New-York tribune., 1891-05-01
NEW HOUSES FOR FIFTH-AvE
CLUBS THAT ARE TO BUILD THERE.


THE METRoPoLIrAN BUYS A PLoT-THE UNION
SEARCHING FOR SITE.
Much VIII be added to the attractiveness of Fifth
when the buildings in 1t in course Oh
erection or soon TO be begun finished. The
formal transfer was made yesterday Of two plots upon
which notable structures will be built The executors
Of the estate Of Louis c. Hemerley the former HUSBAND
Of the Duchess of Marlborough, have sold the
plot on tho northeast corner OF Sxtieth-st. ana
Ffthave., 100 feet five inches in the avenue and 700
feet in the street eight full city lots to Cornelius
Vanderbilt, Charles Lanier and William o. whitney,
trustees These men represent the newly organheo
Metropolitan Club which win erect fine housc on INC
plot. The price paid 34s0000. mortgage Oh SSoo'
600 was given to the trustees Of the amersey estae
in part payment
The second transfer was that OF the rest Of the
block, 100 feet FIVE inches in Fifthaye. ana 100
feet in sixty rstst, TO Mrs Louisa NJ Gerry, wie OF
Commodore Elbridge T. Gerry. This plot also be-
longed to the Hamersey estate, which received S40O
600 for IT, Commodore Gerry will build handsome
house the ground.
The Metropolitan Club has chosen McRim, Mead d.
White as tho architects for the new clubhouse No
idea OF the architecture and size Of the building has
yet been given 10 the frm but the architects VIII
probably receive the necessary directions and
go TO work on the plans. In the meantime the mcm-
bershp Of the club has reached over GOO. and 1t Is
growing constantly. This Is considered an indication
OF widespread interest In the new club by its pro
moe as several years must elapse before the house
Of the organization can be built and made ready for
occupancy. Men naturally hesitate TO pay even part
of the initiation fee to club from which they can
derive no benefit for two or three years TO come
The strong feeling In the Union Club in favor of
moving distance up Fifth-ave has awakened the
Governing Committee to the fact that the DIX property
which adJons the clubhouse in Twenty-hrstst., and
was bought by the club not long ago, Is bit OF
whte elephant. Many members opposed the pur-
chase OF the house. and the resolution In favor OF the
step was twice vOtcd down by tho party when
favored moving. At third meeting however,
the conservatives ont in full force and they
carried the notion The property was then bought
A good deal OF work has been done on the Dix
house. The first door intended for the library OF
the club The organization already owns fine col
lection Of books, and planned TO add to 1t until 1t be-
the best club library in the city on The second
floor OF the addition IS The griliroOm, which has been
open for over two weeks. On the top HoOrs were
TO he private dlnng-r0omS. The talk IN iavor OF
moving uptown became so strong month ago that
work stopped the Dix house, 1t being Thought
Unwise to spend any more money on Improvements
decided.
rre committee appointed to inquire about an n, oya wall
able uptown site for the club, which consists OF Ga,
ence A. seward, j. \. \. Gfiswod, John H. Bnrrili
Frederic d. Tappen, j. lIampden Robb, Alexander I.
Van Nest and $ W, Slilbanb, has already begun its
Lukes Hospital. extending in E1fthave. rom
is likely to be recommended by tho committee seem to
be unfOunded when 1t is remembered that the trustees
Of the Institution have not yet offered the place for
sale. One plot that has been suggested Is in F1ftu
ave. between Fty-sXth and Fifty seventh sts., be
tween tho lots bought from the Boomers by {. Il. ut
inEtOn and william Waldorf AstOr The ground Is ui-
usually deep, containing fifteen city lots. and the
chief objection to the site perhaps, would De tla IL Is
not the corner TIE sign which advertises 1t for
sale says that the purchaser must agree to certain
restrictions concerning the kind of building 10 be
erected the plot. This means that Messrs. Hunting
ton and Astor do not want to any risk Of having
undesirable HeghbOr, for they must be consulted be
fore the plot Is sold Mr.. lluntingtOns castle IS al
ready imposing looking structure, while ground has
not yet been broken for &r. Astors mansion. cor
ner plot little further down the avenue also offers
evident advantages as a site for the clubhouse.
The big new business building to be erected on the
on the former site jt the South Church, Is
used as an argument in favor OF moving the Union Club
and il Is now reported that another large business
structure Is to go the northeast corner OF the
same streets where the Lotos Club has its home
This clubs lease of its house expires neat year, and
the committee already has In mind building about a
milo up the which could be altered into an ad-
mirable club house. , j,
shortly before the death OF tho former proprietor Of
SochOrtners restaurant in Lafayette Place. an est1b
lshment around which cling the pleasant rec0lecuon
of many good vers OF this city, he started another eat
irghonse I'm Flfihave. III, at first tried tn carry
on both places but he ha closed the one In Fithove
An indication OF the way in which the tide of BUS!
ness Is Overiowing Ffthave into the sld9 streets +
furnished by the sign the house In west Ihl'ty-
fourh-st adjoining the Manhattan Club, which READS :
"To let for residence or business house