BRONX BOROUGH'S GREAT HIGHWAY

The New York Times
November 26, 1922

Park Commissioner Hennessy Tells Past, Present and Future of the Grand Concourse.

"The past, the present and the future of the Grand Concourse in the Borough of the Bronx," where millions of dollars have been spent during the past year in the erection of apartment houses, was the subject of an address delivered by Park Commissioner Joseph P. Hennessy at a special luncheon given by the Bronx Board of Trade Thursday at the Hotel Commodore.

In the course of his remarks Commissioner Hennessy gave credit to Louis A. Risse, as the man who conceived and planned a beautiful thoroughfare that bids fair to rival Rivierside Drive. "The history of the Grand Conclurse," said Commissioner Hennessy, "antedated by many years the erection of the old Twenty-third and Twenty-fourth Wards into the Borough of the Bronx. In those days the section north of the Harlem River was under the supervision of the Park Department. Finally, agitation against the Park Department became so pronounced that a committee of citizens was formed for the purpose of drawing up a bill to create the Department of Street Improvements of the Twenty-third and Twenty-fourth Wards.

"After a number of setbacks this bill was finally approved and became a law. Subsequently, Louis J. Heintz was elected the first Commissioner of Street Improvements of the Twenty-third and Twenty-fourth Wards. Mr. Heintz took office on the first day of January, 1891.

"The new commissioner appointed Louis A. Risse his Chief Engineer. Mr. Heintz's attention was called to the fact that the law directed the new department to create an adequate street system for the Twenty-third and Twenty-fourth Wards, and that the work was to be completed not later than 1895."

About the time Mr. Heintz took office the agitation for a Speedway along the west side of Central Park was at its height. The Rider and Driver Club was behind the scheme. Hugh G. Grant was then Mayor of New York City. Adverse criticism by the public press and the determined opposition of the people against the project doomed it to complete failure.

John C. de la Vergne, then President of the Rider and Driver Club, called on Commissioner Heintz for the express purpose of laying before him the proposition of converting Jerome Avenue into a Speedway.

Engineer Risse was called upon and explained his conception of a plan for combining the missing Parkway link with the desired speedway, and for eliminating grade crossings at the Speedway by so constructing the streets that intersected with it as to have them pass under it. At once Mr. de la Vergne became warmly interested in the proposition. In an interview with Commissioner Heintz he declared himself heartily in accord with the project and straightway pledged himself to give it ardent support.

Some time later, at a private meeting Mr. Risse was directed to embody his ideas in a set of plans and sketches, notwithstanding the fact that no city funds were available for defraying costs of printing the same for distribution. It was then agreed that the Rider and Driver Club would undertake to raise a fund of $5,000 for the purpose. John C. de la Vergne subscribed $1,000. Before long the entire fund was raised and accordingly the work of preparing a plan was carried to completion. These original plans called for twenty-three transverse roads.

Commissioner Heintz submitted the plans for the Grand Boulevard and Concourse to the people of the Twenty-third and Twenty-fourth Wards at different public meetings, notably the one held on Jan. 31, 1893, when the most prominent residents of the two wards appeared, and in the most enthusiastic speeches gave their endorsements and approval of the scheme.

These plans were also submitted to the public authorities, who approved of them as a great public improvement, and to the public press, which commented on them generally and very favorably.

On April 1, 1893, after the death of Commissioner Heintz the completed maps and plans were transmitted to H. J. Ronner, Deputy and Acting Commissioner of Street Improvements.

Chapter 130, Laws 1895, amended by Chapter 89, Laws 1896, provided for laying out on present lines with not more than fifteen transverse roads and for the method of acquisition. Width of Concourse to be not wider than 182 feet, transverse roads not wider than 115 feet or longer than 800 feet on each side of Concourse; 25 per cent. of cost was assessed on property benefited and 75 per cent. on city.

The cost of title proceedings was $2,428,382.02. Chapter 57, Laws of 1896, amended by Chapter 679, Laws 1897, provided for an approach and entrance to the Concourse.

Chapter 522, Laws of 1895, provided for an extension of approach from East 158th to East 164th Streets.

The total cost of title proceedings for the approach and entrance and the extension of approach from East 158th to East 164th Streets was $1,057,334.95.

The project was finally approved by the Board of Estimate and Apportionment, January 8, 1902.

Ground broken by President Haffen, Oct. 2, 1902, the construction contract being $1,001,322.50.

Ground broken at stake beginning the east end of north abutment of arch of bridge erected at junction of Morris Avenue and Concourse.

The cost of construction was:

Regulating, grading, &c., from 161st Street to Mosholu Parkway (under Borough Presidents Haffen and Murray)...$1,049,609.88

Transverse roads in connection with Concourse under Borough Presidents Haffen, Murray, Miller and Mathewson)..........................1,556,418.89

Paving and improvement Central Drive (under Borough President Buckner).........491,208.32

Total cost of construction up to date...................$3,097,237.09

Tree planting by Park Department (Commissioner Higgins—under Borough President Miller.......................38,208.15

Memorial tree guards by Park Department (Commissioner Hennessey—under Borough President Bruckner).........11,936.10

Cost title proceedings...........3,485,716.97

Total cost up to date........$6,633,118.31

Total valuation of land and property facing on the Grand Concourse....................$20,295,625.00