New-York tribune., 1909-02-14


for his own occupancy. other parcels OF the IL
brary property have been bought by Otto IL hahn'
Dave Hennen Morris, and several other well known
persons most of whom will improve the parcels
which they own there with large American pase-
p1ent dwelling houses for their own use
The Madison avenue frontage of the library sue
may be transformed from a vacant plot TO hlsh
class apartulent house property, as that frontage
of the site is most suitable for projects. On
the Union Theological Seminary site more hgh class
apartment houses will probably be put up as II 100
is most suitable for the carrying out OF such plans
And undoubtedly group Of hne apartment houses
will in few years rise on the site OF the present
block on which stands the old home OF the Presoy-
terian Hospital. In view OF these removals from
the district there will be much work there Tor the
speculative builder and the opportunities hor m
vestuoent within the boundaries of tbs section VIII
be considerably augmented
CHANGE WILL INCREASE TAXABLE AREA
Not only are residential charms Of the district
to be largely enhanced, but the taxable property
within its borders Will be increased by apartment
houses and dwelling houses representing an invest
nent OF nearly $1Oo0o.0oO. according TO conserva-
tive estimate It will not be long before there VIII
not be a single vacant plot In Fifth avenue from
5sth street to a distance considerably beyond the
home OF Andrew Carnegie, which Is at sOth street
and Fifth avenue. The CT this residential
zone which is one OF the most valuable home dis
tricts the entire city and also one Of the most
attractive is indeed small compared 10 the size
Of the city. Owing to its sulallness, the various
movements which have been set efoot in recent
years for enlarging IT have resulted in extending
the district somewhat east OF Park avenue 'When
steam Locomotives were through the Park ave
nue. tunnel the Park avenue zone or me oistTlct
did not especially appeal to persons seeking high
class homes. The noise OF the trains was also
deterrent factor in the rapid upbudng Of the Park
territory into an ideal residential district
The smoke nuisance has been annihilated and noise
nuisances Iessened. All trains through the tunnel
are now by electric engines. and these trains
speed northward southwark without seriously
disturbing the quetness of the district This bet
terInent Of conditions has been an important factor
in the creation OF newer values there
IN THE PARK AVENUE ZONE.
The physical characteristics Of the district
bounded bv 10th street seth street, Third avenue
and the East River are vastly different from those
Of the West Side north Of 18th street In the
great West Side the builders OF apartment houses
and hotels Of record size and OF modern rows OF
dwelling houses more active than in any other
zone OF tho greater city. Long ago they selected
this alluring residential region as their especial
field usefulness. and the result OF their work Is
well known It Is not only OF the largest
apartment and hotel territories Of the greater
city, but also Of the biggest districts OF It's
kind In the world. With the exception OF the San
Juan Hl district and few other blocks its natural
and artificial charms are unmarried Within its
boundaries ii contains nothing that can be con-
sidered large factory district. and there
indications that II Will attract builders Of manu-
featuring establishments other than those identified
with the automobile industry Even the wideawake
loft builder Is conspicuous by his absence in the
territory. and the only signs Of great Industrial
there due to the transformation which has
taken place along Broadway. where large front
ages have been bought and improved by automobile
manufacturers and statesmen.
FACTORIES NEAR EXTERIOR STREET
In the great central East Side will be found
scores OF cigar factories stoneyards. iron works
and power plants. Besides. IL contains two large
sections occupied by the gas plants of the Con-
solidate6 Gas Company. Instead Of one long park,
stretching :or a considerable distance along the
river frontage, 1t has number OF small parks. At
s4th street and the East River is the East River
Park, a high bluff of land, with several gentle
slopes leading almost to the river edge At 18th
street and the East River is the John Jay Park. |
That park forms the easterly half OF the blocks
bounded by 18th and 18th streets Avenue A and
Exterior street. The thrifiness OF the majority
Of the persons living fl the section may quickly |
be observed and understood by inspecting the many
buildings used and owned by clubs and associa- |
tons. most OF which supported by the residents
the district
There Is the Workingmen's Educational Home |
at No 245 East S4th street II is OF the |
largest organizations Of its kind N this country,
and the land and buildings which IL said |
TO represent investment Of many hundred thou
sand dollars. Just outside of the boundaries of the
section. yet practically part of the social life
Of the region is the home of the New York Turn |
yerein, a four story building at the southeast |
OF S5th street and Lexington avenue Then
thers is the Bohemian National Hall. at No. SS1-
63S East street. winch occupies q IrOnIinB
rs feet in the street and has depth Of 1c22 feet
On the premises No. 40 to 424 East list street
Is sokol Hall. with frontage of rs feet and a
depth of 1874 feet.
On the north side of s7th street, 100 feet east Of
Third avenue is the Central Opera House. with a |
frontage $50 feet and depth Of 100.10 feet. At
the southwest of Exterior street and 18th /
street is the East Side Settlement House, and on
the premises Nos 172 and ia East 10th street is
the Aguar Free Library.
The district has its market places. too. the prn-
cipal being the Harlem Market, in First ave- |
nue. between 102d and 1o3d streets
A GREAT TENEMENT DISTRICT
Briefly the district is one large tenement house !
zone, with many large factory buildings. trade |
schools Settlement houses, educational institutions
hospitals, and buildings devoted TO medical re- |
search work and to imparting medical knowledge. !
One Of the principal trade schools within the dis
trict is that which founded by Colonel Auch- |
rruty and which has been enlarged and improved |
by his widow. 1t stands the easterly block front
in First avenue between 67h and 6STh streets. and
IS known as the New York Trade School. The site
# occupies has a frontage of 3255 feet 9th |
street and 9oOJ0 feet the avenue. The gashouse
zones of the section at sSth street and First
avenue and 63d street and Avenue A.
The city has spent of money in piac- |
ing the district high plane manufacturing |
centre and it has also expended many millions IN
nrovidug the region with modern public schools !
md other municipal improvements. The chief work
of the city in the district within years has
heen the building of Exterior street. which begins
at s4th street and extends along the river front
IN East slst street At the time this
rsers along its shore front undertaken and |
.,-s.d ~ cornuletion by the Department of Docks