Perth Amboy evening news., 1923-02-09
FAYETTE STREET DEVELOPMENT

FAYETTE STREET DEVELOPMENT
Opening Fayette street across the Central railroad and con-
tinuing the street westward so as to connect with Convery place is
one of the most important developments in the city that the Board
of Aldermen have to consider. The Evening News today publishes
tho special report made by the City Plan Commission on this sub
ject. It is highly interesting and ought to be read by every
citizen.
AS Peter c. Olsen, president Of the City Plan Commission, told
the Lions Club yesterday, the number of crossings over the Central
railroad is the same today as it was thirty or forty years ago, al
though the traffic has increased a thousand fold. Pertn Amooy
cannot afford to have her progress retarded in this manner. Some
shing must be done to relieve Smith street in particular.
Market street will not do because it runs into a dead end at the
Pardee Works. jefferson street has become an important thorough
fare as far as it goes and ought to be developed, but this would De
very expensive. Not only would it have to be opened between New
Brunswick avenue and State street, but there is no street at all
west of the railroad and as that section is well built up the opening
of such a street would be a difficult matter. Besides, jefferson
street is not open through to the waterfront and mere again o-
velopment would be extremely difficult on account of the grade.
This leaves, then, only Fayette street, and the problem tnere Is
comparatively simple. Fayette street exists on both sides OF the
railroad tracks although there is no connection. Furthermore
Fayette street has an excellent approach to the Waterfront, ING
GRADE being the easiest of any thoroughfare along the sound shore.
For vehicular traffic to and from the ferry, Fayette street Is ideal
And when the new bridge is considered the feasibility Oh using
Esva+to street as a relief for Smith street is all the more apparent
The matter of building an additional bridge across the Central
r.1road to connect Fayette street on both sides OF the track Is up
to the city. From a traffic point of view it 1 as important as tne
raarranrement of the sewers, and provision for financing the
bridge ought to be included in the special legislation that Is now
being enacted at Trenton. From the present terminus Il fayette
street westward to Convery place is almost all vacant WHICH
IN. c;tv couId secure through condemnation it the owners were not
willing to sell at a reasonable figure
Tn regard to this vacant land, the city plan report, wh1cn we
r,bIisb TODAY. brings out some very interesting facts. A comparl-
COZ of the assessed valuations is given and 1T presents announcer
ron arpument in favor of revising our tax laws so as to place the
"a on land and relieve the pressure on improvements. Why
sbonld the owners of this vast tract of idle land get oil so easily
when if comes to bearing the burden of the city government "hne
those who are using their land to help develop the city are assessed
se highly? A cub
In this respect the special report on Fayette street as SUP
oitted nv the CITY Plan Commission, and which report Is puDhSneu
IL full in today's issue, makes highly interesting reaolng, ny pa0
INC these facts before the people and demonstrating the 1easaoinly
- developing Fayette street from the waterfront to ConVery pace
tba Citv Plan Commission has, in this one report alone lunS JuS"f
fled its existence and repaid the city for the $2ooo that was appro-
rr;atad for the commissions use last year. But In aoolUoh 10 Cs
snae;al report. there was the preliminary report on IN Guy VI"
shs+ was published several weeks ago which has a great value
sf It's own. nnw
with this excellent work accomplished on so small al appro-
,1.+;or the aldermen are fully justified in doubling the approprla-
.;or this vea With such data before it, the Board Oh fern
h.v their work in determining what is best for the Guy In ii u
INV greatly simplnied. 1t is to be hoped that the aAdermen W.
souow M the precedsnt which they established a snort time ago u
..u;nn Tho Citv Plan Commission into consultation III ma'terS a.
fa.+iro the development of the city. That is what the cpV PAn -
- .rd tbs value of such a plan is going to be realized more III
more ss time goes on