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^A REAL ESTATE
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AND
^> BUILDERS
mim.
NEW YORK, MAY 8, 1915
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WAITING FOR WEST SIDE IMPROVEMENTS
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Mayor Mitchel Expects an Early Solution, But the West
End Association is Skeptical—Plans For Landscaping
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A CCORDING to an announcement
•**â– by Mayor Mitchel the city is about
to conchide preliminary negotiations
with the New York Central Railroad
Company for an agreement concerning
the disposition to be made of the tracks
along the West Side waterfront. The
outstanding features of the new agree¬
ments differ materially from those in the
tentative one arrived at under the
previous negotiations, which were car¬
ried on by a committee of the Board of
Estimate headed by the present Mayor,
and were abruptly terminated when
counsel for the West End Association,
the Citizens Union and the League to
End Death Avenue proved at public
hearings that the Terminal Committee
was under a misapprehension as to the
rights of the railroad company to the
lands occupied by its tracks.
So much of the plan as relates to
tion is skeptical of the consummation of
any plan until the New York Central is
pleased to proceed. There is now no
compulsion in the shape of a time limit
to urge the railroad corporation to hurry
along. The Boylan bill, which was pre¬
pared by the Law Committee of the
West End Association, provided that the
Public Service Commission should pre¬
pare a plan for the necessary changes in
railroad conditions on the West Side.
The West End Association has pro¬
cured most of the legislation by which
Riverside Park has been provided and
protected. This great public service
entitles the association to consideration.
Charles L. Craig said this week that
the Boylan bill was modeled after the
Buffalo Terminals Commission act,
wliich is operating to free the streets of
Buffalo from the traffic of railroads.
The plans when made final were to be
approved by the Board of Estimate.
That the present Commissioner of
Docks and Ferries, Hon. R. A. C. Smith,
is not included among those who would
destroy the beauty of the park is evident
froin an illustrated pamphlet (printed
at private expense) which he has cir¬
culated. It is entitled "In Rebuttal." It
shows by means of the illustrations the
plans which the Commissioner has for
landscaping the lands (hitherto under
water) which are now being: added to
the usable portion of the park. He ex¬
plains the present status of the improve¬
ment and gives assurances of ultimate
satisfaction by the public.
In Rebuttal.
In answer to a criticism that has been
directed against the city authorities be¬
cause of the erection of the disposal
building at the foot of 77th street, North
river, Commissioner Smith says that in
order that the present open dump may
Copyright by Com. R A C. Sniith. Copyright by Com. R A C. Smitb.
Commissioner Smith's plan for a shelter and recreation Plan for the improvement of the new area north of 72d street,
structure at foot of 79tb street. ^« ^ ^'â– ^^r esplanade.
THE NEW RIVERSIDE PARK, WHERE LANDS UNDER WATER WILL BE RECLAIMED AND RAILROAD TRACKS ROOFED OVER.
The bill also repealed the act of 1887 be discontinued, and to save the city
under which the waterfront (twelve ten thousand dollars a year now paid to
streets) between 59th and 72d street, has a private corporation mamtaining an
been obstructed and public access cut open dump, the engmeers of the Dock
ery generally conceded that
Riverside Park provides that the rails
shall either be covered over or a new
road tunneled under the adjacent hill¬
side for the length of the park, down to
59th street or thereabouts; and from
that latitude the tracks are to be on an
elevated structure to 30th street, and
from there southward in a subway.
Changes in Plan.
The former plan (dated March 27,
1913) provided for a four-track subway
from 59th street to 44th street through
private property, and from there for
an elevated structure to 30th street.
Nothing was contained in the former
tentative agreement about tunneling
Riverside Park as an alternative. It
was then planned simply to roof over
the tracks where they run through the
park lands and extend the parking to the
river edge.
Whether the proposition to establish
a freight yard at Manhattanville will be
renewed will not be regularly made
known until the Board of Estimate's
committee, of which Mr. McAneny is
now chairman, makes its report. Inti¬
mations have been given at City Hall
that this will soon be forthcoming, but
since the defeat of the Boylan bill in
the Legislature the West End Associa-
off. It IS ve ^ ,. .
the act of 1887 is unconstitutional. The
bill also repealed the act of 1911 under
which the Board of Estimate is no\y car¬
rying on negotiations with the railroad
company for a proper disposition of its
tracks. Counselor Craig is not sanguine
that a solution of the matter can ever
be had under the act of 1911.
The West End Association has now
appointed a special committee to con¬
fer with the railroad and city authorities
concerning the plans for landscaping
and improving that part of Riverside
Park which lies west of the railroad be¬
tween 72d and 129th streets. The legal
adoption of such plans will, Mr. Craig
says, effectually check the operations of
those who are insistent upon destroying
that part of Riverside Park and substi¬
tuting railroad yards. The law _ com¬
mittee of the association has just issued
an elaborate report upon the whole mat¬
ter. It is contained in an illustrated
pamphlet of 90 pages and evinces the
years of careful attention which the as¬
sociation has given to protecting the
most enjoyable park the city possesses.
Department worked out a form of ar¬
tistic structure suitable for refuse dis¬
posal so long as it may be needed for
the purpose and then convertible into a
shelter.
On completion of the changes south
of 72d street (to provide a proper dis¬
posal section at or in the neighborhood
of 68th street) the building will be va¬
cated by the Street Cleaning Departmeiit
and put to the uses for which it is ulti¬
mately intended.
"Mothers and children will then find
shelter from the summer sun and enjoy
the breezes and the river view just as
well as those who enjoy them from the
Columbia Yacht Club property," says the
Commissioner.
Commissioner Smith's resignation
from the West End Association was an¬
nounced this week.
The port of New York has 445 miles of
direct waterfront. Boston, Baltimore.
Philadelphia, and New Orleans have less
than 100 miles.
The port of New York has 343 rniles
of wharfage, more than London, Liver¬
pool and Hamburg combined.