New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-02-11

mat 1urther encroachments on the park proper
should be seriously considered The preserya
tlon Of the park undoubtedly adds to the value Of
me adjacent property The present City Hall might
sI reconstructed to answer for library purposes
YOU spend time ana money enough on itbut much
more satisfactory results would be attained II a
new library building were put up
LET IT STAY WHERE 1T Is
Walter Cook. OF Babb. Cook & Willard. No 81
Broadway. was also opposed to putting any ad-
! dtonal buildings in the park. The park" he
SAID should remain as it Is and the City Hall
should not be taken away from where It stands
do not mean that building should be erect
ed on the site OF the present City Hail. but that the
old structure ought TO be left intact and II a new
City Han is needed put it elsewhere. II the build
Ing were transpanted II would certainly lose in
beauty just as any historical structure viii when
rs bee TSm ei q, Ih v Tch it
cago is good sample Of transmitted historical
building which would prove my theory our city
scences. it is architecturally beautiful and it
Rooms in it should be set aside for civic functions
the Governors room belongs there and in it festi-
take place. There is good reason why festival
rooms should not be away from minor offices The
administrative character and made n beautiful
memorial and festival hall similar in some respects
tecturally famous building was purchased by the
city of Paris and converted into the MusGe de la
Vile. The City Hall could be made into library,
but 1t would be- at best. a makeshift unworthy
York's public buildings one should be built which
would be in every respect new
FINE EXAMPLE OF ARCHITECTURE.
A. J. Bloor No. IS Broadway. sld "rhere can be
none too many breathing spots in a city like this
nor these be too large. The good results both
to the people and to the property-owner are OBJ
vious, and for that reason should be against put
ting any more buildings in the City Hall Park
regard the City Hall and Trinity Church the
best things in architecture in this city, and would
be glad 10 the building preserved. 1t could be
made into a library. though it would lack in some
building erected for library purposes and were it
not for desire to prevent is destruction and thus
remove building dear to old New Workers | would
never recommend II as suitable library The shell
might be preserved intact, additions could be made
TO produce very credtable structure
consideraton but thought TT that the old buiidinG
might be taken down and regretted library At
Richard NJ. Upjohn. No iii broadway, wanted the
park larger If any change in it were made; TO
wrong. he said. There Is nothing in New-York
that can compare In beauty with this building and
II only 10 preserve its graceful front and artistic
staircase. the building should be left intact
DIFFICULTY PROBLEM
John II. Duncan No. 81 West Twenty-fourh-st..
said: "City Hall Park might be utilized with ad-
vantage for more buildings. because there is lack
OF adequate public buildings. but the problem OF
putting an imposing building in the midst Of all
the high. tower-ke edinces. that would no;
look small and iproportioned. would be difficult
utilized for a library building the FACADE could be
removed and replaced for less than 1t would cost
the beautiful staircase retained. the interior might
be made to suit requ.rementss ,1os.ros vo a
Broadway. said:
I'm my opinion /, was n sacrege when the pres
ent Postofcc monstrosity was bulk in CITY Han
Park diminishing the park to its present size, ana
buildings, as now contemplated. in this park.
Il believe an open space + not only OF greatyr
Ing would be- but this open space would Al also b ort
Of scale or too small or sncn C fp iia az as 0n
mental building should have proper relation TO
the SIZE h OF me nohug' I ll ''S civ a Tark
should they build now contemplated. NO bulli-
ing hayng the pTopord lions Of pv W IN hole
surrounded by twenty-story buildings.
AGAINST USING IT FOR a LIBRARY.
I believe that decreasing the size Of the city Hall
Park would materially diminish the value or the
property in the ghborhood-partcuiarly in Cen
tire and Chambers sts as well as the upper part OF
Park Row. In my opinion. the present CITY Hall
is as unfit for the purpose Of n library from an
artistic point Of view from the unitarian
of its purpose and the present city Hall would be
a poor adaptation to such purpose .. .,,,.o o,,
alter this building as 10 make /; suitable FOR a
library and it would be far less eI2ce ,nd I IN -
library and not a city Hail altered believe IL
ent City Hall. This building is unquesilonahiy me
best and most neresting piece OF archlteetnTe , m
only historic monument thai WE oh iienn VIII
az es an object LESSON for those Of who are
endeavorlng 10 improve the STANDARD Oh our ",rl.
tecture and n historical landmark. II IL were
moved away It would merely be historic rcic
The approach 10 the present buidiig anu t te
small bark is also my opinion. the t"'st piece
OF landscape work in the city; ana NE h'!a' ~,
and paths are charmInSV s'uu''' ~ '0"'
port well with the buI1lnE ., - ...,.o. ooo,,--.1
II cannot understand why II has never occurr'u
10 ANYBODY suggest building the new 'ltE nan on "A
site al least five hundred feet back from Eroauw"y
either the east or west whTre ne iand ~ f,n
paratvely inexpensive. and the SNlslihg pn'au' W.
are of A poor character. This qua give ii'r
in width and over hve hundred feet In depth; csa-
ing from broadway to the main entrance anu Pi'"-
cipal facade OF the building.
PLAN TO BEAUTIFY TIE CITY
In speaking Of the advantages OF this plan. Mr.
Hastings said:
.'Such n monument should make n new neighDor-
hood for itself and the conIemning ana tearing
down Of a block Of old houses such as are 10 be
found in broadway would pay for iisrif by the
usual assessment Of adjoining property -h"ihr, an
the incrra sod taxation. which Wpu4i ITO"a"l 80
interest the investment ana aiio" io' Il 9'''"''h
There are several conspicuous illustrations OF
this principle OF doing things IN almost ID ~.
I'm EtIro,e The Pantheon. IN laii.. "dH Dun "i.I
II now stands and the Rue ScuifOt WAS cut tnIpIub"
10 the Boulevard Even the Avenue nr I" ,h
with its great length was bullt to Ici' up 10 INC
surely this city might afford parking 90 feet
long 10 lead up 10 It's new municipal bulnb alix
this would give us an additional PARK instead 2i
crowdng present parks. ana W WON NY r,,T
further advantage OF bringing the city nan bud-
ing into close proximity with the criminal courts
and other buildings should such Ftuan p" ~,
whether artistic practical or business Tor pacing
the new City Hall in the present PARK.
1pUY NOTES or INTEREST.