New-York tribune., 1912-01-12
PICK COURTHOUSE SITE
FOR ESTIMATE BOARD
Area Between Lafayette, Park,
Leonard and Duane Favored;
Assessed at $4,426,5 800.
A "CIvIC CENTRE" POSSIBLE
Architects Urge Other Improve
ments-Commission "Concurs
Informally" and Measure
Has Majority in Board.

Has Majority III Dodiu'
Tho Board Of Estimate received yester-
day from its special committee a report
recommending a site for a new court mouse.
Roughly il includes the territory bouhoeH
by Lafayette street on the west falh
street on the east. Leonard street on the
north and Duane street on the south II
is proposed that Worth street, running
through this site. he closed, and that Cen
ire street running through it north AMI
south, run under the proposed building
The plan proposes the purchase by the
city Of 194974 square feet Of land for the
site itself and other smaller parcels To
give a proper approach to il. If the area
of street space that would be taken q"
complete the plan is considered, the space
to be taken for the courthouse and It's
immediate environment would be about
800, ,Oon square feet. which equals l2O city
lots, or CO acres.
The assessed valuation of the property
that the city would have to buy is 81
426.5OO. The Real Estate Bureau Of the
Finance Department estimates that the
property. if acquired in condemnation pro-
ccedings. p-oIdd cost the city from $4,000 600
10 $6,50O,ooo.
The area Of the site suggested in the
City Hall Park was about 10000 square
feet.
The report was signed by Controller
Prendergast. Borough President McAneny
and Ardolph L. Kline vice-Chairman and
acting president Of the Board Of Aldermen
This means eight votes in the Board of Es-
innate and Borough President Cromwell
who is in favor of the plan, will give the
ninth vote. which will be enough to pass H.
Judge Morgan j. OBrien, chairman Of
the Court House Commission, has informed
the Board Of Estimate committee that 1t
"concurs informally in the recommends
tons.
Mayor Gaynor, who did not attend the
Board Of Estimate meeting, would not
comment or the plan Yesterday, saying
IT would have TO be studied by lawyers
and others interested, and action could
not well be taken until after a public
hearing. Consideration of the matter was
put over for a week. at which time argu-
ments for and against the site will be
considered President McAneny believes
that the board ought 10 take final action
on the plan after the hearing.
The report of the Board Of Estimate
committee of architects, who have been
working on the problem for some time.
The committee consisted of c. Grant La
Fargo. president of the New York Chapter
of the American Insri,te of Architects.
Walter Cook, national president OF ihe
American Institute William Kendall. OF
the firm of McKim, Mead & White; Gros-
venor Atterbury, II. V. b. Magonigle and
Edgerton Swartwout.
'.Indebted to the Architects"
These gentlemen" said the Board OF
Estimate committee, "were asked 70 con-
slider and report upon the advantages OF
the various sites available with relation 10
location and the possibilities Of general
architectural treatment, without regard al
the moment 10 the actual character of the
building to be erected. They have given
their services gratuitously, and the city,
in the judgment Of your committee is
greatly i'm their debt
The architects reported that for archi-
teCtural treatment alone the Chambers
street site across from the present court
house would be the best, but the question
Of cost made that prohibitive. The Board
Of Estimate committee said that If an up
town site were wanted the area south Of
Washington Square afforded the best site.
The report then went on to argue in
favor Of the downtown site as follows:
The future development of the city as a
whole demands, however, IN our judgment
the concentration Of the public buildings
housing both departments and courts with
in a reasonably compact area. Having re-
gard for this fact, and also the wisdom oi
developing future centre In fuu Keeping
with the dignity of the city, we believe
that the site selected is the best that the
city, within its present means, can com
mand.
The site proposed would permit the erec-
tion Of the courthouse within what, IN ef-
feet, would DE a new city square, with a
noble approach from the south and with
open spaces to the west, enlarging and per
mitting the further development Of what is
now Mulberry Bend Park.
The property that would be taken is all
relatively cheap in character. Within the
entire area there are J OF more than three
modern buildings of expensive type, while
considerable amount of what is at present
waste street space would incidentally be
utilized,
The requirements Of adequate light and
air would be satisfactorily met, the court
house placed within easy access of the
Hall of Records and the Municipal Build
ing. the one hand, and Broadway, on the
other, and the opportunity reserved for the
utilization Of various adjacent sites for
other city or federal buildings that might
in time permit Of grouping in a sO-called
civic centre
The committee also proposed the follow
ing incidental improvements, as indicated
IN the map:
!. That the line Of Centre street. which is
now irregular, be Strengthened and that
the street be carried under the courthouse
at a grade flush with its basement floor for
the passage Of the streetcar line and for
pedestrian uses.
O. That the two blocks Of Worth street
that would be affected be vacated. traffic
from Worth street easterly to proceed
either by Franklin or Pearl street.
8. That Baxter street be carried south on
the line Of its northern extension to an In
tersection with Park street at a point CO.
distant with the line of Lafayette street
from Centre. permitting the laying out OF
new and broad north and south thorough
fare by way of Park and Baxter streets TO
the north.
Enlarging Park Property.