Page:Olmsted report on Portland, Oregon parks, 1903.djvu/38

This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.

50

REPORT OF THE PARK BOARD

MOUNT TABOR BOULEVARD.

A far more valuable boulevard, and one which would unquestionably become immediately profitable both to the city and to the adjoining land owners, would be from the center of Ladd's Addition to Mount Tabor. Much of the land along this route is at present unsubdivided, and even where a few subdivisions of small extent have been adopted and some lots sold, it would not be at all a costly matter to get this boulevard through. If the owners of the greater part of the land through which this boulevard would be carried do not think that the time has arrived for its opening, implying as it would a rise in value of the lands adjoining, with increased taxes, it nevertheless would be wise for them to unite in dedicating the necessary land to the parkway, so that at any time in the future that it might be thought desirable and profitable, its construction could be undertaken. Unless the land is thus assigned to the purpose now, it will become increasingly difficult to get any such boulevard through. At no other point would it be so easy to bring a broad, handsome boulevard so near to the center of the city. Its width undoubtedly ought to be 200 feet, if the highest value to the adjoining land and to the city and public at large is to be considered, and it certainly ought to start at the circle in the middle of Ladd's Addition, since this would form at the cityward end a dignified and attractive terminus. If practicable, Ladd avenue and Elliott avenue ought to be somewhat wider from the circle to East Twelfth street. Ladd avenue is already a great deal used by heavy traffic, as it is an extremely convenient diagonal line, which ought to be extended in a northwesterly direction through Hawthorne Park to, or as near as possible to Morrison street. Elliott avenue also ought, if practicable, to be extended to a connection with the proposed river bluff parkway, crossing the Southern Pacific railway by a bridge.

NORTH EASTERN BOULEVARD.

Another desirable boulevard, in case the suggestion of a great park at Columbia Sloughs is carried out, would be from Mount Tabor to Sandy road at the point where it rises steeply over the low bluff which bounds the city topographically on the northeast about half way between the Willamette River and Columbia Sloughs. It should then follow the top of this bluff, becoming for a mile or two an informal parkway—that is, on curving lines to fit the top of the bluff, and broad enough as to landtaking to include the slope so that the views may be permanently kept open wherever desired. After leaving the bluff this boulevard may be continued northward on a straight line to Columbia Sloughs Park. The number of land subdivisions and houses,