New-York tribune., 1908-06-29
NEW PARKWAY PLAN
Bronr Riuer Commission Wont
1UO7c City To BE Mulct.

,raa;oor Grant president OF the Bronx River
Parkway Commission. appointed by GoVerfo'
Hughes to preserve the waters OF ,he bro'N
from, nnllutfon and create reservation Oh 'he
,,rds on aher side of the river has given TO The
Tribune an authoritative statement regarding tne
status of the project and the deterthihaoh Vi tls
commission to see that the city should not pay one
cent for the lands required thah IL '"eS were
bought by private individuals
."Tbe commission realizes the condition or the
finances of the city, Mr.. Grant said, "and Is I'm
willing to ask the city 20 embark on any PROJECT
outside the city limits till it can show clearly 20
the authorities what the cost will be- we shaii 90
everything in power to prevent the ei'y iroih
being rnulct We shall not be parties TO any
real estate deals by which the city viii suher-
Every acquisition of lands by the city must ne as
clean hounds tooth
THE low river lands of little value In their
present condition they are unsightly and Of no
use for building purposes We purpose to use these
lands for parkway. and the uplands. giving
frontage the parkway, VIII greatly increase III
value We trying to persuade the owners 10
give the bottom lands to the city In cases Where
they uplands, which would be benefited by the
Improvement, and to give US an option at a rea-
sOnable value for the adjoining property
where all the property is taken the commission
intends to that the city in this project shall
not pay cent than the property could be
purchased for by private individuals. L don't want
any property owner to think he can soak the
commission, and unless get the iand AT
its actual valuation the scheme won't go through
We have already had a strip OF thirty acres
given to which extends along and includes the
Bronx River for distance of two and one-haf 10
three miles We have also obtained options on ad-
joining land along the tract. if needed, at
very easonabIe figure. Large corporations owning
valuable land along the have offered 10 turn
It over to the commission for the cost TO them
originally and the carrying charges since. Other
real estate have also expressed their Will
ingness to cooperate with along these lines
In this parkway the commission hopes to cover
ground Bronx Park to KensicO Dam by gifts
options avoid the cost of condemnation pro-
ceedngs If this land is acquired by condemna-
ton it is probable that the cost will prove ex-
CeSsiye.
The result Of the parkway project will depend
upon the spirit in which the citizens along the
route cooperate with the commission and enable
us to get the land for the city at its actual cost
or less. Fair warning is given now. however, that
there will be a dollar of graft or excessive
valuation.
THE commission has been greatly handicapped
by the failure OF the city far to provide expert
assistants and TO make an appropriation for maps
and surveys and has been working without re-
Enumeration at its own expense For $40 900 or
81. 900. 900 the city have beautiful parkway
While the commission Will hold real estate values
down. 1T will not take property for the city with
out proper compensation. Because property Is
taken for the city, however. is no reason why the
city should be skinned