New-York tribune., 1905-01-30
FOR PROPER CITY DEVELOPMENT.
Need of Plans Which Are Carefully Studied
in Relation to Part To Be Improved.
The Editor OF The Tribune

To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: ! have read the report Of the City Improve
Inent Commission with interest and realize fully
the enormous amount Of matter to be covered and
the limited time the commission had TO make the
report.
IT would seem to me, however. in view of the
fact that public criticism is invited the commission
has not covered the subjeot in comprehensive a
way as possible.
The report seems TO to touch on subjects here
and there throughout the city instead Of taking the
city as whole. as would architect in planning
for a building. The city has passed beyond its
swaddling clothes and has now reached that period
OF Development where we can see far enough ahead
20 say where VIII be our workshop where our
homes. where our Fairgrounds. etc. For example
the territory south and west Of the Bowery is and
Will be for Gil future time the workshop of the
city. II is through this region that from 65 TO rs
per cent OF the people pass 10 and from their homes
na1ly, wherever those homes may be. This is the
district from which all lines Of rapid transit should
adate and tae plans for it ought 20 take this fact
into consideration.
The region between 23d-st- and 5sth-st. in which
new railroad stations are being built VIII be for
many years the shopping district and the centre
itor arnusements and OF the floating population
Sor this reason this region will be the objective
point OF carriage and amusement traffic and in
formulating its plans for It the convenience OF the
patrons Of retail shops theatres and hotels should
be considered As this district will be the show
place OF the city, public buildings monuments and
parks located In It should be restricted
The rectangle bounded by 48th-st on the south.
teth-sL on the north. Psrk-ave. on the east and
bth-aVe on the west Is undoubtedly the district
certain restrictions be made as TO the class OF
buildings TO be erected in this neigh borhood, so
that no nusanoes disagreeable business buildings
shall be allowed to encroach and destroy its char
acter strictly residential district? The owners
ot the residences should be required TO beautity
the streets on which their houses front and bust
ness trafhc IN this region should be restricted TO
Fsrk-ave. or Madison-sVe-, or the avenues best
The West Side and Harlem form a district devoted
snents and private houses. Why should we not
ssoognze this fact and treat fits future development
with this IN yteW setting aside certain avenues for
through traffic. other avenues for business and
Others for pleasure and residential purposes wher
Riverside Drive. with extensions, is the great
show drive OF the city. and the handsomest in the
q drive OF this kind be restricted by either the
Building Department the city officials so as NOT
driver Foreign cities recognize this principle. 1t
is what has made Paris the beautiful city it Is.
the medium and working classes. Why shouldn't
this be recognized fact and their DEVELOPMENT
Gus parks ana every facility for getting 10 and
from pleasure resorts with and comfort
or one hundred feet wide, particularly in those
districts where land is cheap and undsveloped Tho
S bensat q, sniI9t 59 STsb 4 ar sen nave me me
modern physician recognizes as the great health
From this I could pass 10 details OF each par
tcular district and the necessities for its develop
but have stated enough 20 show that II the com
mission would recognize the facts and report ac-
cordingly the investor, builder and honeseeker
would be able 10 act harmoniously: Capital could
invest surer lines, the city officials police and
the city would develop according 10 the plan laid
out into the magnificent city 81 ought 10 be In order
20 fulfil its possibilities c,,Dr,-c,,-
New-york. Jan. Is. 1906.