The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-02-19
AMERICAN EXPRESS TO
build new B'WAY HOME
- story Structure for Com
pany's Sole Use to Replace
Old Sugar Warehouse.

The American Express Company will
start in a few days the erection of an
office building on the site Of Its present
structure on lower Broadway. II will
not he the ~thlrty-two story structure
for which h company filed plans in
March. 1914. hut n fifteen story build
Ing for the sole use and Of
the %company's forces. .
In announcing the improvement yes
terday George G.. Taylor. president Of
the company. said that the building
operation Ii forced on them by the de
mands for changes In the present build
ing by various city departments.
Our reason for erecting this new
building II strictly one OF economy
said Mr.. Taylor. but IL was brought
on AT this time by the different city
departmental orders. which 10 carried
out would mean an expense to the
company of from s125.000 to $500. 900
to lake care Of only part Of our stsfY
In this building. which ~ the home
once. t3Ather h spend such a large
sum TO WDuse only part Of our employees
ana still leave us with only what might
be called a second hand building We
decided to make our plans ft the hous-
ing OF all u employees downtown. that
are now scattered o VI In four dif-
ferent buildings. a costly and inefficient
arrangement. Many years ago we out.
grew the old building. which IL only
a i've story structure and entirely in.
adequate to meet our demands.
The entire new building will be oc.
cupied by the American Express Com.
pany. none Of 1t being placed in the
market for rental purposes. The build.
ing will occupy so feet along Broad
way and will extend from Broadway
directly through to Trinity place. the
exact space occupied at the present
time by the old building"
The site to be improved IL At So and
SIS Broadway n % TO 80 Trinity place
II Is In the centre OF the block between
Exchange alley and Rector street. On
the south the plot W fianked by the
new thirty-two story structure az the
Adams Express Company and on the
north stands the twenty-one story En-.
pire Building. Both Of these buildings
will tower high above the fifteen story
American Express Building.
W years ago when the first steps
were X to limit the height OF build
inSs in this city the American Express
Company. along with a number Of other
owners OF large plots that were not fully
improved. filed plans for a structure OF
great height to circumvent any law that
might be made. These plans called for
th'rty-two stories. to cost 1900 900.
Under the plan now being considered OF
limiting the height OF a building In the
financial zone to two and one-half times
the width Of the fronting street a build
ing on he American Express site can
be erected to a height OF i75 feet. Broad
way at the point being seventy fee,
wide.
The American Express Building IL an
ancient warehouse. erected a little
less than a century z and originally
owned by a frm Of Cuban sugar planta-
ton owners. who did business in New
York under the name OF Peter Har-
mony's Nephews.
The plans for the new building have
been prepared by Renwick. Aspinwall. a
Tucker. and the construction will be
lone BY the Caldwell. Wingate Com
pany.- II Is expected that It will be
ready for occupancy by February I.
1917. In the interval the various de-
partments Of the company's service will
be carried OF at the following locations
The financial. travel. foreign trade In
formation and treasurer's departments
at IS Broadway. directly opposite the
present offices the foreign freight and
express departments on the ground floor
Of the United States Express Building
at = Rector street.