The New York herald., 1921-07-24
ALL READY TO MAKE
67TH STREET WIDER
Ten Feet of Each Sidewalk to
Be Rcmoved-Calvary Church
Was Stanch Opponent.

The widening Of Fifty-seyenth street
now an assured fact despite the pro-
tests which were made by few prop
erty owners against the associations ap-
plication on behalf of the majority Of
property owners, according to The
Avenue, the official organ Of the Fifth
Avenue Association.
After spirited hearings held before
the Borough President. the committee
on city plan and the Board of Estimate,
at which all who opposed the applica-
ten we're given every opportunity to
tile their opposition, and after due con-
sideration had been given to every ar
gument presented the board voted to
adopt the recommendations Of Borough
President Curran that the encroach-
ments be removed and that ten feet Of
each sidewalk be taken off and added
to the street. thus giving Fifty-seventh
street a sixty foot roadway.
Most OF the opposition to the widen
Ing was made by property owners be-
tween Sixth and Seventh avenues. The
Calvary Baptist Church on the north
side OF Fifty-seventh street between
Sixth and Seventh avenues protested
on the ground that the action OF the
city meant the removal of encroach-
nents which would affect the appear
ance and safety of the structure. Own
ers OF certain apartment buildings OBJ
jected upon the ground that the appli-
cation was premature and that they
would be compelled to spend large
sums money in the removal Of en-
croachments at this time.
However. the fact was taken into con-
sideration that 50 per cent. of the en-
croachments in this area already have
been removed without any action on the
part of the city and that IS per cent.
Of the property has been converted to
Business use. In view of the traffic
figures presented as well as the sur
vey of the entire area and the investi-
cations made by the city engineers 1t
was believed that the application was
most timely and that by reason Of the
Increased business and traffic Fifty
seventh street should be widened at
this time
1t Is contemplated that in the latter
part of September the Borough Presi-
don't will issue notices for the removal
of encroachments and the property
owners given from six to nine months
TO comply.
This Improvement was brought about
upon the recommendations of the very
active and energetic Fifty-seventh
street committee of the Fifth Avenue
Association under the chairmanship of
Harry Collins The committee members
had given up their time to the study of
this subject and supplied the necessary
data to permit the executive officers to
conclude this proceeding successfully.
The Board of Estimate has also ap-
proved the application of the President
of the Borough of Manhattan for the
widening OF Forty-first street between
Lexington and Park avenues. for the
widening of Thrty-third street between
Park and Fifth avenues. for the widen
ing OF Thirty-ffth street between
Madison avenue and Broadway and for
the widening OF Thrty-seventh street
between Fifth and Seventh avenues.
The board has also approved the widen
ing or the modification OF the roadway
OF Park avenue between Thirty-ninth
and Fortieth streets so as to provide
for the relief Of the traffic congestion
at the entrance to the viaduct on Park
avenue.
The Borough President has been given
authority IS lake Off IS feet OF the park
area and add Q feet on either side OF
the roadway, thereby making the width
OF the roadway 80 feet. The section Of
Park avenue between Thirty-fifth and
Thirty-ninth streets will also be modi-
fled so as to relieve traffic congestion.
An application as been made for the
widening of Sixtieth street between
Second and Fifth avenues from 30 to
- feet TO relieve the congestion caused
by the heavy westbound traffic from
the Greensboro Bridge. At present this
application is pending before the Board
a