The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-01-03
TO MAKE THE CITY BEAUTIFUL
MAYORS CONFUSION PROPOSES
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
Adorned Water Front with Promcnadcs and
Elevated Roadway. Widening Of Finh
Avenue, NIld-Block street and Tunnel
Road 10 Bisckwcl's Island Bridge.

Road 10 blackMcll's Island Bridge.
Tho commission Of architects. engineers
md city officials appointed In March last
ly Mayor Mcclellan to prepare n compre-
hcn-ive plan for tho improvement Of the
city sent yesterday a preliminary report
~ the Mayor accompanied by drawings
If many Of the betterments suggested.
On 80 large q scale are the proposed i'm
provements that the commission itself
does not suggest a time limit The general
purpose is that the plan shall serve "a a
guide for future administrations in their
work Of public Improvement. The need
Of something Of this kind was explained
hy the Mayor in a supplemental message
be sent 10 the Aldermen with the report
The Mayor wrote:
Tho great error Of tho past. from both
mo maternal md tho artistic standpoint,
has been That public improvements have
been undertaken only TO meet the emcr-
goncy OF the moment. and wthou' regard
for ultimate needs Public buildings have
been scattered FAR and wide. erected in
impossible locations. and by architects who
have had neither training in art nor con-
oepton OF public necessities Streets hayc
been opened. bridges built and money
spent at haphazard according to the fancy
or vhim Of changing administrations. with
far more regard for the intcrests OF indi-
vIduals than for the good Of the city as n
whole.
The commission has devoted its first
report chiefly to the mapping out OF new
parks and parkways the beautifyinR of
the water fronts, the providing of more
adequate as well ornamental approaches
10 the bridges and ferries and the widening
or continuation of some Of the principal
avenues and driveways. The city has
line Of water front Of about $50 miles. About
tortv-four miles of this is in Manhattan
Island. OF which about thirty-four miles
i, available for commercial purposes, The
report says:
So much OF it as ia not at present available
for commercial purposes is available for and
forms very suitable area for park purposes.
The two principal questions relating TO the
water front In Manhattan suitable to COM
mercal purposes are its unsightly appear
ance from the water and the congestion OF
tranlc on tho land side. The city owns about
fifteen miles OF the water front of Manhattan
and IL from time TO time acquiring more.
improvements on the piers have heretofore
been built for the most part by the lessees
or the city according TO such plans as they
might severally deem ilt II this policy
were changed and all future improvements
on the piers owned by tho city We're made,
either by the city itself or by It's lessees, ac-
cording to certain general lines determine
upon in advance suiting the same TO the
uses contemplated by the lessees and witha
view 70 appropriate and harmonious archi-
tcctural effect some uniformity OF construc-
ZION would ultimately be- secured. and in
tine tho water front OF the city present an
architectural appearance worthy OF the
city.
The roofs Of the constructions on the piers
can at certain places be adapted for recreation
piers, and these at suitable intervals be con-
nected with longitudinal promenades open
10 the public under proper safeguards 40
as TO AFFORD to the congested lower parts OF
Manhattan Island access to the water front.
and thereby. in a degree meet The demand
Tor more park space in such districts. An
analogous system Of promenades connecting
the roofs OF warehouses on the docks has
bIer adopted at Antwerp with success.
NY the North River side of Manhattan
lsShd where congestion * now very great.
and where traf1ic il bound to increase. an
overhead elevated street has been suggested.
built along the water 'front.' to accommodate
the north and south travel. leaving the side
streets running from tho water front to the
interior OF the city for the east and west
travel Approaches might extend from his
elevated street to the recreation piers afore-
nid Stairs for the descent Of foot passen-
gers and approaches by inclined planes for
horses and vehicles can be made at convenient
places TO connect this overhead street with
the surface OF the ground. This commits
sion has caused TO be prepared a map. here
with submitted. showing the area now owned
by the city on tho North River and Harlem
River for parks ard in general way add
tonal area which might be acquired along
the river. and for the purpose Of parkways
connecting these river front parks with the
parks Already laid out in the borough OF The
Bronx so as to have a connected system Of
parks for the two boroughs OF Manhattan
and The Bronx The park area on the water
front has been located as to take in sub
stAutially only the steep declines between
the table or level land and the water, which
are scarcely available for any other purpose
and could ,doubtless be acquired wit hout
very considerable expense. pRrk way along
West isist street. connecting the North River
water front with the nov parks in The Bronx
bv way OF Washington Bridge and the Grand
boulevard and Concourse Is also shown IN
tho drawings herewith submitted. lut only
SO much land need he taken for the purpose
as is necessary to give an adequate park
vav connection. Washington Bridge one
of tho finest structures In the city. would thus
virtually be included in the park system. and
form one of its distinctive features as q link
in mark system extending from Fort Wash
inRton Park on the North River to Pelham
Raw Park near the Sound. A parkway con-
nection is also proposed along Dyckman
street. connecting Lafayette Boulevard and
the Speedway and the parks on the Harlem
River frontage
Although the commission proposes at
present the building OF an elevated road
way along only the Chelsea water front
from Twelfth street to Twenty-third. il Is
hoped by the commission that ultimately
the roadway viii be carried as far north
Seventy-second street where IT would join
Riverside Drive. With inclines at intervals,
running from the cross streets, 1t is thought
that such an elevated roadway would re-
lieve traffic congestion on the west side
The widening Of Fifth avenue from Twen-
tv-third street TO Forty-sevcnth street,
low abolshing the stoop line and by the ex-
tension of the sidewalks 10 the building
line il suggested BY means Of this change
seven and a half feet could be taken from
the present sidewalks on each side Of the
avenue. thus adding fifteen feet TO the
roadway In order 10 do away with the
congestion al Forty second street and
Fifth avenue. il il proposed 10 sink Forty
second street so a. 10 allow the street cars
"a pass under the avenue. Another Firth
avenue Improvement favored by the com
mission il this
Nm Eiftb Hvpnrc. from Fifty-niuth street