Columbia University Libraries Digital Collections: The Real Estate Record

Real estate record and builders' guide: [v. 90, no. 2327]: October 19, 1912

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OCTOBER 19, 1912 BROOKLYN'S SHORE ROAD HAS GREAT FUTURE Is Being Made One of the World's Fine Waterfront Streets and the Federal Government cApproves Extension Past Fort Hamilton. COMPARATIVELY few people in the greater city, including those in Brooklyn, realize the great improve¬ ment the City of New York is making, through its Department of Parks, in the Ridge Boulevard, Brooklyn, which is more familiarly known as the Shore Road. Skirting New York harbor along the high ridge from 6Sth street to 100th street, the Shore Road, with its rises and declivities, is probably the most pic¬ turesque thoroughfare in the greater city. From it magnificent views of the lower bay are obtained, and the shore front below the road is unlittered with railroad tracks, piers and whatnot. The city has acquired the entire shore front in its primeval state during the last it having closed it at the outbreak of the Spanish-American War as a matter of military precaution. Col. John B. White, commandant at Fort Hamilton, has recommended that the government allow the city to re¬ claim an area in front of the fort at the water's edge and make it a part of the Shore Road improvement; and the government has approved the rec¬ ommendation. This will allow a prom¬ enade beneath the guns of the fort. Per¬ taining to a blue print submitted with his recommendation. Col. White says: "By reference to the inclosed blue¬ print, it will be seen that it would not be practicable to reopen the extension of the Shore Road, that formerly passed ably be necessary on those days during the open season on which sub-calibre practice is held at Fort Hamilton." As proposed by Col. White, the Shore Road will be connected with Dyker Beach Park—owned by the city—and with Cropsey avenue, thus making a grand driveway from 67th street and the Shore Road through Bay Ridge, Bath Beach and Bensonhurst. Facing on Gravesend Bay, Dyker Beach Park adjoins the Fort Hamilton military res¬ ervation, extends to Bay Sth street, and as far inland as 92d street. At present only a single street leads to the park from the Fort Hamilton side of it. The government reservation is a great obstacle to easy access between Bath WORK ON SHORE ROAD IMl-KOVBMBNT AT TTTH STRBBT. SHORE ROAD AT 82D STREET. ten years, and will preserve it for park and recreation purposes. It has already joined the Shore Road to Fort Hamil¬ ton Parkway through 67th street, and has made a public park on either side of this street. The great improvement of the Shore Road, however, is now in process of completion. Following the shore line from 66th street to 92d street, the city has built a sea wall and is putting be¬ tween it and the wall an earth fill of 40 feet. On this extension below the ridge will be built a grand concrete promenade similar in appearance to the sea wall at the Battery. Driveways will lead from the Shore Road proper, ev¬ ery few hundred feet, to the promenade; and the entire improvement will make the Shore Road one of the finest streets in the world. An appropriation of $1,- 500,000 was made for this work, but it will undoubtedly require further appro¬ priations before it can be completed. In addition, the Federal government re¬ cently agreed to open the Shore Road in front of Fort Hamilton for public use, through the reservation, because of the location of certain seacoast batteries constructed since this extension was closed; nor would it be advisable to open any other extension of the Shore Road through the reservation on the same level with that road, as such ex¬ tension would necessarily have to run between some of the batteries and at the foot of the superior slope of others. "The city is now building a roadway along the waterfront north of the post by constructing a wall to the seaward of an approximated parallel to the shore line and filling in between the two. "I understand that this roadway is to connect with Fort Hamilton avenue at the reservation line. I see no objection to the continuation of the roadway along the front of the batteries, provided a suitable fence be erected to assist in keeping out all trespassers, and that it is understood that such continuation of the road would be closed by the gov¬ ernment should military reasons require it. The closing of this road would prob- Beach and the Fort Hamilton section of Brooklyn; and citizens of both parts of the borough are seeking to have streets opened and extended through the reservation on the ground that, as it is, the reservation is a barrier to easy communication. It remains to be seen whether the government will agree to this invasion of its property for munici¬ pal purposes. It is pointed out that numerous streets penetrate the Brook¬ lyn Navy Yard and connect with city streets, the government merely main¬ taining gates to close them when neces¬ sary. The 4th Avenue Subway is about to be extended to 89th street, and the fact presages a dense population in the Fort Hamilton section. The Board of Estimate has the power to provide the funds for improving the Shore Drive, in front of the fort. In¬ asmuch as this particular part is owned by the United States, no revenue bonds for it may be issued. Borough Presi¬ dent Steers will include in the coming budget a sum sufficient to make the improvement. City engineers have in-