New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-06-10
BAY RIDGE SHORE DRIVE.
WHAT THE NEW COMMISSION EXPECTS
TO ACCOMPLISH.

BEGIN AND END?-ccOT NEW
PLAN BY ANY MEANS
The question of improving the Shore Drive between
Bay Ridge and Fort Hamilton and converting IT into
a parkway has attracted considerable attention in
Brooklyn for several years. Every one familiar
with the region is aware that the picturesque shore
OF the Narrows would lend Itself naturally to such
use and that by artistic treatment 1t might easily
be made one of the finest drives In the world Not
on.y is the Itself with its pleasant curves and
Inviting bluffs attractive IN Itself but TO the eye OF
pne who passes the present road in the direction
OF Fort Hamilton a constantly changing sea-picure
is presented by the immense commerce mat passes
in and out of New-York Har0or
Two years ago Mayor Body appointed commits
sion TO consider the creation OF noble driveway
along this beautiful shore. 1t consisted Of General
John B. Woodward. Elijah r. Kennedy. William
Brown John Condor and George Ingram. The COM
mission did considerable work. but before It was
ready TO present It's report 1t was found that under
the law 1t could not carry its pans 10 completion.
because II had power 10 acquire land for COM
mercial purposes. and it fe!t that It would be
useless for the city spend large sum of money
for land TO improve the Shore Drive II the water
front was to be under private control and the
danger existed of the establishment Of Objectionable
businesses there between the driveway and the
water. Consequently the commission suspended
action until the Legislature could have an oppor-
tunity 10 amend the law.
This was done at the last session. and recently
Mayor Schieren reappoin,ed the cd commissioners.
ard in accordance with the terms of the act, added
to their number two others-soomon W. Johnson
ard Simeon b. Chttenden. The new commission
met on THURSDAY. and organized. General Wood
ward the president of the former commission, was
reelected to that place. and Nj Kennedy who has
taken a deep interest in the driveway matter. was
made secretary. Neary fortnight ago the Com
missioners, accompanied by Mayor Scheren. drove
along the present Shore Road. in order that all of
them might obtain clear idea OF the contemplated
Improvement.
COMMISSIONER KENNEDY TALKS.
Mr. Kennedy was asked yesterday in reference TO
the plans of the Commission, and in answer to ques
tons talked freely on the subject in It's various
phases He was found at his Office, No. 80 Pine
st. New-York. and in the intervals Of business
found time discuss the proposed drive at consider
able length.
THE main thing in the public expectation" he said
at the outset 's that the old Shore Road snail be
permanently established as a pleasure driveway.
But this instantly gives rise to numerous other prob
lens TO begin with. the road Is not wide enough 10
accommodate the travel that Will naturally seek
that section when there good roads leading from
Brooklyn there. Now II We were 10 endeavor TO
widen the road to any material extent by taking the
fronts of all lots on the land side. we would arouse
the opposition Of the owners OF property and OF al
their friends, and possibly OF the Crescent Cub
with its 400 members. An equally weighty con-
sderauon is that have TO be restricted by the
question Of expense. wouldn't give sixpence TO
acquire the present roGl and the beautiful bluff
between the road and the water Il the land under
water which can be bull, upon, were 10 be left
under the control Of private owners Grain ele-
vators factories. warehouses, and probably OF! re-
fneres would be built, and the entire beauty of the
scene destroyed The first thing therefore TO be de-
termined was that must have the riparian rights
ate cfnf Nav
Schieren is fully in accord with US. think all
the other city and county authorities The cost
OF these riparian rights will be large for the city In
its present financial condition though nobody doubts
that IL will be immensely profitable investment
However IT makes It incumbent on us 10 spend as
little as possible for upland. Therefore, think we
shall not change the fence line much OF course
where there are angles and short turns. we shall
establish curves and longer turns. But We shall
take very little upland"
AN "EMBANXMENT" CONTEMPLATED.
"How. then. do you propose TO accommodate the
vast amount OF travel that will seek this beautiful
driveway in the future?' was asked. and Mr.. Ken
needy replied:
'By building in the future broad splendid ave-
nue down close 10 the water-such roadway as
the Victoria Embankment, on the Thames, be
tween Westminster Bridge and Blackfrars. and
such as Paris, Pisa. Florence. Rome Naples and
other cities have built down close TO their water
sides There are several places where the level OF
the present road sinks nearly down to water
that 1t will be very easy TO establish connecting
roads at easy grades between the present road and
the new enbankment when the necessity for that
arises.
Another matter that must be settled is the ac
commodation OF that great section Of the country
with proper wharves and piers. All that will enter
into the plan we shall submit and while we think
1t practicable TO arrange details so as not TO destroy
the beauty Of the bluff and the outlook from the
~neA he Qne n q
city treasury that will go far toward taking care OF
the interest the bonds TO be issued Tor the pur-
chase and improvement
THE TERMINI OF THE DRIVEWAY.
..what are likely to be the terTnini Of this drive
way"
THAT is not so easily answered. At present the
northern end OF the road is at Bay Rdge-ave,
which is Sixty -nnth-st. For many years we have
been In the habit Of driving down Fourth-ave.. or
Fort Hamilton-ave.. and turning into Bay Ridge
ave- and thus reaching the Shore Road. Bay
Ridge-ave. is narrow, and has been pre-empted by
q trolley railroad. and is. therefore. entirely unfit
for a connecting link between the great city ar
teries and the Shore Road At the meeting Of the
Commission on Thursday Mr.. Johnson and were
appointed committee. with power to employ
engineer, TO consider the proper and necessary
northern terminus
"A thing that is very desirable IS to make 1t con-
venient for Brooklynites living in the Bay Ridge
district and doing business in New-York to take
the ferry from the Battery and, landing at sixty
hfth-st., TO get easily the Shore Road. To do
that they have to cross the Manhattan Beach and
the Sea Beach railroads. The Brooklyn City Rail-
road Company has application for permits
sion to make this very crossing. and We may think
such a crossing desirable and that the city
AFFORD it, though II may not be built for years TO
come. Possibly we may feel II safe to leave this
matter to the regular work Of the city.
"One think is able-namely. direct and
broad connection from Fort Hamllton-ave. and
Fourth-ave. with the northern end of the Shore
Road AS the City Railroad people and the town
authorities OF New-Utrecht seem disposed to allow
us TO have the first pick for this purpose. shall
give II attention Immediately and before taking up
any other part OF the work.
'There is, however, very important matter
which the commission and the public authorities
will be asked to consider. This is the wisdom and
expedency OF our taking the shore OF Gravesend
Bay and riparian rights and land under water along