New-York tribune., 1901-12-15
WONDER OVER A SITE.
LOCATION OF THE NEW PARK FOR TIE
EASTERN DISTRICT.

The people Of the Eastern District Of Brooklyn
are rejoicing because Of the action last Tuesday
of the Board OF Estimate and Apportionrnent
:, authorizing the creation OF the new park for
which they have long been petitioning. Part
of them. however, are wondering why the rnetes
and bounds Of the new pleasure ground are
4xed as published. The more they think OF II
+be less they can reconcile with their conceptions
If wisdom and good financiering the proposed
demolition Of one block principally owned by a
large nanufa curing corporation and on which
there are big brick factory building and many
comparatively new tenement houses while there
is so much vacant land adjoining the proposed
mark rot stones throw distant
The tract TO be condemned embraces. 1t is
said. twenty-five city blocks. some Of which are
mere cores at the junction Of streets and ave-
uues and its area is a little more than forty
acres. Adjoining IL or the northwest just across
Berry-st., is q tract of perhaps fifty acres, on
which there are two factories, with by no means
costly buildings. and along Guernsey-st. a few
shanties. This tract extends TO Kent-ave. on
the northwest, and there is scarcely anything
Ct value between that thoroughfare and the
shore Of the East River. less than block away.
Il also includes in the southwest corner what
is left OF Bushvick Inlet and looks like an ideal
site for public park.
The land selected, with the exception of the
single block bounded by Loriner-st.. briggs
ave, Guernsey-st. and Bedford-ave.. is almost
as bare Of valuable buildings. and with the
cant lots TO the westward would make park
worthy Of the city and admirably situated. This
addition would be bounded on the northeast
BIZ Guernsey-st., on the east by Berry-st. on
the south by North Twelfth-st.. and on the west
and northwest by the East River, Kent-ave- and
Neserole-ave. its extreme northwest corner be-
ing diagonally across the way from the new
school Just completed at Neserole and Guern-
sey sts- The most Of this land is said TO be the
property Of Paddy Flood. and viii be greatly
enhanced in value for building purposes by the
opening Of the new park. It is q part OF the
lowlands along the now obliterated channel or
Bushvick Creek, the last ground in Greenpoint
70 lie wholly unimproved. and naturally suited
10 park purposes.
The land is now cheap, indeed, compared with
what It viii be when park is opened along its
eastern boundary. and citizens Of the Eastern
District believe II should be secured for park
purposes without delay. There is no large park
in that part Of the borough. and the opportunity
10 create one is now too good, il is asserted. to
be lost. The contour Of the northern boundary,
even according 10 the plan accepted by the
Board OF Estimate. would not be seriously i'm
paired by making II Guernsey-st, instead OF
Lorimer-st.. and only one small block and a
little gore would be lest 10 the park area OF
course. the owners OF property along the north
side OF Lorimer-st prefer the present plan, as
their holdings. in case II is adhered 70, will
front directly on the park
Aside from the stores and tenements IN the
block and gore mentioned, there are few build
ings or manufacturing plants Of great value IN
the area Of the park as planned. The most
valuable is the chocolate and rock candy factory
Of J. H. Barker & Co. in North Twelfth-st-,
near Bedford-ave. Il is a modern four story
brick factory building covering, with the aa-
Joining sheds. about a fourth Of the block The
next establishment in point Of value is that or
J. H McCaferIy, manufacturer OF lead paints
and colors. but the buildings are nearly al cheap
wooden structures The Taylor & Co foundry,
at North Tvelfth-st, and Union-ave-. is large,
but consists Of wooden buildings Of little value.
The brick factory OF Marks Lissberger & Co..
Fheeting manufacturers and refners, is not large
or in such a condition Of repair as TO render II
peculiarly valuable. II is in Driggs-aYe,, and
directly opposite is the Rutherford & Barnes
soap factory, a series Of cheap wooden buildings
The other enterprises on the ground are c. A
Friberg's foundry, the shop OF George W HAlld,
stairbuilder. the yard OF George W. " amer,
dealer IN second hand cooperage; the shop Of
L. H. Carr maker of mattresses and bedding.
and those of Daniel j Rahily. horseshoer and
Habersham Brothers, wagOnnake all OF which
occupy cheap wooden buildings
In tne block northeast Of GUernsey-st are the
large factory and warerooms-the latter OF
brick. and fronting in Lerirner-st-of the Anleri-
can Rattan and Reed Manufacturing Company
Peter kohluann's Sons, gaIVanlzers, also nave
in the same block a extensive factory, and the
remainder Of the block on three sides is taken
up with wooden tenements. beneath most OF
which are small stores, but few Of these are
now occupied. The gore mentioned is COW
cred with q two story frame building, with
stores on the ground floor and living rooms
: hove Many Of the stores are empty. On the
adjoining ground which the residents say
should be included in the park. there are only
Two establishments worthy of consideration
These are the Kings County Iron Foundry and
z varnish factory. The row OF shant1es IN
Guernsev-st. is hardly worthy of mention, as
~g,a nrr7e- --4zrT on,
Four electric car lines cross the proposed park.
The lines IN Union-ave and Driggs-ave- form a
junction in the southeast corner Of the tract,
and ne cars of both pass entirely through It
The crosstown line in Bedford-ave and the
I.orf-er-st line also pass entirely through the
tract There are no car lines in the open ground
70 The westward which the citizens want added
10 the park. The value Of the lands TO be taken
is estimated at S44l400.