New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-05-02
A POPULAR MOVEMENT.
ATTENTION ATTRACTED TO THE uPPER
WEST SIDE.

HANDSOME BUILDINGS TO BE EREcTEp-ApVAN-
TAGEs OF LIVING IN THE NEIGHBoRHoop'
In tho general movement of investors ana
home seekers toward the West Side proper!
which for a considerable length or tine mas
languished in comparative obsourity Is oe'ne
sought out. and attention is being directed W
the Mobilization Of ground which has suhereu
for n time from the results or possip! ms
taken idea Of improvement. An instance Vi t'i'S
Is seen In the triangle running from rn's
ninth-st. to Sixty-sixth-st., ana from NeN
PARK West To Broadway. 1t is large tract
situated in the heart OF district winch io'
some time has been pusating with activity
Until recently however the triangle mas oee"
overlooked. simply because early investors &C
cording TO real estate men. made the mistake vi
building there a class OF fat and tenement
houses Of An extremely ordinary character But
recent buving and the announcement OF con-
templated improvements suggest the Likelihood
that al no far distant date the houses In ques-
ton will give way TO modern structures or
character better suited to the neighborhood ana
more in keeping with the value OF the lana.
That the district in question would seem to be
especially adapted for institutions Of pubic
or semi-public character. there is no cause 10
doubt and that those who are at present IN
terested in improvements Of that character real
ize the fact strikingy illustrated recently
In the purchase by the Society for Ethical
Culture OF the block front between sixty-third-
ST and Sixty fourth SITS. in Central Park west.
on which a magnificent building is TO ne erect
ed Here is found striking illustration OF the
active market which is found for realty In the
part of the city indicated.
The block fronts between Sixty second-st. and
Sixty-third-st were bought short time ago
by Judge Dugro and J. J. Gibbons. They also
secured most of the block front between Sixty
fourth and sixty-ffth SITS. 1t was their inten-
ton to build fine apartment hotel on the
block between sixty-third and Sixty-fourth SITS.
and the other lots were bought for the purpose
of insuring the character Of the neighborhood.
Then other persons who knew a good thing APP
reared on the scene. In few days 1t was an
nounced that the south corner Of Sixty-third-
st had been sold to Frank Work. and later
Edmund Cofin bought the south corner OF
Sixty-ffth-st. This was followed by the sale to
the Society for Ethical Culture. the owners of
the ground allowing the chance OF a fine profit
to induce then. 20 give up their idea for hotel
in that block.
This transaction is probably only the fore
runner Of others. Business is crowding up town
and tho demand for accommodations Of all
kinds Is increasing. 1t is not only dwelling
houses that are needed AS the city expands
and the population grows. each section will
demand its own places of recreation and amuse-
ment More churches, too, will have to he built.
The triangle referred to. which is bounded on
the south by Durlands Riding Academy. and
on the north by the St Nicholas Skating Rink.
will offer splendid site for these, and for
clubhouses, art galleries and institutions of
various kinds. The installation of the new mo-
tive power the Third Avenue Railway line
in upper Broadway Will make easy and rapid
communication with Forty second-st. and lower
Broadway, and the line Of cars running along
Central Park West and connecting with all
lines at Fifty ninth-st.. will help TO make the
section popular.
II is rather surprising that 1t has taken New
Workers so long to find out the desirability or
the upper West Side. and the only explanation
would to he in the inferior transit ar
rangements " hich existed for so long time.
This was supplemented by errors of Judgment
made by those who first began to build In the
district. The best thing that could have hap
pened has happened The cheap tenement
houses have proved failures. and, as is natural
in such a case, they will give way 10 better
class OF buildings Old buildings will be torn
down, and the lots will he available for those
who wish to Improve them I'm a way that will
add to the beauty of the neighborhood. The
movement is a strong and healthy one. 1t has
its basis in facts that are ndsputable. The
section is healthful. beautiful and in every way
desirable. 1t is not at all surprising that 1t
should have become a popular one.