New-York tribune., 1901-05-09
NOT TO WIDEN FIFTH-AVE.
BOARD OF PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS
FILES REPORT RECOMMENDING
FIFTY -sIX-FOOT ROADWAY.

The Board Of Public Improvements yesterday
treated with scant courtesy report by Louis X.
Risse its chief Typographical engineer in favor
NJ widening the carriageway in Fifth-ave. TO
IS feet reducing the width of each sidewalk 70
% feet and allowing the stoops TO project from
the house lines only feet. Included in Mr..
Rises recommendations was one to rescind the
permission given 10 owners Of houses In Firth
ave many years ago to inclose sidewalk spaces
10 the limit Of II feet from the house lines, for
use as ornamental courtyards. Mr.. Rises re-
port shows that the city take back at any
time the use Of those sidewalk spaces which
probably are worth millions of dollars
In January. 1900. John D. Crimmins sent
letter to the Board of Public improvements,
calling attention TO the congested condition OF
the roadway in Fifth-ave.. and suggesting that
the roadway be widened to 60 feet. thus increas-
ing its traffic space 20 per cent. This means
more than it represents in percentage" Mr.
Crimmins wrote. In my judgment. twice the
number of vehicles would be able TO pass
through Fifth-ave, as they would be able to
move in and out ahead Of trucks and express
vehicles instead of following in a slow process
sion" Other persons have sent letters TO the
Board Of Public improvements on the same sub
ject and Mr.. Risse was instructed to make
investigation and report. In his communication,
which was sent to the board yesterday, the en-
gineer thus speaks Of the crowded condition of
Fifth-ave.:
Carriages, trucks automobiles and other vehicles
so crowd the avenue roadway & from washington Vas
gait which drivers and riders can hope for during
reached the intolerabie point Something must be
done relieve the situation. and that as soop
possible.
Fifth ave. originally laid out a street
with full width of 100 feet, the engineer says
be
and it's roadway 60 feet wide In 1882 the
Common Council passed resolution. which the
Mayor approved, authorizing the narrowing of
the roadway in Fifth-ave. to 40 feet and ex-
tending the width of each sidewalk to 80
feet. The resolution gave to owners of property
in the avenue permission TO inclose II feet
of the sidewalks for ornamental courtyards, as
the space was not needed by the public at that
time 1t was expressly stipulated, however, that
the permission was not given in perpetuty. the
resolution containing this provision:
prox,t6ed however that if the said courts should
hereafter. in the opinion of the Council be required
for streets that the same shall be therein open for
streets.
Mr. Risse.s report contained among others the
| recommendation that the privileges granted to
nroperty owners to inclose sidewalk spaces be
! rescinded.
uyben the report had been read at the meet
| , .. the hoard Yesterday President Holahan
4
| suggested that public hearing on it be ordered,
| but Commissioner Kearny moved to have the
renort nIaced on file, apparently wishing TO place
| - IN tbe shelf Mr.. Kearny said that Fifth
| ave was the only avenue in the city left with
sufficient sidewalk space for people who walked,
apd there were times when the sidewalks in the
| .yenue were crowded more than the roadway.
President Coogan OF Manhattan Borough sec
| opded the motion to file the report, and said
that he agreed with Mr. Kearny. The motion
/ was carried. -. !. .1.o,,.,.
uau ~ the recommendations of Mr. Risse. A
roadway of ffty-six feet, he SAID, would increase
| the traffic space of the avenue sufhclently 10
| raIiave the congestion. AS TO the recommenda-
| tion to have the use of the sidewalk spaces re-
| stored 70 the city, he said:
,,,o,a &c No good reason why owners OF prop
a., tie avenue should be permitted 10 lnclose
toIyr,vards which are used in some instances Tor
ona rry,ental gardens and in others Tor giving
suaer 10 stoops The streets and sidewalks
baiang n the Dubic and ornamental ana personal
non,a1iences must be set aside when the demands
| of the public concerned
Mr. Crimnnins spoke of the courtyards in front
| -, the waldorf-A Astoria and Sherry's as samples
20 the sncroachments the sidewalk space in
! the avenue which the city could prevent by a
/ raneaI of the privileges granted in the resolu-
1 tion of lS32-