New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-12-12
WHITNEY MANSION
YIELDS TO TRADE
Continued from first page.

a holding company. What changes VIII
be made to the property cannot say
at this time. 1t is true that the re-
strictions against the use of the prem
Ises for other than residential purposes
have been lifted"
Early in the day there was rumor
that the sites had been sold to Samuel
Untermyer the we'll known lawyer. Mr.
Untermyer recently bought the old
Fourth avenue car barn property, COM
prising the block bounded by 32d and
33d streets. Fourth and Lexington ave-
nues. diagonally opposite the Wander
bilt Hotel.
Mr.. Whitehouse said Mr.. Untermyer
was not the buyer.
A short distance TO the west OF the
Whitney house is the house which was
owned and occupied for many years by
the father Of ex-President Roosevelt.
Some Of the heirs of the Roosevelt es-
tate recently formed a corporation
which took title to that house and sew
eral contiguous parcels. The enlarge
ment of the original Roosevelt site In
the street not only considerably en-
HANGED the value Of the estate holding,
but made the estate one Of the largest
owners of land in the street.
Assembling a plot for Improvement,
when the time arrives, with a big re-
tail business building" was the way
the Roosevelt operation was described
by brokers on Fifth avenue. "The big
business invasion in the street long
anticipated. is near at hand they
added. They are now likely to see
their prophecies realized at a much
earlier date than they expected.
II was about two years ago that the
Vanderbilts and the Sloanes took off tho
ban against business on the old Hotel
Langham property at the northeast cor
ner OF 52d street and Fifth avenue. Up
10 that time the families had spent
generous sums I'm keeping the residen-
tial features OF Fifth avenue at that
point intact. When IL seemed likely
that a hotel Of over twenty stories would
be erected at the southeast corner OF b2d
street and Fifth avenue. on part Of the
old Roman Catholic orphan Asylum site.
the Vanderbilts and Sloanes bought that
site.
on that plot IS now the home OF Nor
ton +. Plant To keep the IAngham
Hotel site free Of business they sold IT
to the late Edward II. Hartman. Mr..
Hartman had the plot cNcavated Cor
foundations for home FOR himself. But
he abandoned his plans on learning that
there was a possibility Of twelve story
apartment house adjoining an adjoining
site.
Since tho business restrictions az 52d
street were removed. a strong trade
centre at 55th street has been formed.
and John -. Rockefeller, senior and
Junior have had a busy time Keeping
business out Of 9th street
The Rockefcllers have this year spent
over $6JJ.co0 strengthening the residential
barriers OF the street On which their
houses front
The whitney house was erected for and
first occupied by Mrs. Frederick Stevens.
who later became the Duchess de Gino.
The first wife OF the late william {.
whitney received tho house rs a present
from her uncle Colonel Payne.
Tho structure Is one OF the best known
residential landmarks Of upper Fifth ave-
nue.. II Is four stories high. but looks
much higher owing 10 the angle OF us
roof. Its striking lines OF red brick seem
10 harmonze with the light color OF the
facade Of the home Of Mrs. Coils !.
Huntington. at the southeast corner OF
57th street and Fifth avenue, and the de-
sign Of the home Of Mrs. Vanderbilt. at
the northwest corner OF 57th street and
Fifth avenue.