New-York tribune., 1896-05-16
ADVANTAGES OF THE SITE.

THE DECISION OF THE UNIVERSITY CLUB TO
MOVE TO FIFTH-AvE. AND FIFTY -FoURTH-sT.
The decision of the Council of the University Club
10 recommend the purchase Of the plot of ground on
the northwest corner Of Flfth-ave ana fhtyiour'h-
ST. as site for new home for the clup was inaue
only after long deberation and after careu inquiry
about other sites The pains which had been taken
by members of the Council to make the wises possi
hle selection were well understood BY the members
of The club and confidence in the combined wisdom
and fidelity of the Council was shown on lhurhuay
evening when the club. by an Overwhelming major
iy decided to buy the site recommended
Although the payment of so large a sum as S6'9o"
far q mart of the old ST. Luke's Hospital GROUNDS
fronting in Fifth-ave. is an important real estate
transaction which may affect prices or lots IN fH'h-
ave for some time, members Of the University CIuo
Yesterday declared that the price TO be pa'd s not 100
high considering all the advantages OF the site lot
club purposes A northwest corner is considered as
rule TO be 20 per more valuable than either OF
the other three Of block as site tor euo
house particularly when there is spacious southern
exposure provided by the frontage OF 100 feet IN Fifty
fourth-s compared with the frontage OF 100 ieet IN
the avenue DR.. David l.. Haight chairman OF tne
House Committee OF the clup, speahihs Vi ''e '
selected. said yesterday:
.Jt is NJ great advantage to a clubhouse to have an
extensive southern exposure. both on account OF
greater GOODNESS of the rooms In the bud'ng al nsh
in the summer time and on account OF the TACT lha'
the rooms will have plenty or sunhsht IN "ih'ei i'o
location Is desirable for many reasons Ihe cup
house will be near enough TO the Park to aHord OPP
norunites for the club members 10 take walks there'
and the men who do not want 10 walk can take rues
on bicycles or horses Many OF the theatres are near
enough and there has been noticeable increase ol
life and activity around the Plaza al Fifth-ave ana
Fifty-nnth-st. recently.
.One reason for favorng a Fifth-ave site Is mat
tho task of nnarcerng for the club Will be mace
easier The club has building fund Of about sSVVOv'
which can be used toward the purchase OF the site,
but the ground will s675.00o and II Is expected
that the clubhouse will cost about Se"OO ana the
furniture about 100000 more 1t Is easier TO secure
loans at favorable rate Of interest upon properly IN
Fifth-aye than in other parts of the city
A report that II. Nick. Twombly and other wealthy
men owning and occupying fine houses near me SITE
for the new clubhouse desired TO get control OF the
property and prevent the erection OF clubhouse
there was contradiced yesterday by representative
of ST Luke's Hospital and by DIR: Haight. who SAID
that a fine clubhouse would not be IN me least oD-
iectlonable 10 Twombly and his neghbors MI.
SrWomhly and other residents OF that part or the
civ they said, had been aware Of the negotiations
and were not opposed the erection OF a new nome
Sor .he I-niversity cub there. Some time ago there
were some negotiations for the site in behalf OF me
Union Club but they were abandoned; AZ present.
there are no offers by any OF the cubs IN tne c,y 70
NV the other part Of the ST. Lkes Hospta gr0unds
on the southwest corner Of Fifth-ave ana fH'y-