Evening journal., 1913-06-21
BOULEVARD
IS EXPLAINED
Street Department Hears Some
Property Owners Would
Give Land for Highway
OTHER OWNERS WILL
OPPOSE THE PLAN

rhe first public hearing on the pro
iect to construct boulevard from the
Brandywine creek on the north. to the
southern limits of the city. where it is
hoped by the Board OF Park Commits
sioners a park will be located, was
held IN the rooms Of the Street and
Sewer Department yesterday after
noon. The attendance was large, con-
sidering the size Of the departments
rooms, and among those who gathered
there we're many real estate brokers,
property owners along the proposed
route and their attorneys. In addition
the directors of the street and Sewer
Department were present and heard
the plan described in detail by william
P Bancroft president Of the Board of
Park Commissioners, Edward H.
Mack, superintendent Of parks and
Jerome b. Bell, member of the Park
Commission.
The plan discussed yesterday was
known as the Grant and Bayard ave
nue. boulevard project and Mr.. Ban
croft had numerous blue prints 10
show what was needed for the boule-
ward and what portion of it the city
already possessed, During the hear
ing Mr. Bancroft said he did not want
the city TO develop the route at this
time but to merely put It on the city
map as streets. He said the advantage
Of doing this at this time was that the
land could be secured before It was i'm
proved and at a reduced cost
According 20 plans, the boulevard
would be 100 feet wide. For a por-
ton of the proposed route Grant ave-
nue., now on the city plan, would be
used While considerable other
property was necessary. Il developed
at the meeting that several owners
we're willingfto donate their land to
the city forfthe purpose. Others said
they would not donate la d but would
be-satiehed with small damages.
Under the proposed plan, the
boulevard would extend from Della
ware avenue TO Pennsylvania avenue
along Scott street to a point near
Eighth street, where II would turn
to Grant avenue and continue TO
Lancaster avenue II Is then pro-
posed to cut through the two colored
cemeteries and the baseball park TO
Union street woods. which Mr. BAN
croft said would be donated II the city
purchased the adjoining woods for
park purposes. This tract is known
as the southwestern tract, a portion
OF which Mr. Bancroft said he had an
option on, the price asked being $500
an acre.
In speaking OF the proposed boule-
ward. Mr.. Bancroft said It was an
easy and feasible way to get strip
OF green through the western sec
ton of the city which he thought I'm
time would be occupied by small
houses. Among the property owners
who own lands abutting on the strip.
and who expressed willingness to
donate enough land to make the route
100 feet wide were Hamilton +.
Stewart. Or Philip c. Southard, Mr.
Bancroft and r. Elwood Pyle.
Hugh NJ. Morris. an attorney, said
his clients who owned lands south of
Lancaster avenue opposed the devel-
opment of section south of Lancas-
ter Ave. He said the owners thought
the present roadway Of 40 feet on
Union street TO the city line was suf-,
fclent and by cutting through a new
route on Grant avenue. extended it
would cut the size OF the lands
abu.'ing
Mr.. Mack said the ! DIS ahutting
the proposed avenue would have i
depth OF 23S feet.
In addition 10 the opposition by
Mr. Morris. II was said that there
would be oppositi from others and
OF all the notices sent out to abutting
property owners about the hearing
but % per cent OF them had appear
ed George w. Sparks president of
the Street and Sewer Department.
said that while no resolution calling
for the placing OF the streets on the
+ city plan had as yet been received
! and when Il was II would require
! three readings before final action,
the project could not be placed on
the city's plan for at least two
weeks
Mr. Mack was asked il he had pre-
, pared a list of expenditures for the
, proposed route, ana leao on isl
totaling $4,000, which would cover
, paving and ourbing as we'll as grad
ing. This was considered small by
the Department directors.
After Mr.. Bancroft, Mr. Bell and
others had spoken of the advantages
to be derived from the proposed
boulevard, the meeting adjourned
The subject most likely will come
before the directors in the near fu.
ture, in the form OF a resolution.