New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-01-04
VAST CHANGES
in CENTRAL AREA

The southerly half OF the great central
business district Of New York is from
18th to 33d streets II Is one OF the iarg
est wholesale and retail trade centres.
and the character of its various business
sections is diversified.
Not many years ago that part OF tho
section lying between Madison and Sixth
avenues from the very .outhernmost
point to the most northerly boundary
was the heart of the principal residen-
tial district Of old New York. Not only
were the homes of persons prominent
In various walks OF life there. but the
big theatres. hotels, libraries and many
other important structures we're located
on prominent sites.
At the dawn OF this century the north
ward drift of business from the most
southerly part of Manhattan assumed
large shape and resulted I'm forcing the
choice home baiiwick further uptown.
While this movement was gaining head
way, there were few large retail stores
with frontages In Fifth avenue, and few
persons thought this part of the city
would ever form the principal shopping
area OF New York
To-day the fame Of Fifth avenue az
retail shopping place is known from one
end of the country to the other. More
over, the popularity OF the district most
suitable TO wholesale business is growing
rapidly and each year more out-of-town
buvers do their trading there than ever
before.
The quick transformation OF certain
parts of this zone in recent years Is one
of the most indisputable proofs OF what
leading builders and architects can DO
replacing in a most rapid way section
with old and small buildings TO one
o., many imposing modern mercantile
structures. II seems only yesterday that
the lower Fourth avenue part Of the dis
trtct was a most uninvitins thorougnfare
for shoppers Near Union Square were
a number Of we'll known hotels among
them being the Everett House. wmch &C.
cupied n large site at the northwest cor
ner of 18th street; tho Belvidere House
q short distance north of 1t, and the CAR
endon. almost diagonally opposite.
In the very heart of the Fourth avenue
district were also in those days long rows
Of old fashioned red brick buildings &C.
cupled mostly by little storekeepers, many
Of whom were dealers in antiques. There
was then no strong retail or wholesale
trade centre or colony in this part OF the
town; now there are many. Here VIII De
found a large number Of the leading SILK
houses In this country, group or some
~ the most progressive and popular book
cellars and publishers in America, and
hundreds OF firms whose factories are
far from New York, but who must main
tain proper showrooms In this city.
There is not part OF this district from
,sth 10 33d street which is not easily nc
cass,b,e from every section OF New YORK,
hut IKE other divisions of Manhattan, IL
was not content with It's transit facil-
ties. and consequently will have some new
subway links in the near future.
Along the southerly edge Is to run
great crosstown subway. This fact
seems 10 have been forgotten by many
heads Of big mercantile houses. Inc
crosstovn subway will connect the lfth
street shopping district and loft centres
With tho thickly populated home sections
y, Williamsburg. II will be Journey OF
or,v about fifteen minutes from the dis-
,r,ct 70 williamsburg by way OF this SUD
way. This transit route ought 10 prove
one o, the most beneficial transit INKS
ever bullt for the l4th street section or
the southerly portion Of the zone
In broadway through the district VIII
run q subway which will be one OF the
most important parts OF the dual subway
system OF the greater city Another SUD-
way will run through the district up
Seventh avenue. uniting the southernmost
bushes, and financial and the principal
theatre and railroad areas more conve-
pjentlv 10 the central part OF the city.
Nearly all kind Of commercial and trade
houses are within the borders OF this
district from 18th TO SD streets In the
lower part Of FIFTH avenue arc many rep
resentatiyes OF the clothing industry
Rentals In this section OF the city are
unusually low. and manufacturers desir-
ing nice loft space OF large size are able
20 b. accommodated quickly on most sat
isfactory terms.