New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-04-30
THE WEST SIDES. GROWTH.
UPPER SECTIONS ADVANTAGES FOR
DWELLING PURPOSES.

THE DEVELOPMENT OF RIVERSIDE DRIVE
REAL ESTATE MEN TALK Of THE con-
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES SUGGESTED.
To the superficial observer or the transactions
which have been noted from day 40 day in the
field Of realty. the succession Of news Items
concerning property In that section of the city
known as the upper West Side. has brought no
small degree Of establishment. Vocabularies
have been exhausted and terms have ranged
from SURPRISING to phenomenal in'the effort TO
describe the existing conditions. Even those
persons whose finger, so 30 speak. is on the
pulse OF the market. have in some instances
shared in the general feeling. and from wonder
ing at the present they have passed to the
more important consideration OF whether the
future will live up to n. That something con-
siderably like boom exists In the section indi
Gated there Is no occasion to deny. but that 1t
has all Of the elements OF mystery that are
suggested by the uninitiated leaves reasonable
cause for doubt. In fact. among those who look
upon the present movement as phenomenal are
some Of the very persons who predicted not
so many years back that it would take place
Memories are treacherous at times. fact which
was distinctly indicated to Appointment broker
yesterday ny the writer.
The conversation turned upon recent transac-
tions in the Boulevard and Riverside Drive
The broker whose present clientage' demands an
entirely different class OF property was pooh
pooling the movement. and called II a passing
phase of the general situation, which meant
nothing and would not be permanent. 1t was
then that he was reminded OF a prediction which
he himself made 10 the writer at the time when
the Boulevard was laid oait, thai, with Morn
ingside-ave.. Central Park West and Riverside
80 tbo
most fashionable sections Of the city.
That there might be no mistake. file Of old
newspapers was hunted up. and mis- own words
In an interview were shown to him in black and
white The broker in question not alone in
his prediction at that time Thirty odd years
ago. when the section above Sixty-ninth-st
bounded on the east by Central Park West and
OF the west by Riverside Drive. was being laid
out real estate men in general believed that
II was destined to become OF the fash
ionable sections of the city,
LIMITING LINES EXTENDED.
Al that time the centre far south OF
Fiftieth-st.. and confined to a radius west of
Fifth-aye Much property was vacant in Fifth
ave and in the adjacent streets. all along what
was considered the desira bic neighborhcod. In
the remarkable evolution which has marked the
citys growth the limiting lines have been ex-
tended broadly Madison-ave. in general has
become the eastern boundary. with occasional
lapses into Park-ave. But the demand for lots
between Fifth and Madison and Sixtieth
and Ninety second SITS. has been such that va
cant property is scarce. and prices have reached
a point where TO all but the,few they are prac-
ticaliy prohibitive.
This being the case. the persons seeking de-
sirabe localities which to build or rent have
had 10 look elsewhere. And only little looking
was necessary TO bring out the fact that there
were other sections Of the city which possessed
great. natural advantages. The Riverside sec
ton, Cathedral Plateau Washington Heights
ard even as far as Riverdale began to be dotted
with homes. and fine ones, too and the building
operations exceeded in extent anything which
had been known for years. The monotony OF
the architecture which is observable'n the older
parts of the city does not mar the natural
beauty OF the landscape. When the active
movement toward this part Of the city began
property holders and architects had outgrown
the primitive notion that each house must be
exactly like It's neighbor. and that an unbroken
lire was the sign Of beauty. The lesser cost
of land makes bit Of green possible and
drive along the Riverside at this season re-
yeas stately and picturesque homes, showing
their faces through frames Of green. and crown
ing rolling well-kept lawns. The air is sweet
and redolent and the breezes from the river
are fresh and invigorating.
1t is a remarkable and complete transition
from the narrow streets closely packed with
stone and mortar, where tree or shrub strug-
giles for breath Of air or ray OF sunlight
Dwellers here enjoy life and see life. What II
extremists have set apart a few blocks in an
other section the most fashionable Here
fashion comes when II wants an outing. The
long lines OF carriages. the horsemen and the
cyclists make UP q daily pageant for the dwell
ers on Riverside Drive which vies with aLy-
thing In the world for light and color and
beauty And as IL this were not enough, there
is the added glory Of the Hudson. It's broad
perspective forming the stage for panoramic
display OF sails and craft Of every kind
Persons who live along the Drive are also In
clined TO believe that II the city made few i'm
provements in that part lying between the rail-
road tracks and the Hudson It would do much
70 increase interest In the section The erection
of q few buildings not necessarily Of an expen
s,ve kind with facilities for boats. these build
,ngs 10 be used generally by those who are at
,racted 10 this beautiful part OF the city. would
probably do much toward increasing the al
ready great interest in Riverside Drive From
time to time property-holders have called at
tention to the necessity of substantial ratings
on the edge Of the embankment. apd proper
paths leading down to the shore line. There is
splendid chance for the landscape artist to
show his ingenuity and to produce improvements
at once picturesque and useful. In the summer ,
people are allowed to wander at Will near the
shore. and many Of them would undoubtedly
welcome the erection Of seats under shady trees
and small tables for the purpose OF spreading
luncheon Any Of those things which will tend
70 make Riverside Drive a recreation place for
orderly people would doubtless be advantage
Gus.
There il already a movement under way for
the erection of magnificent boathouse near
Fishty-third-st 1t Will take the place Of sew