New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-11-29
THE FOUR LowrHER HOUSES.

farcs of this city, In the charm OF its SURROUND.
inos il is all that could be asked Inc grahu
driveway is a panorama OF spirited horse'' spioN
and snan vehicles and well-dressed persons, every
afternoon in the season; Riverside fark, ai'ns
tho roadway. is delightful spot for the children
and, more than Ill else, the broad Hudson, the
reat Pallisades and the Jersey hills rising beyond
form a vista which stiB the aesthetic instincts OF
all That wealthy people will recognize all this,
and will line the Drive with series OF handsome
dwellings. is matter Of course. Even now satis-
factory beginning has been made OF the pullalng
IN Of the Drive and some OF the most aroisuc
residences of the city have been put up tnere OF
are in the course OF erection.
Nearly all these houses have been pegun "itnih
half dozen years. and house in the DriVe winch
can look back a history OF ten years Is pio-
moor in the thoroughfare. There are still few
oldfashioned houses which were built when 1hat
part Of Manhattan Island was in the country, and
reminders of the reign Of Shantytown are not
entirely lacking The new style Of buildings Will
soon nush these rickety structures out OF the way
for the number of handsome homes in the Drive
10 steadily and rapidly being increased. Hall
a. dozen or more are now building and others will
no started In the spring. Still; there remains lots
of empty SPACE There is on an average hardly
more than one house to a block in the two miles
and tbreeouarters which the Drive stretches along
the ton of the bluff 1t will therefore be good
many wears before the vacant lots disappear tor
the most part.
DISTANCE FROM THE ELEVATED ROAD.
At present, perhaps the only great drawback
to Riverside Drive is its distance from the eie-
waited road long Journey twice day TO ana
from the station takes something from the en-
oyment of the first view, and additional rapid
transit facilities will greatly add to the attractions
of the thoroughfare
Unlike the Grand Boulevard, which has several
fine new churches, Riverside Drive is at present
altogether destitute Of religious edlfices' VI
course it is natural for q church to follow the
march of its people, rather than to anticipate IT, so
the Drive will hardly show many houses OF
worship for years to come. One disadvantage Is
that the Drive marks the limit of the residence
part of the city, so that churches In 1T would DC
on the edge instead of in the centre of the
neighborhoods from which they draw their
parishioners When the side streets are more
thickly settled, however, the Incompatible ad-
yantages of situation and view will undoubtedly
lead to the building of churches which will be
ornaments to the landscape
The Grant Tomb already attracts many visitors
to the Drive, and when the Monument has been
we'll begun it will add to the crowds Of sight
seers.
SOME OF THE HOUSES IN THE DRIVE.
Seventy -second-st.' is INTELLECTUALLY salts
factory approach to Riverside Drive, being well
built up with houses making more or less preten-
sions to artistic merit. The lower blocks of the
Drive do not, however, contain any noteworthy
houses The New.York Orphan Asylum is big,
soid-looking structure, surrounded by fine lawn,
but it is hardly to be classed among the ornaments
to the thoroughfare. The four Lowther houses at
Seventy -seventh-st., which form one harmonious
edifice, begin the roll of modern residences They
are of granite with Indiana limestone trimming.