The New York herald., 1922-12-03
Business Batters Against
Restrictions on I'D Street

rented and there is an increasing do
masd for residences in the very section
which the business Interests wish 70
have opened TO trade.
Want Restrictions Removed.
According TO Mr.. Earle the persons
who want to see the block between
Broadway and West End avenue taken
from the restricted zone are those who
have leased residences there and who
wish TO add to their revenue by letting
part of the lower floors for stores.
This element has formed more or less of
a solid organization and through their
attorneys are putting up stiff fight
against the proposed change. They de-
clare that the zone law as applied to the
upper West Side was benefit but un-
less 1t - enforced II becomes a mere
Joke. They say that II Seventy-second
street is to be opened for business then
Seventy-third and Seventy-fourth streets
may as well be treated the same. Not
long ago an effort was made to omen
West Ninety-fifth stret to BUSINESS.
West Seventy-second street II rapidly
becoming a center for real estate firms.
especially on the block between Colum-
bus avenue and Broadway. Speaking Of
the changes that have occurred there
during the last twelve years. ]. b. Phil
lips of L. j. Phillips & Co., says:
"As the automobile trade creeps up
Broadway toward Seventy-second street
the street is tending toward retail
shopping center The south side Of the
street has kept ahead OF the north side.
but that side seems now to be gradually
catching up with the southfside. There
Is at present a minimum value Of $4,000
front foot on the south side. E. z.
Smathers owns large portion on the
south side. holding I4O. 144, and 146
and 15s West Seventy second street.
Florists. Made First Break.
Ten years ago florists shops were
the first to break into the solid rows OF
residences. Then came restaurants and
real estate offices. The former are
being gradually weeded out. 1t is very
likely that the automobile trade will
take its stand on either side OF the street
before long. If restrictions are lifted
from the block between Broadway and
West End avenue and between Central
Park West and Columbus avenue values
will rise rapidly"
representative OF Peose 4 Gilman
predicted chat the restrictions west OF
Broadway, at least as far as West
END avenue. will be lifted within a year.
I'VE specialize in selling properties
In this neighborhood,' said a represent
ative OF the Arm. There Is tendency
to hold back on selling. Owners ap-
pear to be awaiting for the advent Of
more business and consequently higher
values. On the north side Of tho street.
for instance. a four story and basement
dwelling on g. lot 20x100. is held at
$4,000. The property at 125 West
Seventy-second street has been converted
into clinic and Is occupied by phys;-
clans. 1t is held at $4,000. Another
property on a lot 22xl02 has been con-
verted into an elevator building with
offices. 1t IS held a. >$1S0.000 and rents
for about $SS,7S0. Some of the owners
still live in their properties. The Mer-
rail- family for instance. members Of the
frm of -Acker. uferrall & Condit, own the
property at 129 and 131 and it is hold at
$3.50 a front foot. Henry SpadQne
owns and still occupies the building at
No. 141.
The handsome new marble front
twelve story apartment house at 1884,
1853 on the south side is owned by the
Philip Weinberg estate. The FIVE story
20 foot structure just to the east is
partially occupied by the firm OF Slaw-
son & Hobbs.