New-York tribune., 1905-01-22
SHALL THE CITY SPECULATE? j?
Plan TO RECOUP COST OF BEAUTIFYING 1T BY
DEALING IN LAND
Improvement Committees Report Discussed by Knoson
Men, Most of Whom 4pprove It,

,..s an the recent report OF the New
- 1r7provement Commission is propo-
w. ,bich is likely TO be the subject OF a
So sssl OF discussion. II is that when land
sssa,,-as for an improvement the city condemn
,.rs than is actually needed for the i'm
- p,o,- with the idea of recouping the cost
p.,I,,0 the surplus land at the increased
q. /" created by the proximity of the improve
Vs. The commission advocated this method
-..,,rsnr improvements at little cost to the
rublic treasury
Pr-,ers OF real estate fronting on City Hall
-, viii be particularly interested In these
- =, the commission: IF the city is given
-. ,s.tude IN its power OF condemnation it
90 nv ACQUIRING sufficient property in the
.,.,horbood of City Hall Park, realize the ben
- the increase in rents and value which
-, soubtless ensue from the construction Of
,ss,,ional public buildings"
:, some Of the suggestions made by the COM
-, 70 Mayor Mcclellan could be executed
ss-.--york would indeed be vastly improved
.s+r That there is great interest IN the subject
-,-,,cstes by the number of suggestions which
=. commission has received from all parts Of
=. sry This interest is further indicated in
= comments of a number of well known men
= Nev-York regarding the commissions report
r,cb are printed below
a, elevated street running north and south
-, che North River side Of Manhattan is one
= ~. cor7raission's suggestions AS any one
-. r.bo has endeavored TO reach one or the
- Cs,v or Foboken ferries, especially on a
..,,o,rine q snowstorm, West-st. is a badly
...o5 tboroughfare The proposition is TO
So. .hs traffic going north and south use this
,.ro.ss roadway. leaving the surface for the
,,.,.s goipe I'D into the heart of the city. In
s,,Ta5 Names placed at intervals would permit
- n IN No or down and steps would serve
...5.s+rians IN accomplishing the same OBJECT
arnraacbes might extend from this eleVsteo
street TO the. proposed recreation promenades on
sbe roofs Of the long piers.
uicb and moor alike seem 10 enjoy travelling
tlong 5th-ave AS consequence there is con-
Fsyiion on this street also. Especially is this
Er,e At the intersection of the avenue with AID
~ where many vehicles and pedestrians strug-
tle 70 cross the current sweeping up and down
the avenue one suggestion in the report is
that half OF 42d-st. pass under 5th-ave. and
thst through crosstown traffic be confined 10
that half Another is that the centre of the
street be sunk so 10 allow the surface cars
m mass under the avenue, leaving the remainder
bf the street for other surface travel TO cross
bh-sre at grade Both of these plans con-
81 near Fah-sve. into the roadway, so as 10
make circle al that point.
Another proposition is TO remove the easterly
srau of Central Park along 5th-ave.. plant trees
On the easterly side Of the avenue. and IN this
way add the thoroughfare TO the park drives.
Trees could be planted on either side Of the ave-
hue from the upper end OF the park to the Har-
ien River. and by carrying the street across the
river Central Park could be connected with
ths parks Of The Bronx by way Of the Grand
Boulevard and Concourse. In course Of time the
Rrenue above 1l0th-st could be widened.
A plan is suggested for the development Of
The approach 10 the new Williamsburg Bridge,
which has just been provided by the tearing
nOEn Of several block fronts in Delancey-st., be-
tWees the BoweTy and the entrance TO the
nrlege II proposes subWays for the trolley cars
through the middle of the street, with roadways
!or vehicles on either SIDE OF ! broad promenade.
The promenade would be laid over the subways
ana Shaded by TWO rows of trees. The plan
Goes not say where the trees would secure their
punishment II there We're subways beneath
lheir roots. The elevated traffic from the bridge
would be taken through another diagonal street
70 me BoWery and Canal-st.
A suggestion is offered for the Improvement
lne admittedly commonplace Brooklyn en-
Iahce 10 the Brooklyn Bridge, which viii at
ne same time provide an attractive entrance to
gs borough from the new Manhattan Bridge.
.N proposition is 10 open an avenue from the
VaAnnus OF the Brooklyn Bridge 10 a point Of
aa1toush-ave., near Concord-st. It is suggested
lel circular plaza be made at this point. 1t
LeIsneo that this would provide gateway for
s gn o. the bridges and offer opportunities for
N,i-lis ana relieving the congestion Of traffic.
a schelne which has original features is that
.-ssesled Tor a parkway along West 1S1st-st
81 across the new Washington Bridge. This
cO.Le connect Fort Washington Park and the
iane 4 Boulevard and ConcOurse in The Bronx
= unique feature is the proposition for a circu-
- - sIeLa OF Immense area at the terminus of
tests - So ~
nsa'lery Park, the part Of New-York which,
s-slls 60 Us background Of towering buildings, in
.o-ucss The city 10 foreigners on incoming
t.lsnhps. a. Is also the subject OF suggestions
So unale plan is presented for the beautiflca-
~ ~ ~ hls landmark. 1t is proposed TO break up
a. is OF The waterfront by creating basin
Svs ele ioot of a wide promenade laid along the
bss5u ~ ay- On plaza fronting on this
cC-.s arc through which a vista of Broadway
~ - Oe h2o would be naval arch. The tracks
S. eleFated railroad would be shifted to
"a tLs~ and carried 20 ornate ferry house,
lected on the site of the building at pres
,vee 1Lns as shelter for persons passing be-
tan ga "i-- 7ldleii lsi'i3iu anu 2hailhab-
sAs.s are only few OF the suggestions pre-
seo-e ey tne commission. All told. there are
Fo,le0i " lnem- Comments by well known New
hes eor11