New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-01-24

pierce the bed Of the North River witn
tunnels for the operation Of electro
trains between Morton ST., Cortland 81
and the lower Sixth av. section OF Man.
haitian and the railroad terminals and
the nearby cities in New Jersey. This
feeling that Chelsea would continue q
great stopping zone for much longer
period than at first thought was also
intensified by the plans perfected by
the Pennsylvania and Long Island rail-
roads. for the creation of a union sta
ZION for PENNSYLVANIA and Long Island
trains at SD ST. and Seventh az. But
the hopeful feeling became vacillatlng
and finally gloomy because Of the stu
pendous plans put into effect for tne
transformation OF central Fifth av. into
one Of the most alluring retail shop
ming centres in this country and the
enlargement of the Grand Central sta
ton. Moreover, the building OF the
Steinwav tube. the opening OF the
Greensboro Bridge and the adoption by
the city OF the dual subway plans has
tened the decline Of 23d street as the
main crosstown shopping thoroughfare
of the section. Many other causes con-
tributed 10 that decline.
However. the realty records relatlng
20 Chelsea growth show that the nortn-
ward drift brought a new building
garb 10 many parts OF the section, ana
II is this building form which looms
up most conspicuously in the section
10 day, its towering and shapely, SIDES
clearly indicating 10 what valuaole
uses a large part of Chelsea can De
transformed. This form is none otner
than the modern loft structures when
have become a notable feature OF the
section in the last seven years, or ever
since the opening of the subway MADE
II nossible for speculative builders 20
erect proftably vast commercial ahu
ofice structures in central parts OF the
town.
Chelsea is being joined at cost
OF many millions TO the vast under
ground rapid transit routes IN opera
lion or MANNED for the greater CITY.
In Seventh av. through the section
win run subway which is TO be part
Of the marlborough system. Al l4th'
18th. 23d and oath SITS. will be stations
on that line. This route Will connect
az Times Square. AID ST. and Broad
v.av. with the westerly terminus OF the
Steinwav tubes. Along Broadway Will
aytend the Broadway-Seyenth az. line
Of the BROOKLYN Rapid Transit. uniting
with irremovable bonds Of steel the
easterly part Of the Chelsea section.
This route provides New YORK en-
trance 10 the Brooklyn Rapid Transit
Company. Al 59th ST. and Seventh aY.
this route will turn eastward and con
,inue over the greensboro Bridge 10
the heart Of Long Island City. Al the
Greensboro end Of the bridge .connec-
tons will be made with new lines 10
Astoria. Corona and Flushing.
Few other parts OF the city nave sucn
q valuable waterfront as the Chelsea.
There the city has spent many millions
in the building OF piers and for other
improvements, all Of which were de-
signed 10 add prestige 70 the docking
and shipping facilities OF Ne" York
Those riers alone are bound 10 create
i'm the section one OF the largest whole
sale and manufacturing centres IN TINS
country-not a centre which VIII De
renroaeh or an eyesore 20 the com
n,unitv. but one with buildings OF the
verv best mercantile type, and where
there will be few ugly structures OF the
factory or storage class 20 put a shght
ar damper on the erection OF apart
ments and fathouses Of the best type.
This greater wholesale and residen-
tial centre may be ten years IN the
making: il may be even a longer
period. As its present strength becomes
more commanding the fact will gam
more attention that big section OF
this kind win be able 20 support one
or more streets dotted with retail
shops OF various kinds.
As one trayerses Chelsea one Is con-
stantlv reminded Of its latent energy as
regards future building expansion.
Within a stones throw. as II were. OF
the great pier improvements are rows
OF dwelling houses. built many years
ago. vet retaining much OF the old
charms they nad when the larger part
OF the district was especially noted as