Year: 1868

ncnt Of tho Surface Of Seventh Avenue and


Its PIan-Tho East Side Drive Along the


Hsishts-Infended Trcatmcnt Of tho Fort


Washington Tract-Works In Hand Within


she Park.


The substantial completion OF the plan OF the
western tract by the Central Park Commission, as
adopted at the meeting Of the Board November 25
1867, and the probabilities OF the immediate develop
ment Of the city in this direction diverted the
eyes Of real estate spectators to this tract likely
TO increase more rapidly in value than any other
tract within the limits Of the metropolis, is obvious
from the annals OF real estate transfers for the past
three weeks. 1t but last week that the proceeds
OF single days sales of uptown lots by single
firm amounted to over million and quarter dollars,
the number OF lots sold being two hundred and forty
six. The location Of these lots was on Fiy-seventh
Fifty-eghth and Fify-ninth streets, between Sixth
and Seventh avenues, and on Sixty-seventh, Sixty
eighth and Sixty-ninth streets, between Tenth and
Eleventh avenues or along the line Of the new Boule
ward One corner lot brought the large OF S3600o
and several others went at an enormous advance
on previous prices. These ana like transactions in
real estate exhibit in its true light the effect OF the
recent efforts OF the Central Park Commission to de-
velop the upper tract on the west and make room
for the city in this direction Boulevard lots next
to lots bordering the Central Park are in first de-
mand though holders seem not 10 be disposed at
present put their tracts in the market apprehen-
sve OF course, ana justly so, of an unprecedented
rise in values within shor, time. Holders Of lots
on adjacent are, however less rctcent in this
respect, and sell freely, though not without liberal
advance in prices as transactions Sxty-seyenth,
Sixty-eighth Sixty-ninth and 1o6th streets abun-
dainty prove. Within three weeks the transfers
along the western tract, mostly between the new
Boulevard and the boundary OF the Park have
amounted to nearly one and a half million Of dollars,
principally along the streets above mentioned; and
within the next three weeks still heavier aggregate
or sales may be justly anticipated. In view Of these
facts therefore, there is no topic Of greater interest
TO the public than the matter-offact discussion OF
the present condition of this tract and what is likely
to be done on it within the present year.


SIXTH AVENUE, ABOVE THE PARK,


IL the only thoroughfare at present under treatment
the suggested treatment of this avenue by the CON-
mission having been already confirmed by the Su-
preme Court for the sanction Of which other features
OF the plan OF November Is are still waiting. The
Commissioners Of Assessment were appointed on
this avenue August 5, 1865 and proceeded with their
work, though rather aziy, completing It, however,
posed along the line OF this thoroughfare last week
upon receipt Of the decree OF confirmation by the
court, and the work will be got well under way In
the course OF the present summer. The line of
Sixth avenue is direct and unornamental, and
forms above the Park simply business continuation
OF the thoroughfare below. One new avenue rum
ming westward In diagonal direction connects 1t
with the grounds OF the Convent OF the Sacred Heart
while Manhattan street connects IL In the drec-
tion with the new Boulevard on Eleventh avenue
This avenue has been widened from the Park north
ward, and, though no designs have been submitted
for its ornamentation will without doubt constitute
business thorOughfare OF some importance bearing
probably about the same relation to Broadway at the
Boulevard above the Park that its ancestor, Sixth
avenue below, bears to Broadway from Bleecker |
street to Fiftyninth street In short, 1t will natu
midway between the arisocratic Fifth and the orna-
mented Seventh avenue. Its grades are generally |
easy the line OF the avenue falling into the Harlem
river, rather cutting the exterior street the |
Harlem Shore near 14oth street. The grade of
when the duty Of developing it fell into the hands |
OF the Commission, had been already fixed as high |
as l35th street, beyond which no grade had been |
posed alteration OF the grade far north as this line
and OF proposed fixing Of the grade to Harlem
trail bridge l55th street. at which point 1t also
effects junction with Maeomb's lane. The assent
Of the requisite twothrds majority having been OBJ
tained, notice was given TO occupants along the ave-
to remove their fences and plantations from the
ground of the avenue. The grade as indicated by
the natural level of the avenue, which, it was
thought, would best subserve the purposes OF bnsi
mile in length with depth Of from one to forty feet
through the Harlem bluffs to the line OF the exterior
street This grade necesstates the expense ofrcmov-
ing 1876 900 cubic yards OF excavation which
will be solid rock and only Iii, 900 Will be earthly ma
terla or soil. The higher grade, on the other hand,
would have involved $4,000 cubic yards less of rock
excavation. As the law stood then and stands now



contract the lowest bidder-a mode OF doing work
which often leads 10 great Inconvenience and delay
contractors, unless guarded by written stipuation
and even then, are capable OF making no little
trouble. 1t has been suggested, In fact, that the
Central Park Board should be invested with more
arbitrary powers In the developing OF these streets
and should not only be at liberty TO reject any bid OF
unreliable persons, but as well at liberty to perform
the work partly by contract and partly by day labor
under their own especial supervision. The width OF |
This avenue was established by law, when the for
nei grading was hXed ut one hundred ana nlty rect
leaving The Board discretion In the matter. and the
ordinances OF the Corporation aot twenty-five feet
only TO purposes OF sidewalk.
On Fiitn avenue, the conrtyards, steps, stoops. |
areas ratings and the like occupy thirty feet OF the
whole width lone hundredl and consequently, |
public way Of one hundred feet has really been re-
duced to seventy feet only available for purposes OF
travel IL other distractions, as p-posts hy-
width OF this avenue really available for travel or
carriages ~ really only sixty-fve feet, which gives
altogether too large an allowance for private struc
tures: though on Fifth avenue 1t being really
fashionable thoroughare, this taking Of public land
for private Uses niay be permissible for purposes OF


In improving Seventh avenue the Board have
deemed It best TO embrace an opportunity for the
reformation of this rather Objectionable practice.
Assuming the power to be invested In the Board,
II has been deemed best TO preserve the legal |
figures Of the whole width ior n,. public .ts use,
viii undoubtedly meet with opposition from |
property owners As a justification Of the practice,
on the other hand IL Is urged that II owners are
permitted to place their soops, steps, areas and rail-
ings within the line OF the street uniform width OF
THESE appenuaRts IL ~ wen as
line OF house fronts the exact legal line OF the
street. and that IL owners are compelled 10 build !
their steps, &C., within the limits OF their own lots
the diversity OF these appurtenances in width goy
emed altogether by personal whim) would create an
irregular and tasteess line OF house fronts. As
these appendages not built very high the light
and air OF the street are IL s alleged not interfered
with, though this is not the with the width ~
the street way. No law exists, however, 20 compel
any one to build exactly on the street line. and the
owner may, II he DESIRES set back his edince az any
distance. Custom, appearance and the desire 10
make the most Of the given lot generally induce the
occupancy OF the lot TO this line and " would be
AZ these appendages were not permitted to pass he.
yond the street line THIS objection on the part OF
owners IL therefore Of little validity, and may be dis
missed without further comment.


second objection on the part of property owners
js, however, OF greater importance and merits con.
sderation IN Is urged that II owners of lots on the
avenue are permitted to use reasonable portion of
IL for courtyards, kept In excellent order and EN-
beished with flowers and statuary, this is really
a.. atm fNn