New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-05-06
TO BEAUTIFY THE CITY.
PROJECT TO EXTEND RIVERSIDE DRIVE
MANY IMPROVEMENTS PLANNED - LIBERAL
OFFERS or PROPERTY owNERs-A VISION

MANY IMPROVEMENTS PLANNED - Libbh<>h
OFFERS OF PROPERTY owNERs-A VISION
OF THE FUTURE.
Citizens living near the lower end Of Riverside
Drive are interested in project for extending 1t
from West Seventy second-st. through the inter-
yening blocks down TO West Seventieth-st The
funment of this plan is regarded with great
favor by its promoters. The facility which 1t
Will give 10 residents of that neighborhood Tor
reaching Riverside Drive without being obliged
10 take the circuitous route through west End
ave is spoken of one Of its strong points IL
Is not expected that the extended roadway VIII
run In direct lines from the Drive, as to orlhg
about this would interfere with costly residences
in both Seyenty-first and Seventy-second SITS,
and the removal of these buildings could not De
effected except by the payment of considerable
damages To obviate this, the plan OF cutting
through the blocks at points not parallel with
the driveway lines has been agreed upon.
The property between Seventy-second ana
seventy-drst SITS. through which the extern
sion is expected to run. Is owned by ). Harse"
Rhoades. the president Of the Greenwich Savings
Bank. and Mr. Rhoades offers to give half OF the
land necessary If the city will pay for the other
half The Purdy estate, owning the land re-
ouIred for the extension between Seventy-first
and SEVENTEEN sts is ready, it is understood, to
make a similar offer to that Of Mr.. Rhoades. ana
will deed the necessary strip for the purpose, II
The citv will remunerate the owners for half the
value.
Homer Lee. Of the Homer Lee Bank Note Com
panv who lives at No 453 West End-ave ana
is one Of the public spirited citizens OF that part
OF the town. actively sympathizes with the
movement He said yesterday that the scheihe
was looked upon with general favor by properly
owners and citizens living along Riverside Drive,
and that 1t had already received the approval Oh
the Board OF Aldermen. Mr.. Lee did not DOUBT
,ho+ tho BOARD Of Street Opening and the Board
y, Park Commissioners would sanction 1t when
official action on their part became necessary.
Another project which Mr.. Lee and the people
Of the neighbOrhood are DESTROYS Of consummatihs
q the extension Of West Seventy-second ST. ana
the erection of a bridge over the railroad tracks
in that connection, shown by the accompany
ing diagram. Added to this IS the plan for rum
ming an exterior driveway along the river front
north 70 Ninety-seventh ST., also indicated in the
sketch Of The Tribune artist. Secretary BURNS
Of tine Park Department. said yesterday that the
Park Board was without any record or any OF
these propositions, but that bill authorizing
them would have to be passed by the Leglsia-
t,rre before they could be definitely acted upon
by the city authorities.
In connection with these schemes, 1t Is pro-
posed TO erect a fine hotel In West Seventy-sec-
ond st.. so situated that 1t would command
view OF the larger part OF Riverside Drive, look
ing up that thoroughfare Such a house 1t is be-
lleved. would prove an exceedingly popular re-
sort for owners of fine turnous and their friends.
who will find the exterior roadway delightful
way OF returning along the river front after
ID, I'd "a through
Ninety-sixth ST.
These plans II IS urged, viii do mucn IN the
yay Of adding to the attractiveness Of River
side Park which has been receiving the atten-
ton Of Superintendent Parsons, Landscape
Architect Vaux and the Park Department
engineers. The 100000 act. passed for the pur-
pose OF giving employment to men made idle by
the Democratic hard times. has proved bene-
fetal in this direction. In addition TO this the
Legislature has authorized also the expenditure
of $3.50 900 upon this park alone. But the beauti-
ation OF Riverside Park. according to super
intendent Parsons's estimates. will require 10
complete the plans which he and his associates
and assistants have In view a great deal more
money probably twice as much. when the
whole amount is footed up. The level stretch
above Seventy-ninth st. IS to be transformed
into landscape gardens Trees and shrubbery
hillOcls appear: broad lawns bordered with
designed paths. hanlSed by Natures softest YER
dure will wind among the rocky bluffs
When the new Twelfth-ave. is built II will
bound the park upon its water-side by drive
as magnificent as that upon the west side OF the
park. IL Is proposed to extend Undergraduates
also. after passing through the park and over
the railroad some distance out into the river, on
ground to be filed in, and then swing ii around
I'm a long descending sweep until II reaches the
level of the railroad. Thence upon ground TO
he made by filing IN. another driveway running
nOrthward can be constructed great deal Of
hlllng-in will be required. but there are those
who predict that many elderly people will live
o. see broad level avenue. a continuation of
Twefth-aVe. which will extend from Seventy
sccond-st. away up To the Fort Lee ferry.
Superintendent Parsons is strong believer In
the scheme. Many footbridges are In contempla-
ton. leading from the park across the railroad
tracks down 10 the waters edge. where row.
boats and saibOats under the patronage of the
city may be hired at small cost and where the
angler may sit on the string pieces OF fishing
piers. while he muses. az he draws in his catch.
This glimpse into the future Of the Riverside
waterfront Is credited 70 Homer Lee. who IS
enthusiast on the subject of this ribbon Of park
land. which stretches from Scventy-second-st. up
- hun. IL 4 80. MI,