The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-11-08
TO WIDEN FIFTH AVENUE.
ELLISON HOPES 10 REMOVE ALL
STOOP LINE DISTRACTIONS.
HIS Plan, n Successful. win Give m Drive
way Fifteen Feet Bases HIS
Action Nm tho Knickerbecker Trust
Co. Decision -Cantor's Ides, Too.

GtNW VIZ hhO hhCn WvcACa hHhoe
Co. Decision -Cantcr's Ides, Too.
Corporation Counsel Ellison has set him
self the task Of widening Fifth avenue
by proceedings to have all the o. structions
now extending to the stoop line on that
thoroughfare removed.
Mr.. Ellison thinks that in this way 1t
will he possil le to add fifteen feet to the
width Of the roadway. Mr.. Ellison bases
his plan on the decision Of the Supreme
Court in Octot er in the case of the nicker-
booker Trust Company, whose new building
at Thirty-fourth street and Fifth avenue
has columns Inc a portioo stretching out
beyond the building line. The Supreme
Court ordered the removal Of these OF struc-
lions and IL it's Judgment is upheld 1t will
mean that the whole front OF the structure
will have to be rebuilt.
Mr.. Ellison's plan for widening Fifth ave-
nue. was FIRST proposed by former Borough
President Cantor Of Manhattan. who began
the f9ht against the Knickerbocker build
ing and who also succeeded in compelling
the removal Of he porte cochere which
George W. Vanderbilt erected three years
g in front Of his house at. Fifty first street
and Fifth avenue. Mr.. Cantor also had
the idea that il he could insist on the removal
Of all oil structions on the sidewalk which
went beyond the building line he could
add fifteen feet TO the width Of the avenue.
but he did not go ahead with the plan be-
cause il was too great an undertaking to
fight the le-al actions.
Mr.. Ellison, however, has decided TO
tackle the job. az is shown by this state
ment which was given out at the Corpora
ton Counsel's Office yesterday:
The inhax Of great business houses has
resulted In the o~vercrowding OF Fifth avenue
as at present constituted. and II IL the in
tention Of the Corporation Counsel to re-
lieve the congestion that is now the subject
OF much complaint.
Mr.. Ellison's plan Of action involves the
removal OF a large number Of courtysrds,
stoops. WING and in some instances sub
stantial portions Of buildings now erected.
Steps have already been taken to compel
the Knickerbocker Trust Company to take
Oh q considerable portion Of the front OF its
new building at SSS Fifth avenue because
OF It's enCroachment upon the avenue. This
encroachment includes the columns. portico
and steps of the trust company'e building.
An action was commenced in the Supreme
Court by the city to accomplish this result
and Judgment has been given in favor OF
the city. Following this judgment proceed
ings will be taken against all other property
owners encroaching upon the avenue.
There appears to have been old ordinances
OF 1888 and 1874 permitting owners Of property
on both sides OF Fifth avenue below Forty
second street TO enclose fifteen feet Of the
sidewalk for a courtyard. but these ordi-
nances have been. by the decision just re-
ferred to. held to be illegal and void. and
similar disposition has been made Of the
resolution OF the municipal assembly OF
December 10. 1901. which attempted to grant
10 the trust company permission TO erect the
columns and portico in front OF its building.