1916 Zoning Resolution

1916 Zoning Resolution
Samuel Gottscho · Public domain · source
Name	1916 Zoning Resolution
Legislature	Board of Estimate of New York City
Long title	A resolution regulating and limiting the height and bulk of buildings and regulating and determining the area of yards, courts and other open spaces, and regulating and restricting the location of trades and industries and the location of buildings designed for specific uses.
Enacted by	Board of Estimate
Date enacted	July 25, 1916
Date signed	July 25, 1916
Date commenced	July 25, 1916

1916 Zoning Resolution was the first comprehensive zoning ordinance in the United States, enacted by the Board of Estimate of New York City. It established a legal framework to control the density, use, and form of buildings across the city, directly responding to the unchecked vertical growth epitomized by structures like the Equitable Building. This pioneering regulation created the concept of the "zoning envelope" and set a precedent for urban planning that would be replicated by thousands of municipalities nationwide.

Background and Context

The rapid industrialization and population boom of the late 19th and early 20th centuries transformed New York City, particularly Manhattan, leading to congested and dark streets. The construction of the 40-story Equitable Building in 1915, which cast a seven-acre shadow over neighboring streets, became a powerful symbol of the problem and galvanized public support for reform. Influential figures like Edward M. Bassett, a lawyer and former Congressman, and George B. Post, an architect, were instrumental in crafting the legal and planning principles. Their work was supported by advocacy from organizations like the Fifth Avenue Association, which sought to protect the prestigious retail corridor from encroaching garment factories and lofts. The resolution was also influenced by earlier, more limited regulations in Germany, such as those in Berlin.

Key Provisions and Regulations

The resolution divided the city into three types of districts: residential, commercial, and unrestricted. Its most innovative feature was the regulation of building height and setback, which created the iconic "wedding cake" or stepped architectural form. The rules stipulated that a building could rise vertically from the lot line to a certain height, after which it had to set back according to a prescribed angle from the street. This angle, often correlated to the width of the adjacent street, was designed to allow sunlight to reach the pavement. The resolution also included use restrictions, prohibiting incompatible industrial activities in residential areas, and established requirements for minimum courtyard sizes and other open spaces to ensure light and air for interior rooms.

Impact on Urban Development

The immediate effect was a dramatic change in architectural design, giving rise to the distinctive setback skyscrapers of the 1920s and 1930s, a style central to the Art Deco movement. Landmark structures like the Chrysler Building, the Empire State Building, and Rockefeller Center were all shaped by its provisions. The resolution effectively created a market for "air rights" and influenced speculative real estate development by defining the maximum buildable volume on a parcel. While it successfully addressed issues of light and air, critics argued it also encouraged uniform street walls and facilitated the segregation of land uses, sometimes reinforcing socioeconomic divisions within the city's neighborhoods.

Legacy and Subsequent Revisions

The 1916 Zoning Resolution served as the model for the Standard State Zoning Enabling Act drafted by the U.S. Department of Commerce under Herbert Hoover, which enabled states to grant zoning powers to municipalities. Its framework was adopted by cities across the country, including Chicago, Los Angeles, and Boston. However, by the mid-20th century, its provisions were seen as outdated for managing modern urban complexity and density. It was entirely superseded and replaced by the far more detailed 1961 Zoning Resolution, which introduced concepts like the Floor Area Ratio (FAR) and incentive zoning. The principles established in 1916, however, remain the bedrock of American land use law.

Notable Buildings and Examples

The resolution directly shaped the design of many of New York's most famous skyscrapers. The Chrysler Building, designed by William Van Alen, and the Empire State Building, designed by Shreve, Lamb and Harmon, are quintessential examples of the setback principle applied with artistic flair. The American Radiator Building and the Barclay-Vesey Building also exemplify the era's architectural response to the code. Later, the complex of Rockefeller Center, developed by John D. Rockefeller Jr., demonstrated a master-planned approach within the zoning envelope, incorporating multiple towers and public plazas. These structures collectively define the iconic silhouette of midtown Manhattan. Category:1916 in New York City Category:Zoning in the United States Category:History of New York City Category:1916 in American law