New-York tribune., 1920-02-15
Giant Structure for 5th Ave. and 57th St. Corner
Marks Future Development of Avenue Of Avenues

The sensational development planned
for the southwest corner Of Fifth Ave-
nue and Fifty-seventh Street by George
Backer and August Heckscher will
mark new epoch in the structural and
commercial future Of Fifth Avenue.
The building Is to be thirty stories
high and will be combination of
stores, showrooms, offices, apartments
and theater. At least $8.5OO,O00 is In
volved in the project. The structure Is
tho tallest that has been proposed for
Fifth Avenue, and the theater Ia the
building will be the first that has been
advanced for the leading shopping
street Of New York.
1t may be far fetched thought, but
there are some who see in the theater
feature the nucleus Of a powerful rival
Of the present Rialto section. Details
Of the thcater indicate that the prices
which will prevail will make it one Of
the most exclusive amusement places
in the city. Only 900 will be accom-
modated, and every patron will occupy
seat with two arm rests and as spa
cious and comfortable as the heavily
upholstered library chair. Connected
the use Of patrons. If the idea Is ac-
cepted planners of this Fifth Avenue
novelty are certain that moro such
structures will be erected at the
threshold Of the finest residential and
shopping sections in the world.
To Rise 400 Feet
Even without this feature the struc-
ture itself would cause the greatest
interest because Of its proportions and
form. For 1876 feet 1t will be built
flush with the building line and for
325 feet 1t will reach into the sky
In the form Of tower or shaft. Tho
shaft will contain twenty two stories
and here will be located the dual ar
rangement of Office space and living
quarters. Below this shaft will be
eight stories of stores and showrooms.
This section Of the building will bo
q solid mass fronting 100 feet on Fifth
Avenue and 162 feet on Fifty-seventh
Street. Stores will line the street
level with showrooms and trade space
on the floors up to the tower section
Arcades will follow the inside limo of
the Fifth Avenue and Fifty-seventh
Street site. One will start at the
south end Of the Fifth Avenue frontage
and the other at the west end Of the
Fifty-seventh Street frontage and will
terminate in the lobby leading to Fifth
Avenues first theater. Along the
arcades will be stores or booths feet
wide and 16 feet deep.
Ten-Story Theater
The theater section will be ten
stories high, fronting 100 feet on
Fiftysixth Street and 100 feet deep.
The floors above the theater will be
fitted up for concerts and art exhi-
bitions, this being the new art section
of the city. Duveen Brothers galleries
are on the adjoining property, the
northwest corner Of Fifth Avenue and
Fifty-sixth Street.
Heckscher Building is the title Sc
lected for the great structure, which
will be in the modern French Rcnais-
sance style from plans by Warren &
Wetmore, style adopted because of
the prominence Of the location and the
position which it is expected the struc-
ture will hold in the future of Fifth
Avenue south of Central Park.
Success of the project seems not to
have been questioned by hard headed
bankers, for the Prudential Life In
surance Company has consented to loan