REPORT OF COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE 227 



To insure the permanency of the character of districts when once estab- 

 lished, and, 



Finally, to make the City a more orderly and convenient place in which 

 to live and do business. 



The Committee realizes the magnitude and difficulty of the task im- 

 posed upon the Commission and is impressed by the results which have been 

 accomplished by it within the time which has elapsed since it was created, 

 by the thoroughness of its investigation of existing conditions and by its 

 obvious efforts to avoid anything which would seriously affect present values. 

 It has not attempted to correct the mistakes of the past, but to avoid the 

 repetition of similar mistakes in the future, so that its efforts have been 

 wholly constructive. 



In some cases it has seemed to us that the restrictions could well have 

 gone further, but in few, if any, cases does it appear to us that they have 

 gone too far. The following instances are typical of those we have in mind : 



Along the easterly side of the unused part of Jerome Park Reservoir, 

 in the Borough of The Bronx, Jerome Avenue is unrestricted between Bed- 

 ford Park Boulevard and Van Cortlandt Avenue, and restricted to business 

 north of Van Cortlandt Avenue to its junction with Bainbridge Avenue, 

 while Mosholu Parkway South, forming the northeasterly boundary of the 

 reservoir, is restricted to residences. This seems to be an entirely reason- 

 able plan, but we understand that it is proposed to establish a railroad ter- 

 minal yard in connction with the Jerome Avenue elevated line on the north- 

 erly portion of this unused easterly basin of the reservoir, so that the re- 

 striction against anything but residences along Mosholu Parkway South 

 could well be limited to a depth of 100 feet in order that such a railroad 

 terminal might be established on this unused property. 



The Park Department has urged greater restrictions about Hudson Park, 

 in the Borough of Manhattan. The report of the Commission contemplates 

 a restriction to residences on the northerly and southerly boundaries of the 

 park, but leaves the easterly and westerly boundaries, which are Hudson 

 Street and the new Seventh Avenue extension, unrestricted. We understand 

 that the character of the two streets last named has been so firmly established 

 that a restriction to business only would be of little avail, in view of the 

 fact that it is not planned to interfere with the uses which now exist. 



Along the northerly side of Bay Ridge Parkway, in the Borough of 

 Brooklyn, the four blocks between 5th and 9th Avenues are entirely un- 

 restricted, the reason for this, as explained by the Consultant and Secretary 

 of the Committee on the City Plan, being that a gas receiver is already 

 located on the most easterly of these blocks and the three others are so near 

 the New York Connecting Railroad that they would be within the influence 

 of the industrial development which will take place along the line of this 

 road. The majority of the committee feel that the streets bounding this 

 parkway, which is the main approach to the Shore Road, should be re- 

 served for residential use, a use which has always been contemplated in the 

 establishment of parks and parkways. Another instance in this same bor- 

 ough where it appears that the restrictions might have gone further is that 

 of Parkside Avenue, between Flatbush and Ocean Avenues, and East 21st 

 Street, extending from Parkside Avenue northwardly. These are both indi- 

 cated as business streets, and, while they are near a station of the Brighton 

 Beach Railroad, which mig-ht be expected to attract a small amount of 

 business, they are so near Flatbush Avenue, the main business street of this 

 section, that they could well be restricted to residences, as this neighborhood 

 promises to be almost entirely built up with apartment houses. 



