The "North-China Herald" has received a statement from the Shanghai Municipal Council giving the views of that body upon the proposal that it should purchase the site of the Majestic Hotel the location for administrative offices, a civic centre, or a park The statement considers the arguments for and against the proposed purchase for any of these purposes, and pronounces. unfavourably upon the suggestion. Tt is as follo Numerous suggestions have. been made mainly through letters in the Press. that the Council should buy the site of the Majestic Hotel. A definite offer has been made by the owners to sell the property measur-jing about 58.593 mow for the sum Jof Tls. 3,500,000 and this offer remains open until April 30, 'The proposal has been submitted [to the most careful exa and in view of the considerable public interest' manifested and the heavy expenditure of public money involved, the Council deems necessary to submit to the public statement of material facts and fof its attitude in the matter, Many uses for the site have been suggested by those who advojeate this purchase, and these may be classified under three healt ings:—
1) te remove the Administrative:
offices to the Hew being et of nent the ca) Wolprevide® Cifelal and ive (3) prow n open a park or priority. 'The Western district has already' been favoured with the purchase of twenty-five mow Jand which will ultimately be avail able "fora. park. The" Council therefore desires. to' concentrate on the provision of such additional facilities as. the community may afford in the more congested north fern and eastern areas, Having regard to. the existing neat it may be questioned whether fag Ts. 9,500,000 for the conversion expenditure of as large a sum
of the Majestic site into a. parle would produce the best value for the money. Tt, would probably be fof more advantage to the: commune ity as a whole if two or more open spaces. in less expensive but more congested areas could be provided for the same outlay. Moreover, the [Council cannot recognize that there any special' value as a pave attaching to the Majestic site which from the real estate point of view is rapidly becoming. one of the most expensive districts in. Shange hai. Moreover, little or no value can be placed "upon the "existing buildings. as. they are entirely une suitable for any civie purpose, Tt may be also mentioned that the ratepayers of the Settlement have already two large parks outside the Settlement which are open These are me Adequate and it may be a question whether the ratepayers should. our further Wabilitien of such heavy nature without the ce-ope tion of the other administrations is felt that it would be unvwite to regard to the first point it]
remove the Administrative offices from their present advantageous situation in the centre of the bu ness community, and that the proposed site one'and a half miles further west would cause serious inconvenience to the transaction of public business.
Moreover, the present Administration Building can continue to be satisfactorily used for many years, and the limitations of the resent, site for further development ire very far from reached. The removal of the Shar hai Power Company to its new home on Nanking Road after Qctober of this year will relieve the present temporary lack accommodation, and the demolition fof the present' Central Police and Fire Stations and the erection of new premises for them adjoining si Foochow " Roat will afford room on the present site for adequate expansion and development.
As to the second suggestion the establishment of a civic centre there is a considerable amount of ambiguity. 1 Te ts Intended to form 1 civic centre in, the sense in which the term is understood in modern town planning, that ig the group: ing. of administration and all public buildings in park surround. ngs, the proposed site is entirely inadequate in area and the expense of, the scheme is prohibitive, The desire however for Hall together with such additional civic amenities as accommodation for the Municipal Orchestra can be adequately met by the development] fof the present site. The transfer Jof the Central Police and Fire] Stations to an adjoining site would render possible the erection of such buildings on the municipal und as would be suitable for a own Hall and library and _accommodate orchestra and. other concerts.
Apart therefore from the desire! of the community that jo site should be bought! for such purposes of entertainment as would be more suitably left to
be properly limited to the question private enterprise the issue could whether or not the property
open space. This proposal shou! Should "be bought 28 9 park or an considered in relation to the more comprehensive scheme for the [provision of parks and open spaces which has already been receiving the Council's serious attention and with regard to the Council's finan-
The problem of the provision of parks and open spaces within the Settlement and the difficulty of acquiring suitable Iand at a reasonable cost has become very urgent and the Council has considered the advisability of appointing a committee to consider a comprehensive scheme for the acquisition of such open spaces as will meet the needs fof all sections of the community, The need is most acute in the Northern district and in view of] the density of the population in this very congested area the Coun-jell decided as long ago as the summer of last year to give it Looking at the proposal from the paint of view of the general finance tial position of the Council it will realized that the purchase "of this particular site constitutes but relatively small part. of a com prehensive scheme for the provision fof additional parks and open spaces find its acquisition atthe price wired will undoubtedly vestrier the ouneit in obtaining other parks in the more congested areas. "The question has "to. be. reviewed relation to. the heavy commitments fof the Council for such major mea [sures as the provision of eduentional facilities and hospital extensions, and to the Heavy and. in-teasing demands. upon the Coun oil's financial resources.
The present financial position of the Council is somewhat artificial fand the present low rate of taxa. tion is. due' to the sale "of electricity undertaking. When th proceeds of the sale ave exhausted The Council "mnay be placed in a difficult position in_ suddenly having to revert to a restricted programme during the next few years capltal expenditure ig authorized unduly heavy' scale, therefore essential to dlsjeriminate "most. particularly" between projects which though desitble are not absolutely necessary. The purchase of the Majestic site would not only' inevitably postpone The acquisition of park areas in note congested districts but result nan annual charge in the neighbourhood of Tis, 250,000 on the ordinary budget. in addition to the burden resulting, from the conversion and maintenance of the property for the purpose desired.
The financing of this. purchase would very materially contribute to the increase in taxation which haying regard to necessary. commit. rents sand, future demands will Inevitable. in the near future. The Gouneil therefore after exhaustive consideration is triable to, support the proposal for the purchase the Majestic site and is of opinion that its financial position does not warrant the assumption of 0 large 'a burden on the budget to the pre Judica of measures of more urgent necessity.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.