New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-04-20
AN INTERESTING DEVELOPMENT.

The purchase within a day or two of several
houses in Fifty-fifth-st. between Park and Lex
inpton ayes by men whose social habits and
nersonal convenience Ii suits to live in that part
of the city, and who are presumably known to
one another is a metropolitan incident of some
Importance, if 1t indicates. as is suggested,
tendency Of population away from the estap-
nshed line of settlement. 1t has often been pre-
dicted that the steady growth OF the city norlh-
ward would at some time be checked by the I'M
willingness of persons in moderately good finan-
cial circumstances to pay an extravagant price
for the traditional privilege Of living near Fifth
ave- Until recently, however, there have been
few signs of such change OF feeling In that re
gard as some students Of real estate records
have been looking for, though one rather notable
diversion has been remarked. Not many years
ago the district between Thirty-fourth and For
tieth SITS. east of Park-ave- was not deemed
particularly desirable for residence purposes,
and houses there brought comparatively small
prices But the natural advantages Of loca-
ton which was near centre of fashionable life
and easily accessible began to make an impress
sion, values moved up, and now any one who is
determined to possess a house in that neghbor-
hood must make up his mind to pay q large sum
for it. That remained for a good while how
ever the one notable exception TO a general
rule for the region known as the upper West
Side including the Riverside border, has been
special development which we are not now con-
siderng.
The recent purchases in East Fifty-ifth-st-
are evidently preliminary to a metamorphosis
similar TO a slightly earlier in the block just
above where several young married couples
established themselves a year ago. In both in'
stances it is said that preference for living
near the new University and Union clubs was
the motive that chiefly induced members OF
those organizations whose resources are not I'M
limited TO make the real estate purchases which
are attracting attention and suggesting In
teresting possibilities but it is probable that
the new settlement or the resettlement, rests
on somewhat broader basis of reason and ex-
pectation than that Notwithstanding the al
lurements of the race for the Harlem in which
the population of New-York is still engaged,
there are many persons who shrink from taking
mart in it. They are convinced that they could
never feel at home SO far north, and they see
more attractions in the old part of the city than
in the new, despite the acknowledged improve
ment of house models which the latter boasts.
But they cannot all live between Park and
Sixth ayes. below Fifty-ninth-st, and conse-
quently their only alternative is to go beyond
the ancient bounds of eligibility.
This lateral pressure is, we think, likely to
increase 1t would not be surprising if with
the incessant growth of this marvellous city,
the eastward movement recently begun should
attain large proportions and it is quite conceiv
able not only that there will be corresponding
expansion to the west. but that various scat
tered neighborhoods will be reappropriated to
the purposes Of residence time goes on. A
group of congeniaI persons might readily start
a process of redemption almost anywhere with
fair prospect of finding contentment and profit
in the venture, and not a few shrewd observers
are inclined to believe that the example already
set will prove contagious II it should, the re-
suits would probably be salutary as well as in
teresting.