The New York herald., 1872-08-24
ME FIFTH AVENUE WID1StI&
H Ceurtyards 70 Bs Dsstroyed-1he Street
Wiasnsd to sixty Fest with Twenty Feet
sidewslks-How the Matter Stands ct
Prssent-A Bitter War Expected.
PROPOSED WIDENING OF BROADWAY.

The recent opening by the Board of Aldermen Of
NE question of widening Fifth avenue nom Wash
hgton Park to Thirty-fourth street, has created
considerable alarm on the part OF many OF the
property owners on the avenue, as It is the nten-
hen Of the instgators of this movement to repos
cess fifteen feet on either side of the avenue, now
used by the owners Of property as courtyards, and
extend the sidewalks up to the line OF the walks.
Many have not hesitated to denounce this as job
10 bleed them, but Alderman Conover, who moved
the resolution In the Board, declares most en-
phatically that in opening the question he is nu-
enced only by the wants of the travelling public.
mat the matter may be more clearly understood,
T. il proper to give resume Of previous legisaton
h the premises
It appears that in 1882 the Common Council gave
70 the property owners on the avenue fifteen feet
ON either side to be used solely for courtyards
fhis covered that portion Of the avenue lying be.
tween Sixth street and Twenty-nrst street. This
was given on the condition that the property
should revert to the city when In the opinion Of the
Common Council, 1t was needed for the accommo-
dation OF public travel In 1874 the same privilege
was given, under the same restrictions, to the pro-
Rerty owners between Twenty second and Forty.
becend streets.
IN expeciati that they would not be fnterfered
with mApy Of the owners OF the elegant residences
On the avenue have, at great expense, fitted up
pourtyards OF these fifteen feet Of public property.
In 1896 an efrort WAS made In the Common Council
TO repossess these fteeu feet, but the residents
the avenue and the press reused such storm
about their ears for attempting to destroy the
beauty OF the avenue that the Aldernhen abandoned
stemPa 70 % shs
the resolution was referred in 1865 made en- ex-
Aaussive report, in which appeared the following
CLAUSE y
Fs fsct that xvh,,n TIM Coumou Coupcu IN orar,;~o
the privilege had very wisely limited its use for the par.
W ea neeeess G
travel shall occur the owners OF the property have with
sa VIII a
thirty lsst q the sdswaL and d some Instances WIN
.siss sapS$ss: 5Ss.ss! tSs tsSsn
the privilege for the above purpose.
Since 1865 no steps have been taken to repossess
the thirty feet until March last, when Alderman
Copover offered the following
ncls travel s on The Sh syenae, soah Of Thirty fourth
moro apparent since the extension Of that
70
X a other s Ss @ 1 s falH
The ona Of svesy d desired ssS
Tor travel Would be secured but nssmucS Is the owners
e hs
s % y 4 s s By ias %ss GSons S
%d sSsx,5: oT
hs sa
inssTs1ns Win shs S o d
ss a.
Hs Ss. SsEssf 0 iii be bsns ss
Of ss s se q g ss
~ ] Ana sAs : ss
S9wn for the width of the and Sidewalks Of
Se permitted the censraction vaults areas aops
e ss hss @ n s ws f. q. as %
FaiIs carTisge~.y Of sad syenne originally laid
s z sots
This was laid on the table and ordered to be
printed: At more recent session OF the Board the
preamble and resolution was taken up and refer.
Eessrs Radde joyce and T Punkit. who WIN Sit on ~
the Sd OF September to consider the subject and
Alderman Conover declares that since the widen.
mg OF Church street opens up a broad street to
washington Park. the travel s likely to go through
tngton PARK and Thirty fourth street. He is in
isvor Of giving the property owners street sixty
lide. II is charged that property owners are vio-
hting the privilege given them In erecting stoops
@ Of Ssnds s snsl ss @ s
Sated that there win be bitter fSnt between the
b0sed destruction of their cOurtyards and lawns
before final action on the part OF the civil author
tties.
On the 25th OF March Alderman Conover made
. similar movement, looking to the widening OF
Broadway The preamble and resolution reads:-
Whereas II Is apparent that Broadway, between Sew
enee1th and second streets would be greatly I'm
condition Of the buildings on the east side of Broadway
compel them to give way TO- suitable buildings to
meet the requirements Of trade therefore be IL
Resolved That the Board OF street Opening and I'm.
.,ess woeTs o me- on e saey side Of Broad
way betwe en- seventeenth and twenty second streen 70
Snt line they may rebuild alter the snme In order
that twenty-five feet may be added 70 the present
tiagcway.
This was referred to the same committee for an
early report. The Common Council, however have
no power to widen Broadway. They can only re-
commend it to the Board Of Street Openings,
created under the last charter.
TOMBs POLICE COURT.