Mr. Morgan's Residence

When the Morgan residence at Madison Ave. and 36th St., Manhattan, was built, the neighboring Murray Hill district was purely residential. Gradually the tide of shops and offices from downtown began to climb the hill. Mr. Morgan, however, liked his home and saw no reason why he should abandon it to the builders of business blocks. Backed by the Murray Hill Association consisting of other residents of the district, he strove to have business building on that part of Madison Ave. restricted. In this he was mainly successful, and a "residential zone" was created bounded by Madison Ave., 35th St., Lexington Ave. and 38th St.

This arrangement was not at all pleasing to the Astor group which had planned to build office and other business buildings right up Madison Ave. Thus the Astor's century-old instinct for profitable realty development collided with Mr. Morgan's fondness for his old-fashioned home and his determination not to live at the bottom of a lofty canyon inhabited by sales-managers, advertising-agents, and other insensitive neighbors. For the past ten years the two parties have fenced and litigated incessantly over the question.

The latest advantage has been won by the Astors, who have just succeeded in changing the status of the west side of Madison Ave. between 35th and 38th Streets from "residential" to "business." Thus Mr. Morgan may some day behold from his windows a series of lofty office buildings rising across the street. But this will probably not happen until considerable litigation has taken place.