Dietz Rushes Bridge Attack to Council

In another attempt to block the Harvard Cooperative Society's plans for a bridge linking its new textbook annex with the main store, Sheldon Dietz '4' has sent all nine City Councillors a specially prepared brochure detailing his opposition to the bridge.

The Council will decided shortly whether or not to grant the Coop's petition for the bridge.

Included in Dietz's packet--which he dispatched special delivery to the Councillors Sunday evening--is a seven page statement, two maps, two pictures, and a copy of a letter opposing the bridge from Ralph N. Helverson, minister of the First Church (Unitarian).

Dietz used his statement and the accompanying exhibits in a recent hearing before the City Planning Board. Alan McClennen '38, City Planing Director, has asked the Coop to make some design changes on the bridge as a result of the meeting.

McClennen said last night, however, that he hopes to make a recommendation to the City Council by Monday and that it probably will be favorable.

Observers believe that the Council will then give its OK to the petition. The bridge would connect the second and third floors of the main building to the $2 million annex, which should be completely finished by Jan. 1, 1966.

Dietz, a part owner of a building on Palmer St. over which the Coop's bridge would pass, has vooiferously opposed the Coop's new building and the bridge.

His statement declare that "the proposed bridging structure would interfere directly with the elements of air and wind [on Palmer St.], and it would have an injurious effect on the character of 'he street."

Accompanying the statement is a picture of Palmer St. which Dietz claims shows it to be "a friendly, sun and light street, an invitation to somewhere." In the picture, however, two-thirds of the street is obscured by shadows cast by buildings. The only sun-lit place is an empty lot where part of the Coop's four-story annex is scheduled to rise

One of Dietz's maps shows that the bridge would cast shadows varying from 20 ft. on June 21 to 65 ft. on Dec. 22. A note on the map adds, however, that these shadows would occur at 12:30 p.m., the "time of day when Palmer St. has not shadow from any building."

According to the statement, the bridge would have a deadening influence" on the street. "Placed at right angles to the other buildings on the street, the bridging structures not only consume the amount of open space of their particular mass, but what is more damaging to the street, block off all the open space behind them."

The statement also says that Palmer St.'s "strategic location, its small scale which relates to people, its contrast with the expanse and hustle and bustle of Massachusetts Ave. and Brattle St., make it an irreplaceable asset," and adds that "future planning and esthetic possibilities" should not be disturbed.

Dietz's brief claims that "it is not necessary for two buildings of a single store to be connected in order to operate efficiently and successfully."

Furthermore, it declares that even if there is such a need, "a connection between the two buildings of the Harvard Cooperative store already exists. There is under Palmer St. a seven-foot wide by six-foot three-inch tunnel." The underground passage is currently used for transferring merchandise between the present textbook annex and the main stores.

One of Dietz's maps shows that the bridge would cast shadows varying from 20 ft. on June 21 to 65 ft. on Dec. 22. A note on the map adds, however, that these shadows would occur at 12:30 p.m., the "time of day when Palmer St. has not shadow from any building."

According to the statement, the bridge would have a deadening influence" on the street. "Placed at right angles to the other buildings on the street, the bridging structures not only consume the amount of open space of their particular mass, but what is more damaging to the street, block off all the open space behind them."

The statement also says that Palmer St.'s "strategic location, its small scale which relates to people, its contrast with the expanse and hustle and bustle of Massachusetts Ave. and Brattle St., make it an irreplaceable asset," and adds that "future planning and esthetic possibilities" should not be disturbed.

Dietz's brief claims that "it is not necessary for two buildings of a single store to be connected in order to operate efficiently and successfully."

Furthermore, it declares that even if there is such a need, "a connection between the two buildings of the Harvard Cooperative store already exists. There is under Palmer St. a seven-foot wide by six-foot three-inch tunnel." The underground passage is currently used for transferring merchandise between the present textbook annex and the main stores.