The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-02-15
The Club Movement.

It Is remarkable that after long search
for new site for the Union Club. the COM
mittee who have had the matter in charge
report that they have found only two suit
able and desirable sites which can be pur-
chased. These are the st. Lukes Hospital
property. at the corner OF Fifty-fourth street
and the Fifth avenue. and tho STEVENS
property. about a mile below on the same
avenue at the corner OF Thirty-sixth street.
AS the second OF these situations Is at so
short q distance from the present site OF the
club house at the corner Of Twenty-frst
street. it is likely to be dropped out Of con-
sideration altogether.
The price asked for the st. Luke's prop
erty is very great. and as the cost Of
the club house to be erected would be
something like million additional. the
total outlay involved in its purchase is
enough to make even SO rich an asso-
citation hesitate about assuming the
burden. The part OF the Fifth avenue
in which exclusively the club seems to be
seeking for site. extends from Forty
second street to the Central Park. This is
distance Of nearly one mile. along which.
it might BIO supposed. many eligible pieces
Of property would be purchasable at such q
price as the club is able and willing to pay,
the only difficulty arising from tho ncces-
sity Of making q choice among them.
But such is not fact. as the commit
tee have discovered after months OF
search. Tho land required by the club
must be somewhere about 100 by 200 feet.
and 1t must be on q corner. preferably the
northwestern corner. The only piece OF
property 1t can find meeting these condi-
lions Is the present site OF st. Lukes
Hospital II. then. 1t ia not prepared to
pay the price asked. 1t must either go above
the Park or build its new club house on
leased land. The latter alternative was ac-
cepted by the Union League Club when it
built its house on the corner Of Thirty
ninth street and the Fifth avenue. and
when 1t now discusses the question OF
eventual removal thence. the building again
on leasehold property Is regarded as a
probable necessity.
The new Metropolitan Club has solved the
problem by buying site above the entrance
to the Park. or at the corner OF the Fifth ave-
nue. and Sixtieth street; and In planting
itself there ~ probably points out the region
where the club houses Of the future are to
be gathered. They are likely to be erected
along the easterly side Of the Central Park.
where also hotels and various public insti-
tutions will be collected. The men who are
in the management of the Metropolitan
Club are remarkable for their business sa-
gacity. their knowledge OF landed values.
and their foresight as to the future develop
ment OF the town. When. therefore. they
select this particular site for the costly
building which they are now proceeding to
erect, they must be satisfied as to its per-
manent eligibility.
This new club house. we understand. Is to
cost about q million dollars for the struo-
ture alone. and without the decorations. for
| which large additional outlay will be nec-
essary. 1t will accordingly be an estab-
lishment OF Its kind unrivalled In the world.
1t will also be peculiar among great club
houses In furnishing extensive accommoda-
tions for ladies. These will be In wing 40 by
IS feet in size. wherein will be contained u
restaurant and other appropriate rooms.
This introduction Of women into club life
Is likely to bring about changes that will
prove so desirable that the example Of the
Metropolitan will be followed by these
associations generally. The most unfor-