Regardless of the reference to obesity I am curious if the need for the 
larger door is along the lines of "build it and they will come" as in 
the desperation that the New York Historical Society may feel over a 
lackluster global ( let alone Community Board) response to their 
existence. If you have wider doors does it mean that more people will 
come to visit? It might work if one is a freak of the oldest profession, 
I suppose. Either that or they want to be able to evacuate the archives 
en masse if there is a sudden environmental or terrorist incident. You 
should be able to back up a few large trucks to 40' wide doors. It never 
hurts to plan ahead.

][<en

> Does your reference to britches refer to the current populous trend to 
> obesity, which surely must be the inspiring need to widen the door ?
>
>     *"Community Board 7 voted 40 to 2 against the New York Historical
>     Society’s plans to renovate the façade of their landmark
>     building.  **The plan called for an expansion of the Society’s
>     front door from 8 feet to 40 feet"*
>      
>     Doesn't take much for the self-described preservation community to
>     get its britches in twist.
>

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