New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-12-02
REVIVING TWENTY.THlRD STREET
WHY Should Such an Ideal Location for
Shops Remain Idle?

Sir: ANY material improvement III thr
trade traffic congestion on Fifth Avenue from
ITwenty-seventh Street to above Fiftieth
might we'll be placed in the category of hope
less tasks. There is every reason to believe
that the congestion will continue TO increase,
as there is reason in the argument for be-
lieving that no immediate or future plans
can be found for relieving IT..
The elegance Of this beautiful and wonder
/ full avenue must be preserved by all means,
and the removal OF the out-of-date houses is
obligatory for the continuance of its fame.
These old-fashioned residences must give
place to more imposing edifces, which will
be commodious and sufficiently large TO in
sure an income warranting the construction
expenditures This added tenancy TO the
district would contribute MANIFOLD to the
congestion. The side streets will also grow
in big buildings and business population H.
proportion, and patrons and employees will
further add to the aggravated conditions.
No relief would be obtainable by directing
the overflow 10 Broadway and Sixth Avenue.
The congestion at Thirty-fourth Street and
these thoroughfares is worse than on Fifth
Avenue. And as for relief by Madison and
Park Avenues, allowing for the contemplated
An elevated railroad on Fifth Avenue7 Per
ish the thought A subway Think OF re-
moving those sewer and water pipes. And
who of the women folk would go down into
Fifth Avenue subway?
Fifth Avenue was never cut through for Il
business street and never adapted nor IN
tended for the purpose. IL has always been
celebrated as q promenade, and was known
as Americas famous walk. On Sundays
holidays, weekday afternoons, both on side
walk and in the roadway, the hnely or the
Individual and the handsome equipages of
the metropolis stroled in public review Pa
radcs were not parades unless they went up
the great avenue. Parade day was holiday
/ But il became hard TO mix business with
pleasure and excitement, and now the au-
thorities are petitioned to keep parades oil
the avenue on account Of the interference
with trade.
Both the proprietors and patrons who par
ticipated in this uptown movement mus: real
izc that it was something OF a mistake for
all to move uptown.
The pioneer in the movement nearly met
disaster, but his resources and remarkable
business ability enabled him to survive the
ordeal and leave a monumental store with
a great organization as an evidence of his
laggressiveness.
Il may be a wild statement TO make and
suggest that to return to the vicinity OF
Twcnty-third Street and below would be
way out OF some of the difficulty.
Where Fifth Avenue and Broadway come
together two Of the greatest thoroughfares
of the Western Hemisphere cross. Near by
is Madison Square, with its broad streets on
either side, a most ideal spot for the en-
poriums that now crowd upper Fifth Avenue
and compel some Of their customers to line
up practically for a half mile north and
south, as they would in front of theatre
box Office This beautiful esplanade cannot
be eaualled in New York City (unless 1t is
at Union Square,, with a spaciousness where
automobiles can park conveniently; with a
free and perfect light for the exhibition of
goods and for conducting a retail business.
For accessibility it cannot be surpassed-the
Broadway cars, Fifth Avenue buses, cross
town and Lexington Avenue cars, new sub
way (station at Twenty third Street,, old
subway at Fourth Avenue, elevated railroad
at Sixth Avenue, Fourth and Sixth Avenue
surface cars Third Avenue elevated and
surface cars and unlimited space and access
for automobiles through side streets.
Just six small blocks below Gall OF them
together not much longer than the bloct
from Fifth Avenue TO Broadway at Forty
second Street, is Union Square, with the
same parking space, accessibility, good light,
etc.
Too far downtown would be the wall but
how about the great store near Grace
Church? II is downtown, the furthest retail
store in that direction, and still 1t probably
has more trade than the combined business
of many uptown retail stores. There are no
patrons living in the vicinity. The neigh
A=tf1 no
business is being done and no traffic con-
pestion or misunderstanding but business.
The question naturally arises, why did
all the stores move out of the Twenty-third
Street district" 1t was not their intention,
and the argument was that New York city
was big enough for all and the retail pusi-
ness should not be centralized.
1t may not be known, except to those VINO
were directly interested. that compact ex-
lated between Lord & Taylor, Arnold, Con-
stable & Co.. Vantine, Sloane, Aitken Son
Co.. Stern Brothers, Knox and others to hold
that neighborhood intact and not join the
uptown movement. One Of the large Twenty
third Street concerns, TO show it's good faith
and confidence that the neighborhood was
more desirable and that the compact would
be held. erected an addition 70 the store cost
ing several hundred thousand dollars. But
a discredited merchant surrepttiousiy oo-
tanned control Of one OF the largest estao-
lishments and Immediately announced that
on the expiration Of certain leases the estao-
lishment would join the uptown movement.
There was at once a wild scramble for sites
by all interested. Prohibtive prices were
paiG for locations, and in a short time the
most desirable, advantageous and accessible
retail district in this country was abandoned
and deserted.
Can it be that this ideal location will long
remain idle?
Let II be redeveoped.
EDWARD HATCH, JR.
New York, Nov. %, 1915