New-York tribune., 1906-11-09

bly, disturbed yesterday because of the
nouncement by Corporation Counsel Ellison
that the city would at once take steps to compel
the removal of all encroachments on city prop
erty- For some years the property owners have
been able TO fight successfully any attempts by
the city TO cause removals of porticos, portes
cocheres. overhanging balconies or other en-
croachments If the city does take positive ac-
ton. all Of the principal hotels many of the fin
est residences and some of the largest business
buildings will have to remove adornments which
IN many instances, viii detract from me beauty
OF the buildings.
Tho announcement of the Corporation Counsel
followed an opinion by Justice O'Gorman in the
Supreme Court in an action by the city against
the Knickerbocker Trust Company to compel it
10 remove its alleged encroachments. The de-
cision was adverse to the defendant company
, and ordered such removals. The announcement
Of the Corporation Counsel is the first step tow
ard a proposed widening Of Fifth avenue from
Washington Square 10 59th street.
My announcement" the Corporation Counsel
said yesterday, is intended a warning to prop
erty owners to give them ample time to take
such action they may deem necessary to pro-
tect their rights before legal proceedings are in
stituted by the city. / am having maps made
Of all the property along Fifth avenue showing
the encroachnents, and il will take fully month
before they completed and notices are sent
10 property owners notifying them of their en-
croachments and 10 remove them"
A conservative estimate Of the number Of
buildings which will be affected by the order is
fully so per cent in the avenue The others in
nearly every instance are small buildings or resi-
dences. which. fortunately. have escaped legal
eucrcachrnentg Surveyors have already made
plans from 32d street 10 36th street. which dis
trict includes the hnckerbocker Trust Com
pany at Fifth avenue and 34th street In these
foour blocks are situated the Waldorf Astoria
the New York Club, Aeolian Hall. and other
large buildings.
The first building from 23d street north which
will suffer viii probably be Martins restaurant
There an outdoor restaurant and cafe is main
tanned which viii have to be torn out On the
next block several Of the brOwnstOne high stoop
houses of a generation ago will lose the steps
The Holland HOUSE will be forced to lose it's
main entrance portico, which projects for four
feet over the building line.
The waldorf Astoria viii he a heavy loser as
one of the main features of the outside appear
ance will go. This will be the flower garden
effect along Fifth avenue, which extends
several feet byond the building line on 34th
street if the law is followed. the large porte
cochere and the carriage dispatchers box will
be taken down. il projects several feet beyond
the line.
sberry's at 44th street and Fifth avenue. will
he another sufferer. A Partisan cafe with orna-
mental plants between the sidewalk and tho
huilding is maintained, and. following the ac-
t,on which will he taken AT Martins, will have
go.
one Of the heaviest losers will probably be
Cornelius Vanderbilt. A vaiua BILE wrought iron
fence. which is worth many thousands Of dol
lars incloses his residence, This will have TO
come down and the lawn will have to go Harry
pa,,pa whitney viii also lose the lawn about his
house by the order.
on the east side Of Fifth avenue nearly as
much havoc as on the west side VIII be caused
u tbe CORPORATION Counsel persists in his an
nouncement The Hotel Savoy will probably bs
a heavy loser The veranda and the steps and
barcony are all said TO be beyond the legal limit
and. if 50, theyswill have to go. p. Henry
puero Supreme court justice. is the owner OF
,be savoy. And his opinion. property owners said
Continued third page.