The Detroit times., 1917-02-24
CITY IS NOT
|SUBDIVIDEO
|TOOfAR OUT
Detroit Is Just Now Be-
ginning To
Spread
PEOPLE NEED
FORESIGHT
Those Who Have Re-
tanned Land Have
Made Millions

Detroit has not been subdtyided
too far out" declared a representa-
tive OF the Detroit Real Estate board
when asked for his opinion on this
question. In fact" he continued.
Detroit has just commenced TO
spread and property which may
now be considered too far out win,
before long, be classed rs close
In
"DetroIt'- growth has been sensa-
tional during recent years. The
city has grown beyond Itself IN
many ways because housing facili.
ties and all public utNies nave
been unable to keep pace with the
Increase in population For this
reason people have been forced 10
live within a rather restricted area
of the city. They have become ac-
customed to living in close proxim
Nv 10 the central business section.
This II a privilege. but people
do not stop 10 realize that they en-
JOY it while At the same time they
are living In an unnatural condi
tion Of housing congestion. For
this reason past experience has
proved In many cities that under
such conditions the foresight OF the
people becomes somewhat cloud~d
and I, Il AZ times dlhicuh 10 make
the, taxpayers perceive the necra
city OF supporting bond issues and
10 other ways stimulating tho ex-
pansion of the residential districts
into the open country where the
freedom OF home life may be en-
JOY cd.
The subdIyider must necessarily
b. farsishted. he has been right
l. classed as one OF the most i'm.
portant elements in the building OF
any city II is his BUSINESS 10
look ahead and perceive the needs
|of the growing city 40 that the open
country surrounding the city may b.
properly developed 20 care for the
future needs In home sites
at is the history Of every city
|o- community OF any material size
that always there are certain old.
timers' who can b. heard 10 say
] had chance 20 buy that prop
er7y few year back AZ price
that would nov net mo rront suf.
hoient TO enable rive rs rr'ifc. bUt
didnt have The rorcs lf
The history of lfoii show
how many olitimr autC have
ost millions by iic.r 'lcl o' fer,
sight In falling to hod cn 90 thec
extensive land posse iou while ga
he other hand there are toIo, m
Detroit, many families of great
wealth and afiuence VINO we're LAT
.ghted enough 20 maintain their
holdings as well a.. to invest IN
property which was then TOO far
'nr but %bISh nov is centrally 10 /
rated
The nrst step in Detroits growth (
ook place when the first settlers
n 1901 cut path northward thru
he woods from the little stockadcd I
settlement on the river bank That
path has been extended until today !
Is Woodward.ave, and the prin !
ipEl thorofare in the city A.
ears elapsed the more venture |
tome settlers were granted land ,
holdings out Woodward.ave. as re /
ward for their lntrepidlty as farm
n In the woods Some OF those /
sranis now constitute sites for such !
buildings az the Pontchartrain ho !
ell, city hall. Dime Bank building.
md. IN fact. the entire central bus |
mss section OF the city.
Millions upon millions in wealth
ave been returned 10 those descend. I
nis 6 the settlers possessing fore
light enough 10 retain their land Z
possessions. The next step In De 4
toit's growth came when Ieffer- /
on. Fort. urat,ot. Michigan and +
lrand Riveraves. branched or from 4
foodward-ave.. difing successive I
ieriods Not many years ago the I
owH grszed on pastures very close /
oi what Is now Times square.
Subdivision development Is re.
lection OF the same natural condi. /
Ions that have featured the growth /
pf the city IN past years IS com. |
Jared to many other cities OF equal |
I've. subdivisions in Detroit. as a
Fholc. are not far out, but are made
q appear 40 In many instances by |
he absenca OF proper traction aad
P,her facilities. In a few years
rom now. when housing facilities
have caught up with the needs OF
he city, the newly annexed terri.
ory will be 30 we'll populated that
will be closein compared to sub
eouent subdivision development
hat eill be necessltaied BY the in
ressed population
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