New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-10-27
KEEP BUSINE SS OUT
Murray Hill Residents Hm
against Trade.

Residents of the Murray Hin Colony.
which occupies the greater part of the sec
tion bounded by sith and lsd streets: Fifth
and Madison avenues. have decided that
business shall not set firm foothold in
their district. Business may cast shadows
over the district from the Fifth avenue
retail shopping zone ana other we'll estab-
lished retail commercial centres, but 1t must
not encroach in the form of steel skeleton
frame loft and Office structures on the
dwelling house charms of this beautiful
high-class home section of the city.
This attitude Of those lighting for the
preservation Of the residential charms of
old Murray Hill was expressed yesterday
by the purchase by George F, Baker tr:'
vice president of the First National BANK,
of the old Allston apartment house plot
75xlo9 feet. at the northwest corner OF setn
street and Madison avenue. from FREDERICK
Johnson through John ~ Golding' LOT
about s1.00 600.
Among The residents of the section are,
besides George +. Baker and his son, MI
and Mrs. j. Pierpont Morgan. ar. ana MIS-
] Allen Townsend. Mr., and Mrs. james
Speyer. Mr. and Mrs. Clarence II. MackaH,
Mr.. and Mrs. Arson Phelps Stokes ana
many other persons prominent IN Society
and in financial circles.
In to yesterday it looked a certainty
that a twenty story loft and office building
would be built on the plot at the NORM
west corner Of 3Sth street and Madison ave
,,iIe adjoining the home Of George r.
T2alter and his SON George F. and Fred
erick Johnson, who have been identihed
for some time with construction work IN
The Tsronx. purchased the site in April
from the 3sth Street and Madison Avenue
Cornnany. of which William II. CHEESE
brough is president. They said they N
tended TO put up a ten story apartment
house on the premises. About 100000 was
the price they paid for the property, ac-
cording 10 reports.
The No. go Madison Avenue Company
was formed TO carry out the proposed
project. and Frederick Johnson later be
came the sole owner of the concern. He
quickly abandoned the original plans for
the Improvement of the site for twenty
story commercial structure TO be put up
immediately.
The business building was 10 cost, il was
said, about $4,000. The work of excs-
waiting was begun some weeks ago. and
the contractors were ready 10 lay the foun-
dation walls. In place of a loft structure,
however there will stand Oh the site two
and possibly three dwelling houses of the
best type One will be for George +.
Baker. il, another for. friend, and the
third one. If erected. for the use of an
other friend Of the ow4seF of the site.
Nj. and Mrs. George f, Baker own and
occupy the premises at Nos. 256 and 25s
Madison avenue. and also own the dwelling
house Just north. No. go. The Baker fam
lily now controls, by the purchase Of the
3sth street site. the entire block front on
the westerly side of Madison avenue, from
Ssth street to S9th street, excepting the
southwest corner Of 18th street, owned by
the No. 252 Madison Avenue Company
corporation reported some months ago 10
he planning TO build there an apartment
house.
The greater part of the Murray Hill col
cny district IS protected against inroads
of business by restrictions that permit the
use of sites for residential purposes only.
A number of residents recently sought in
the courts 70 stop the building OF mer-
camille structure at the northeast corner of
s4th street and Madison avenue, but their
aim in that respect has been unsuccessful
SO far.