Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1902-02-20
TWO OLD PROJECTS REVIVED
Tenth Street Widening or the
Avenue Extension.
FIRST MORE FAV0RABLy VIEWED
Avenue Extension Would Prove
Too Costly.
The widening OF Tenth Street, II is Held,
Would Greatly Benefit the Properties ON
the North side of the street That Would
he Anocted-The Subject Willbe Carefully
Considered.

The project to widen Tenth street
from Market to Tatnall, to make it
correspond with Delaware avenue, or
to open Delaware avenue all the way
to Market street is being revived. This
has been suggested at one time and an
other, but has never reached the stage
of actually beginning the Improvement.
1t is generally felt that to extend
Delaware avenue to Market street
would he the most pleasing solution of
the matter, for then Wilmington s
finest residence thoroughfare would
have direct connection with the bust
ness centre. 1t would be case of
having the avenue start somewhere,
which at present it scarcely seems to
do With such project achieved, Will
mington people would have something
to which to ''pont with pride. "
Why this was not done years ago is IL
question which reflects upon the far
sightedncss Of the city fathers of that
time. Eden Hall was erected on the
south side of Tenth street, right on u
line with the avenue, and would he
the chief building to he RACED should
the extension ever be made. Ii would
cost the city pretty penny, too Some
think, also, that the Equitable Build
ing at Ninth and Market streets would
he in the line of the avenue. The en-.
gineers would quickly ascertain as to
that A glance at "a city map causes
the thought that the avenue would Just
about clear the north wall of the build
ing. Should, however, the line of the
avenue strike the structure, it seepls
| likely that that would he an etfectual
bar to the extension Of the thorough
| fare. The cost would be so large.
Between the Equitable Building and
Eden Hall there are numerous resi-
dences which would have to fall to per
nit the carrying out of the avenue ex-
| tension.
In case this project is found unfeasi-
BILE, there yet remains the proposition
to widen Tenth street, which has SC
often been called an Galley" leading
| from Market street to Delaware ave
nue.. 1t would not be as happy change
as continuing the avenue to Market,
yet as that is not likely to be accom-.
plished, tho Tenth street widening is
suggested as most important improve
ment and one that ought to be made.
As is we'll known, the north side oi
with unimproved property. Its princi.
| par 9tiNNbulNS hlt tit hllHllllSbAll
Theatre, at Tatnall street, the Friend
ship enginehouse at Shipley street, and
the Hardness Building at Market
street. The widening project would
mean the cutting away of some feet OF
i the front of each of these buildings.
Its result would probably be an in
crease in the value of these and the
other properties on the street.
As to the cost OF such an improve.
ment, it is uncertain. Condemnation
proceedings would probably be re.
quired to fix damages. The Pyle Cycle
Academy, on the site of the old Rice
foundry, in one Of the large buildings
on the thoroughfare, and should the
street be widened, great improvement
might he expected on that site. II
would likely be the making OF Tenth
! street.
Eight or 10 years ago the project tC
widen Tenth street was being strongly
urged. Then, the Delaware avenue ex.
tension project was taken up and
pushed, and in the controversy which
followed, nothing was accomplished as
to either proposition.
In the reiuvenation of the subject
now taking place, the two projects viii
be examined, and strong effort will
probably be made to have one of then
carried to successful completion. Ar
early step will be to bring the
matter to the attention Of the Street
and Sewer Department.