New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-10-22
THE STORY OF FIFTH.Avr
THREE STAGES OF CITY REAL ESTATE nm
VELOPMENT IN THE FAMOUS STREET
BUSINESS HOUSES AND HOTELS GRADUATE,
TAKING THE PLACES OF THE DWELLING.

| BCsiNEss HOUSES AND HOTELS GRADUAIIy
! TAKING THE PLACES OF THE DWELLING.
| HousES-GOOD PRICES OBTAINED.
Fifth-ave. from Washington Square to Fifty.
ninth-st.. presents three distinct stages OF c,,,
real estate development. Fifth-ave. has been the
name and synonyme for all that is luxurious a.
metropolitan life. 1t still has generic sigma
| canoe; as such 1t still figures in the novel IN.
sociastic treatise the political harang,ie as thu
place OF the millionaire; but really the home life ~
Ffth-ave. so far as the part below Madison SQUARE
| Is concerned, Is little more than a memory
The glory OF F'ifth-ave. Is departing as did thai
OF It's predecessors among residential quarters Thu
palaces OF commerce are beginning to occupy the
parade ground Of the beaus and bellies of WuIis,.
day in Blocker and Greene and Bond SITS also n
is true; but long OF boarding occupancy
have interviewed Second and Madison ayes Ar.
each going through the slow notifications OF local
influences. But fifth-ave. promises go from ons
leading position to the other. While still a street
Of regal homes at one end. 1t has become a street
Of splendid business blocks at the other and m.
only intermediate stage OF the transition Is thu
period OF the temporary occupancy OF made-oyer
dwelling houses by those tradespeople who mus,
cater wealth and fashion SO closely have thess
steps Of real estate development crowded one uDon
the other that all three be studied in full prog
within the two and a half miles Of thorough.
fare which leads from the great white arch %
cluster Of gigantic hotels which stand guard about
the entrance to the Park.
THE DISTRICT ABOVE FORTY-sECOND.sr
Above Forty -second-st. the inroads of commerce.
are not marked. The luxurious homes Of the Van
derbilts and others still dominate the locality A,
Fifty-eighth-st., indeed the valiant rearguard OF
Fifth-ave. domesticty filings its defiance in thu
face OF the advancing hosts OF trade in the shane
OF the magnificent house extension and gardens OF
the Vanderbilt property. No more radical departure
from the American spirit of utii,arianism. which
controls the rest OF the avenue, could be imagined
than this turning of the most high-prced real
estate in NewYork into private garden. Every
flower that grows there will have its roots bedded
in gold dust.
From Forty-second-st. TO Twenty-ffth-s the In.
termediate stage of development is most noticeable
The old browEstone fronts leased for ten.
year terms to business firms. Their Mortified faces
are masked as to their lower portions with TEN.
porary show windows which display the goods
OF milliners and taors. Of dealers In costly fumi.
ture and rugs and china: while their brows are
wrinked with the signs of photographers and
hairdressers and art teachers. Others bear signs
OF their approaching debasement: These premises
TO be let for business purposes. to be altered to
suit customers" Between Fortieth-st. and Forty.
hrst-st. a row of four houses stands In melan.
cEoy emptiness awaiting the coming OF triumphant
"adesmen few specimens OF permanent bust
ness architecture have crept into this district. such
as the six-storied cream-coored block OF the
Hazards above Twenty -eighth-st, and the white
structures at Thirtyhrst and Thirty-third SITS But
the prevailing order OF things is the made-oyer.
temporary edIfce OF the property holder who ia
waiting for the higher prices which his land will
bring some day from the investor who will want
TO put up solid and enduring blocks. such as are
springing up all along the lire of the avenue be-
low Madison Square.
CUANCES
This latter phase Of things begins with the tall
yellow building which is going I'D on the block
whose upper corner Is occupied by Delmonico. This
modern office building OF brick and stone and
Iron rears its lofty cornices above the foliage
OF Madison Square and "joins hands" with the
towering white marble pile of the Metropolitan
Life Insurance Company. the park in a con.
spiracy against the sunlight that has long glad
dened the hearts Of the birds and children who have
occupied that little princpality OF verdure.
Below Twenty-third-st. the reign OF the ten.
storied subceared business structure that devours
half block with It's ample foundations is un.
disputed. The new building OF Davis Collamore a
ar. and making the Union Club men anathematzs
, ,,n,,dn mnsuScesSiI S3nmittee on New site and
tho Glenham Hotel. waiting the coming OF the
artisans who shall rae it's thin walls this winter
and build mighty structure for the great pub.
fishing house OF Charles Scribners Sons. a lit.
IT, further down is the massive structure Of Van
eline-house is being torn down to make way for
piano manufacturer. 4 block below is a yawning
golf wherein is to be burial the foundation Of
stable g Co.; an extension which will give this
great drygoods house frontage of entire block
IN Fifth-ave. The thick walls OF the home Of
the Methodist Book Concern. and the many -storied
Judge building. the iron front of the Iiardman
suffice TO change this part OF the avenue between.
fourteenth and Twenty -thrd-st into permanent
handing style OF architecture. At No i0l a modern
building for offices and studios has been nearly,
. is also to be altered for these purposes.
\ FAvORITE PART FOR PUBLISHING
HOUSES.
Below Fourteenth-s& the noticeable feature is the
influx OF publishing ha.ises upon the avenue.
y lille the business interests of the upper avenue
alter 10 the world of fashion. and the district be-
ween Fourteenth and Twenty third SITS. is mainly
devoted 10 art and music. the literary tendency
ed there by the Scribners and Judge
wells TO the full power Of possession below Four.
ecnth-st. Macmillan 4 Co. in a brand-new build.
ng James Pott Co.. Charles l.. Webster & Co.
linn Co are among the newcomers or this
aith: and rral-estate men say that many more
ublishins houses have given them commissions 70
curse. the times have temporarily arrested many
cill only get down business and straighten out
he finances Of the country rev more years VIII
y these men OF ink and vellum, who will have
bowed the old Knick ''bo ,ker families out Of
heir stronghOldS in lover tltn-aNe. ana concen-
rated all the members OF their craft In this quar-.
er OF staid social traditions.
There Is Just other feature OF the Fifth-ave
cal estate movement, and that Is the erection Of
liz hotels. These monsters have not been open
)nC enough to answer the question OF
allure absolutely. but rhey all seem TO be thrv-
ng; and the building OF an acdition to the Buck.
1gham, now in progress would indicate that the
lder houses suffering from the competi.
ion. There Is n marked tendency of New-York
antilles to sell their old homes and take up their
bode In these beautiful tostelres. People who
We in 100000 houses at the rate OF $1,000 or $1,000
end hat fhpV GOT ~ oh info n
ixury out OF a set OF apart nents in the Waldorf.
he New Netherlands. the Savoy the Plaza at
aif the yearly expense. and be freed from the
other OF servants the impostions OF some trades
len, and all the annoyances OF housekeeping. They
an 60 Europe or California without leaving
bod for worriment and burglars behind: and II
hey get tired OF the table they dine some
here else This affords the new hotels n class OF
ornament guests that tides them many
ul season. and II is the opinion Of the Fifth-ave.
aal-estate men that the hotel building will go on.