Evening star., 1930-06-21
S25D,ODO,O()D COST
OF NEW BUILDING
New York Entertainment Gen.
ter viii Cover Area of
Three Blocks Square.
Special Dispatch to The star.


NEW YORK, N. Y, June Ala
project Of building and architectural
development that will transform q busi-
ness and residential area three blocks
square in the heart of New York, into
a great institutional center devoted 10
the entertainment and cultural arts en-
compaSsed by radio progress in the
fields of sound and vision, is an
nounced on behalf Of the John D.
Rockefeller, jr, interests by John r.
Todd, of the Todd, Robertson & Todd
Engineering Corporation, and Of Todd
& Brown.
Except for one of two structures, the
area from Forty-eighth TO Fifty-first
streets fronting Fifth avenue, and from
Fifth avenue TO a similar frontage of
three blocks on Sixth avenue, will be
ievelled. and building operations will
be begun this Fall. in a project designed
to establish great nerve center for the
creation and distribution of dramatic
musical and educational events upon a
huge scale. The development which
will involve a total investment, esti-
mated by building authorities to be
over $250,o00,00e, will be financed by
the Rockefeller interests. 1t is to be
completed by the Fall Of 1888.
1o DC HS1EC0s
Within a few months, according to
the plans now announced, acres of
brownstone houses reminiscent OF the
former social glory of that part Of Fifth
avenue, structures that housed stores,
restaurants and shops, and office build
tngs, will be plucked from their roots
to make way for a new metropolis Of
the entertainment and cultural arts.
On the site will arise complete archn-
tectural unit that will include four
great theaters, devoted respectively TO
a new conception Of variety entertain
ment, to Sound-motion pictures. to mu-
sical comedy presentation, and to dra-
matte productions.
A great symphony hall that would
complete the picture of the musical
arts is also under consideration. Twen-
ty-seven broadcaSting studios, some OF
which would be three stories IN height,
will be built to accommodate the re-
ouirementS of music, entertainment,
education and information that would
be radiated from this center. New Of
fee buildings in architectural harmony
with the rest of the development will
be built to house the various industries
and services associated with the '1evel-
opment of the electrical communication
and entertainment arts.
Fronting Fifth avenue and forming
the central structure on that side CT
the development will be an oval build
ing Of moderate height" the state
ment declares. "On the first floor will
be located many fine shops. The sec
ond floor will be occupied by q large
banking institution, and on the roof
restaurant will be built, with an out
door promenade running around the
entire building. This oval building Will
extend to a garden plaza that will be
cut through the development and will
run parallel with Fifth avenue, from
Forty-eighth to Fifty-first streets. No
efforts will be spared to make the plaza,
the width of which will be almost as
great as the length of the average city
block. the most impressive boulevard OF
its kind. Fountains, statuary and gar
sen plots will intersperse the whole ex-
tAnt Of the plaza.
so Story Building To Rise.
"Over the entire development will
tower q great go story offlce building in
which ~ broadcasting studios will be
F5cated, extending from the west side
of the plaza through to Sixth avenue.
From this central ofice building q
grand corridor, about three stories in
height, will run to the other oft1ce
buildings from Fifth to Sixth avenue.
1.-THE streets surrounding the new de-
velopment will be widened, it is an
nounced by Mr.. Todd Ito give the new
structures fronting them more light
and air, to provide better curb facilt-
ties for shops and buildings and to add
to the beauty Of the whole architcc-
tural unit.
Transportation arteries from every
direction will lead to and from this new
radio city, but the traffic problem will
be reduced to a minimum by huge un-
derground bus terminals and by sub
terannean parking arrangements that
will take care of many thousands of
cars and form underground boulevards
for automobile traffic.