Palisadian., 1925-07-17
RESTRICTIONS OF PALISADE AND
WHAT THEY MEAN AND ExPL LANATI0N
ABOUT The BLUFF ROAD ORDINANCE
w. r. Goodman Early Settler Pioneer Tells Succinct
History of Efforts Protect Restrictions in Deeds to
Property Here-Tells of Importance to Palisade OF
Bluff Road Ordinance-All Should Help Obey 1t.

With view of getting first hand
an expression from some one in Pali-
sade who really knows the facts con-
nected with the whole history of the
village, it's origin, its start, its ideals,
and its restrictions, "The Palisadian"
recently sought out Mr.. William R.
Goodman for this purpose. Mr.. Good
man was one of the earliest settlers,
having come to Palisade in 1905, the
first year of it's existence. He has
always been a steadfast believer in
the restrictions in the deeds to the
property here, wanted them enforced,
and believes now that they are iron
clad He has covered all this in an
interview herewith, also touching
upon in an explanatory way the exact
meaning of the Bluff Road Ordinance,
which some people have insisted upon
calling the selfish expression of pro-
gressive community. Mr.. Goodman
was asked:
"Will you discuss the restrictions
of Palisade from the standpoint of a
home owner and without legal tech
nicality?"
"You mean wherein does the home
owner benefit by the restrictions and
in what respect is he limited?"
Eyes, that is what the people want
to know, especially large number
who have bought houses in Palisade
in the last few years."
"Well, my experience runs over a
period of twenty years, which is q
pretty long time, and speaking from
memory, I might make a few mis-
takes as to dates" He added:
81 lived in Harlem in 1908 and 1904
when 127th street was considered a
good locality, and in the spring of
1865 we came across the Fort Lee
ferry land up the hill to the park,
which was then entirely open without
any amusement features, and was a
nice grassy place with some flowers
and large stretch of woodland run
ming up to Grantwood. At this time
the Hudson River Realty Company
was doing an enormous amount of
work on streets, sewers and grading;
and was building fifty or sixty houses
within the area known as Section /,
north of the trolley line and also
few in the Central Land south of the
trolley line. Booklets were handed
to us and it was explained that the
company in founding Palisade had
established a building scheme which
forever protected the residents in this
whole section against business, ex-
cepting local stores in certain places,
against apartment houses, and would
insure in a general way uniformity
of construction but with varying de-
grees of cost in different locations.
even permitted to build two family
houses as long as they did not exceed
two stories and attic. The improve
ments, therefore, were constructed
for a limited number of inhabitants,
and the streets and sewers were
thought to be sufficient for this pur-
pose. On these attractive arguments
the company sold it's property and
houses at good prices and the buyers
were willing to pay such prices be-
cause they felt they were going to be
protected against the invasion OF
business and multiple dwellings. The
passing of time shows that the prices
paid were high, as the property is
only now acquiring a market value
equal to the prices paid by the first
comers." Continuing Mr.. Goodman
said:
"The residents of Palisade found at
an early date that if they were. to
maintain intact the restrictions which
induced them to come to Palsade and
to pay the high prices, they must
unite for their own protection and
contest vigorously the encroachments
of those who would take advantage
of this attractive location for peg-
sonal benefit. 1t is 1amentable fact
that even some of those who acted as
statesmen and agents in the rounding
of Palisade were willing to lend them
selves to the breaking down OF the
underlying restrictions. On the other
hand, it is to be said that others vital
ly interested in Paisade real estate
and kindred lines have never consent
ed to lend their name and influence
to such nefarious practices and have
suffered temporary loss of business in
consequence.
''For the purpose of protection, citi-
zen associations were early formed,
represented now by the Palisade I'M
provement Association.
ga number of law suits were en-
tered at various times against def
mite violations of restrictions and sew
eral cases were brought to success
full termination. None was lost. Many
thousands of dollars were collected
and spent when the town consisted
of less than 100 voters. During the
course of these suits some were before
Vice. Chancellor GarrisonS later Secre-
tary of War, and later the receiver
for the B. R. T., Brooklyn. Judge
Garrison asked for the exhibit of the
deeds showing very definite restric-
tions. and he asked us to show that