearings were held, notice of which was given in the public press. Written communications have been invited from all persons interested. Architects have been employed to advise and we have had the help of com

(See diagram marked Plan 1 ) This plan places the new court house on the site selected by the judges, and the new municipal building on the site that has been condemned for this purpose at the corner of Court and Joralemon streets to which will be added the land covered by the old municipal building. For the purpose of these comparisons no values are placed on land and buildings now owned by the city. The item of $4,012,095 for Brooklyn Bridge changes and re-location of tracks is the same in eac

(See diagram marked Plan 2 ) In this plan the court house would be 1,730 feet from the Hall of Records. The transaction of court business on the border of the retail shopping district would increase street congestion. It is distant from the present office district, and, if selected, injury to the present office district would result. It is inconvenient to residents of certain parts of the city. If court rooms fronted on the street they would yearly become more subject to noise. The available spa

(See diagram marked Plan 3 ) Like the Clinton Street site, this site would be so expensive that its purchase would probably preclude the opening of the bridge plaza. If the present court house should be retained, the new court house would be hidden and without any effective relation to Borough Hall Park. If it had outside court rooms they would be noisy. Schermerhorn Street would either need to be closed or else carried through the building by tunnel. In the former case one of the streets most n

(See diagram marked Plan 4 ) This plan has been pressed by very competent persons and we have given a large amount of detailed study to its merits. It contemplates that the old court house and municipal building should be torn down, and that the new court house should be set far back from Joralemon Street, the open space in front of it being flanked by the Hall of Records on one side, and a building of corresponding design on the other, to be used for children's and women's courts. The court hou

(See diagram marked Plan 5 ) This plan contemplates placing the new court house on Washington Street opposite the Post Office, and the new municipal building at the corner of Court and Joralemon on the site condemned for that purpose. It separates the court house from the Hall of Records. The chief objection, however, is that the available space is not sufficient. A court house of the size desired would be compelled to assume an awkward shape, and it would be so narrow that an inner court to lig

(See diagram marked Plan 6 ) This plan contemplates that the court house would occupy all of the present court house block except the Hall of Records; that it should have a large inner court with court rooms opening upon it; and that the municipal building should be placed on the plaza site. The available area for the court house would be 147,700 feet. The inner court could be 150 feet by 200 feet with a superficial area of 30,000 feet. The building, if six stories high, could easily have four f

We, the undersigned, while agreeing with Recommendation No. 2 of the foregoing report, believe that all of the three blocks between Fulton Street on the west and Liberty Street on the east, should be acquired by the City and not only the three lots opposite Clark Street. Our reasons for this belief stated briefly are, that the buildings erected upon these blocks are of poor construction and unsightly and their condition will not be improved by the bridge approach, nor will a better class of buil

It was recognized from the beginning of the study of this problem that any recommendations must of necessity take into consideration existing conditions and must co-ordinate with any general plans for the development of the borough as a whole. A thorough study has been given this question and it may be stated with reasonable assurance that the proposed location and general arrangement of the court house and municipal building not only do not in any way conflict with future changes but contribute

Court House: The courts and allied departments, at present situated in the old court house building, in the Borough Hall, in the Hall of Records and in rented quarters, which would be housed in this building, are: Space occupied at the present time by the various departments is as follows: The bill for the selection of the court house site does not provide quarters in this building for the County Courts, but it is likely that for several years all County Court business would be handled in the ne