New-York tribune., 1908-07-12
FOR CITY SHORT CUTS
ny DIAGONAL STREETS.
rsrcb;tect Would Reduce Gotham
Distances at LoSe Cost, He Says.

-,,-o,st streets to relieve the increasing traffic
. - work and TO shorten he distances are adj
.s a. nv Charles r Lamb the architect.
.-.r5sent OF the Municipal Art Society. who has
F-e5 2 scheme for laying out such streets at
-.cricaIly no cost 70 The city and to the maximum
ts.-+aee Of citizens
,, lamb said yesterday that the question OF
- streets had been referred to the city
,-sries with special reference to the Williams
- e-ssre Two dis gonal streets from the Man
-, terminal at Delaney street, were urged
~ -,,.niug 10 the north and west. TO Cooper Union
.. 7rntoa Square. thus taking care Of the traffic
- northxard in Manhattan. and the other TO
70 Sos.b and west TO Chatham Square. and thus
- park Row and City Hall Park, thereby giving
.,ss avenue 10 southbound traffic
- diagonal streets had been suggested. in
,s,-r CHRISTOPHER street through Union Square,
ss,r is also widened far west as Greenwich
--.st and which would give a wldened street
,-+heast 20 Union Square, eliminating the tangled
49, streets in what was Greenwich Village
re- angle street II urged. should be extended
III s-rrher to the northeast from Union Square TO
- Tonr Island Railroad ferry. at S4th street and
the East River
,r Lamb suggested also the extension OF varick
,-ae+ 10 connect with the southern end OF Seventh
.,e7ue slightly extended its own axis to meet
this new street. a veil the elimination of
ring Place diagonally the west across from
-.-h street 70 Fourth avenue
these suggestions were made being possible ar
he least expenditure. along their lines no build
tvs Of Importance IN existence. while their
healrhfuness in relieving the increasing olIHcuIIes
of traffic were obvious
The principle Of diagonal Streets said Mr.
-s-ob while admittedly Of advantage. has. un-
t+,,-s-e7y 70 meet IN the Borough of Manhattan
-hs 5ieculties caused by the so-caled 'gridiron
-i.-, of 1867. which established the block OF two
Kindred feet north and south and eight hundred
s.e+ east and west and property measurement OF
,-a hundred feet north and south and twenty feet
..s- and west The diagonal cutting Of such par
cels Of property would leave irregular triangular
,eoss which the city would have to buy
- offset This difficulty I have prepared
-.-,a has45 upon the idea that diagonal street
o. pedestrians mot traffic would be great ad-
ys,-zKe 10 the northeast and TO the northwest and
- that Part Of the city plan practically north OF
-zs-irs+or Square where the 900 by 800 feet block
&c the only division My plan is TO condemn one
-,eoe of property. 20 by 100 feet on the northern
5e NJ one street and the next succeeding piece OF
onsrrv % by 100 feet. the southern side OF the
next street
.erreea two pieces Of property touch only al one
,-ne- and bv condenning the yard space twenty
O.. r. the north Of the first piece and twenty feet
- the south on the second piece central space OF
A. bv A feet Is obtained giving the diagonal street.
vsv through the block
.sbis principle IS 10 be continued the next nlock
- be moved over the width Of one piece OF prop
-. -za,-v feet for the western diagonal street
- s-.-7,- n The east for the eastern diagonal
--ee- The Two houses remaining on each four lots
- have last only twenty feet from their yards
~ :, r1ece q this loss they would gain q Ia@aoe
Nv o-A side snd one end facing on dlaSonsl street
-p.s1 estate experts admit that the enhanced
- ~ rhe rrouerty for business purposes would
:. Ac,aI 10 or greater than the loss OF giving up
,zvs,-v feet Of yard for the streetWay-