New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-05-11
new PLAN SHIFTS
COURTHOUSE SITE
McAneny Outlines Scheme
for Acquiring Extra
Land Further East.
PROPOSED AREA
WORTH $3,96S,500
Part of Present Location To Be
Sold-Idea Embraces an East
Side Boulevard.

Sold-Idea Embraces an East
Side Boulevard.
President McAneny of the Board OF AL
dcrmen has made public the plans pro-
vtding for the shifting OF the site OF the
new courthouse further 10 the east. The
now plan will obviate the closing Of
Worth and Centre SITS. the junction Of
which was the centre OF the site as origi-
ualy planned.
The cost of the present site which has
already been paid for, was ss243.6ss The
new plan would retain 10000 worth Of
the present site and purchase additional
land to the east at an estimated value
s756S.5o0 an indicated increase of g. 200.
As against this. President McAneny. in
his report. says there will be reductions
from the cost Of the original plan amount
ing 10 S1.sl5,OOo. In this amount he fig
ures 10000 for the relocation OF the rail-
road tracks In Worth and Centre SITS.
$4,000 for the relocation of the subway
structure which runs under Centre st.
and $4,000 additional cost for the founda-
ton due 10 the proposed arching Of the
subway.
Forty-tw1o City Lots In Parcel.
The new site would have an area 81
per cent greater than the present one.
1T appears. therefore" says President
NcAneny, that. with due allowance for
possible additional margins Of cost in
acquiring the new parcels under con-
demnation. the city would acquire. for
about the same ret outlay, al additional
area of lo5427 square feet or forty-two
city lots. the value Of which Is approx
mately 10000"
President McAneny's report IL made as
chairman Of the corporate stock com
mittee Of the old Board Of Estimate.
which adopted the present site. 1t Is
made TO the committee on city planning
of the present Board Of Estimate. While
this committee has not formally consid-
cred It. and will not do so until public
hearings are held. II has been presented
TO the members. who are all the Borough
Presidents, in addition to Mr. McAneny,
and they favor It.
Controller Prendergast is also familiar
with the new plan and Is said TO favor IT,
There Is every prospect that there VIII
he no trouble in putting It through the
Board OF Estimate. It has already been
approved by the courthouse board and
the justices Of the Supreme Court.
The Board Of Estimate approved the
present site in January 1912. 1t is bound
ed on the north by Leonard St. on the
west BY Lafayette ST., on the east by
Baxter and Park SITS, and on the south
bv the open spaces between Chambers st.
and the conjunction Of Lafayette ami
Park SITS.
After this site had been acquired. the
corporate stock budget committee decided
that by shifting it further TO the east
many complications might be avoided ana
additional land might be gained, Which
could be sold later with restrictions Which
would provide character Tor the ENVIRON
lnent Of the courthouse. The plan was
evolved the latter part Of 1918. but was
not made public because of the dispute
over the plans for the courthouse Dulld-
ing itself. If the circular shape had been
abandoned for a rectangular building
would have been necessary to change the
site plans again.
Shifts Building Further East.
The new plan in detail is this; First
What I'm addition TO the tracts already
taken. and under the general authority
Of the courthouse act. the city acquire
the parcels included in portion OF the
block bounded by Duane St. Park ROW.
Pearl st. ana City Hall Place; in portion
Of the block bounded by Pearl St. Park
ST. Baxter st., and Park Row, and in the
block bounded by Duane St. Park st. and
City Hall Place.
Second-That Pearl ST. rs now laid out
between Park ST. and Park Row, and City
Hall Place. as now laid out between the
Municipal Building and Pearl St, be
closed. their part i'm the street system TO
be- taken by the opening of other thor
ouehfares within the plan.
Tbird-That the courthouse proper be
shifted TO a point Immediately east Of
Centre st. its pivotal point to be slightly
south of the corresponding point in the
original plan. at the intersection Of Cen
tire and Worth SITS.
Fourth-That q circular street 40 feet
I'm width. including terraces, be opened
around the courthouse building, continu-
ing the line OF Centre st. north and south
on the one side. and on the other opening
into a new thoroughfare. 125 feet wide,
proceeding to the plaza Of the Manhattan
Bridge
Fifth-That a new north and south
street be opened between the circle and
New Chambers st. at the rear OF the Mu-
nlcipal Building; and
Sixth-That such portions Of the par
cells lying between Centre st. on the east
and Lafayette ST. on the west and be-
tween Leonard Sc. on the north and
Duane st. on the south, as may not be
needed for immediate use. be held for
such disposition as future exlgencies may
suggest
Although the opening OF a new thor
oughfare between the Court House and
the Manhattan Bridge plaza is not
within the immediate scope OF the plan,
the way is prepared for this improve
ment which, when linked with the Bow
cry. Fourth av. and Park av.. will give
- Tho L,ast cfde of Manhattan n north