New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-05-10
A HARB0R VIEW PARK
Pr0position to Construct 1t Along
Brooklyn Heights.

tn Slnrlant a series OF roof gardens with i'm
-osug park or terrace that shall extend along
she east side Of Furrnan-st Brooklyn. from Mid
sarh-sr 10 Joralemon-st-, overlooking the great
warehouses across the street and commanding an
7,nobstructed view OF New-York Harbor from the
williamsburg Bridge Stapeton and up the North
River as the Central and Pennsylvania fer
ries. is the object Of a movement now going for
ward this city
II has long been known that few If any places in
she metropolis afford beautiful view of the har-
her as is to had from the rear windows Of the
houses the west side of Columbia Heights.
Brooklyn from the o. the buildings in Fur
-rsr-st along the foot of the Heights. The rela-
ton OF the buildings in the streets is peculiar
IN that the roofs OF the FIVE stored buildings
the east side OF Furman-st are on level with the
Easements and lower stories Of the houses the
Heights above It is this relation OF the buildings
II the street TO those in the other that has
served to develop Of the most realistic roof
gardens TO be found IN New-York or vicinity. For
nearly half a mile there IS privste lawns
and gardens belOnging TO the people in Columbia
Heights laid out On the roofs OF the buildings In
Furman-st. Grass. all kinds OF flowers, good sized
trees and shrubs TO be found in these gardens,
growing not in boxes and pots. but in good depth
~ soil on the roofs Of the F'urman-st. buildings.
And the funny part o. it is that they look for the
most part as sturdy and strong as If nurtured in
the bosom Of mother earth herself instead OF being
five stories in air
The city owns and maintains six small parks
the roofs OF the Furman-st. buildings. where Mid
5arh Cranberry. Orange. Pineapple. Clark and
Tierrenont SITS would have been continued on down
the Heights had the Heights been too steep for
travel To be sure these tiny little parks go by 100
feet) cannot be used by the public, since they are
protected by high iron fences. and even the en-
Moves taking OF them have to use stepladders
20 get down 10 them; but they are kept beautiful
nevertheless their grass and flowers being watered
sailv and their tiny fountains looked after care
fully.
This system of private and quasi-pubIc roof gar
with he plans
On through The scheme is yet in its infancy, and
sust how the work Will be done has not been deter
mined Two ways seem feasible-one' TO use the
present ernhankment and fill in to the level of Co
lurnhia Heights and the other to provide on me
T-,,-,,a r,s. side below the proposed park a num-
Der of modern warehouses, building the park above
them and If need be. extending IT part or the
whole way over Furnar-st
L Is estimated that about AODen would De
needed TO work out the scheme. The length OF the
rroposed park would be about 900 feet VI TINS
total length the city now owns 500 Ieet III lhe siA
l5--le roof garden parks The cost OF acquiring the
needed property is placed at $25oVJo the cost oh
filing in So. 900. making total OF s7'o'V1 Il me
,sn n Mace warehouses under the park Is earned
out the entire frontage OF nearly 25o feet can DC
made use OF. The cost Of building IS gwen as
about s6sOea1 bringing the total cost Of the park
and the warehouse system to Sl,o75eoO 1t is esu-
mated that the rental of these warehouses, based
on existing rentals Of structures now there "oulo
amount 10 at least $4,000 a year Allowing an an
CT cent On lLeh COS1 q AiCe
rental of $4,000 is figured OF this amount it is
estimated that SIS would cover the interest on
the cost Of the park, leaving $4,000 a year 1or a
sinking fund by which, il is asserted, the COST OF
the mark would be nquidated within twenty years
Some of the present owners Of the property IN
question are not overjoyed with the scheme The
situation is perhaps. best set forth in the words
OF a circular being issued by the promoters
20 prominent people in Brooklyn:
TT is imperative that this proposition be urged
xpo1 the board of local Improvement the Board OF
Estimate and Apportonment, the Board Of Alder
rneut and the Mayor Of the city of New-York now,
FOR failure at this time TO take advantage Of ex-
listing conditions and circumstances will mean the
erection Of large apartment houses upon this loca-
zion within twelve months"
In response to postal cards sent out commit
Tee enrolling nearly 2,eOo OF the leading business
and professional OF the borough. has been
formed. A plan of the proposed park has been
worked out and architects are now at work upon
details Of the scheme 20 be laid before the Board
of Local improvements at its next meeting. 1t is
hoped the plan be got before the Board Of
Estimate soon and matters carried far enough this
summer 10 make possible the appraising Of the
property it is proposed TO take
The FIarbor View Park, Harbor View Esplanade
or Terrace Park scheme. the project is called
in Ier Of an officially selected title. has received
the Endorsement Of the borough committee OF the
Citizens Union, the Manufacturers Association.
the Municipal Art League and every board Of
trade in the borough in addition to the various
Assembly District organizations
The width OF the proposed park would be nifty
feet or mere for its entire length, and the little
marks now owned by the city would be opened, af-
fording entrance to the big terrace II is said by
promoters Of the project that the terrace cutting
from view the piers and warehouses in Furman-
St would so enhance the property Of present own
ers along the proposed location that they will be
willing 10 sell for a reasonable figure
Some fear has been expressed lest when the ter
race be built the present warehouses on the other
side Of Furman-st. may some day be built so high
as TO obs-ruct the view the harbor, but this is
not thought probable by promoters Of the scheme
II is proposed that semi-circular. tUrretlike
stone platforms like those along Riverside Drive,
hut more ornamental shall rise at regular inter
walls from the high outside wall Of the terrace
The scheme also contemp1ates the devotion Of one
whole block bounded by PerreDont, Montague
and Furrnan sts- and PierreDont Place. TO large
pavilion or several covered rests where persons
may sit 70 enjoy the view. Other possibilities that
have been suggested are elevated structure ex-
tending from the present Afontague-st- terrace
down the NontagUe-st HILL under which the cars
could pass the Wall-st- ferry at the JOral-
enon-st end Of the park, where there is plenty
OF ground and splendid view.
At the present time the only peephole through
OF the beauties of the harbor from the Heights is
whore Montague-st- down to Furman-st
and the Wall-st ferry. and plaza is built over it.
Here q fine view is be had. The promoters Of
the new terrace park project satisfied that II
Il carried out Brooklyn Will be able to boast one
q the finest parks in the country