New-York tribune., 1911-12-17
Bridge Co m missio on ne I
O'Keeffe's Project Includes a
Broad Plaza Unmarried
by Elevated.

Visions OF more beautiful and some
ffang like an adequate entrance TO Brook
iyn from the venerable old Brooklyn
Bridge evolved in the mind OF Arthur ],
OKeeffe. the Bridge Commissioner, have
his craftsmen and engineers.
These plans have been presented TO
Mayor Gaynor and he has expressed him
self ~s pleased with them. 1t may be that
he has come to realize in his daily walks
across the bridge from his home in Brook
lyn, Of a summertime. just how ugly and
entirely unworthy of a big city is the
present approach to the Brooklyn Bridge,
or. 70 turn it around. the approach TO the
business centre OF that borough from the
bridge.
How an old Brooklynite would rub his
eyes TO come back after an absence OF
years-for II will be years before the plan
could be carried out II approved by the
city authorities-and find a beautiful open
vista running up TO the Borough Hall as
he comes from the bridge 1t will take
several close looks at the accompanying
Sketch TO bring one TO a realization OF the
magnitude OF Commissioner OKeehe &
scheme In the first place he contemplated
the construction of a modern and appro-
pirate station TO take the place OF the
present unsightly monstrosity OF steel and
dirt-begrimed glass known as the Brook
Iyn terminal of the Brooklyn Bridge.
Then the vision grew. so that now II
.cuntemplates not only the new station, witt
its rearrangement of the elevated, trolley,
vehicuar and passenger traffic, but also the
purchase of all the land not owned by the
city in the triangle bounded by Fulton
Washington and Sands streets The re-
moval of the elevated tracks from Fulton
street between Adams and York streets
the removal of all the buildings from and
the parking of the triangular area and the
widening of Fulton and Washington streets
would make a spacious and beautiful aP'
proach TO the bridge for those Manhattan
bound and to the Borough Hall for those
coming from Manhattan.
Many persons in Manhattan boast that
they have lived there for half century OF
so. some more, some less. and that theE
have never been in Brooklyn more than
once at the most. In a way they cannot oe
blamed for not wishing 10 go throush the
depressing influences that surround the
BROOKLYN end of the Brooklyn Bridge II
Commissioner OKeeffes plan is carried
ont all that will be changed.
The taking of the elevated tracks 1r"n
Fulton street. between Adams street ana
York street, alone would be an improve
ment of no inconsiderable importance. ne
scheme contemplates running tie Fulton
street elevated trains TO the bridge through
Adams street Below Myrtle avenue
Adams street is now taken up with tnc
three tracks for the Fifth avenue. LeHins-
ION avenue and Ridgewood trains But
Commissioner OKeeffes plan would Wideh
Adams street between Myrtle avenue ana
Concord street TO accommodate hVe tracks
"But all this would cost money, and New
York. CRYING for subways, is too poor 10
waste any Of its resources for mere beauty
or even convenience some may say
Commissioner O'Keeffe replies that his est-
mate Of the entire cost of building the new
station. taking over the necessary prop
ertv. widening the streets and relocating
the elevated tracks would not be more
than S.SOO,OOO He points out that the IN