The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-09-27
NORTHROP URGES.
 OP PORTUNITY 0F. BIC CIVIC CENTER.
Architect Points Out Possi- bilities in Plan to Acquire
 Property Near City Hall.

Joseph W. Northrop, architect, sees for Bridgeport an opportunity that other cities would give much to ob- tain, in the proposed requirement of property in the vicinity of the City hall.
 In a communication to The Farmer, MT. Northrop points out the possibili- ty of developing beautiful civic cen- ter in the section bounded by Main, State, Broad and John streets.
 He counsels the widening of John street, in this connection, and its ex- tension through to Water street.
 His letter follows:
 To the Editor of The Farmer:-
 Bridgeport is now facing mag nificent opportunity, such as comes to few cities, and one that will not re- turn. Bridgeport can now secure the finest feature that any city can have; the feature that modern cities are seeking above all to acquire,-a splen- did open plaza for the nucleus of it's civic center.
 And Bridgeport can secure this great advantage, without great ex- pense, until such time as the city decides to go to expense. The op- portunity referred to is that of se- curing the balance of the block bound ed by Main street, State street, Broad street and John street for the plaza; and of securing the property on the north side of John street, facing this tract, for the site of the future City hall, and other civic structures. This John street property is now occupied by small old cheap buildings, and should be acquired at a reasonable price.
 The principal buildinet to be ac- quired are the Public library, the Franklin building and the North church property. These properties could now be secured. Bridgeport must have a new library building be- fore many years. The North church lot is now vacant. Soon very eX- pensive new church will be built upon it. I understand that the Franklin building could now be secured at fair price. These properties could for the present remain as they are, bring ing in to the city very large in" come; possibly sufficient to meet the expenses of bonds necessary to ac- quire them, thus relieving tax pay CTS of extra expense, until such time as the central improvements should be decided upon. The future City hall on John street facing the plaza would have a magnificent setting, seen to Inc advantage from Main, State and Broad streets, worthy of the city that Bridgeport is to be.
 The plaza would be laid out with planting, flowers, and suitable archi- tectural adornments; and would be, with the City hall, the finest possible feature for the civic center of mod ern progressive city.
 What would not wide-awake live city give for such an opportunity an opportunity of making the civic center worthy to compare with that of any city.
 In connection with this great inn provement, Bank street. from Main to Broad, would be discontinued, John street should be widened and carried through from Park avenue to Water street, and this would become one of the city's finest business streets; a street upon which modern business structures would replace factories and cheap buildings.
 property would go far toward the ex- pense of the operations.
 What an unprecedented opportun- ity!
 Cannot our mayor and aldermen plan to do one great thing for the city? Can they not look forward and see a Bridgeport civic center, beauti- full as well as reasonable, and realize the vast importance or this great pro- ject?
 Future generations will rise and call those truly great who do this big thing for Bridgeport.
 Plan to do it now, before it is too late.
 Yours very truly,
 JOSEPH W. NORTHROP.