Columbia University Libraries Digital Collections: The Real Estate Record

Real estate record and builders' guide: v. 71, no. 1837: May 30, 1903

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JNIay 30, 1903. RECORD AND GUIDE 1079 ments will cost only about eight thousand dollars, but it will benefit property worth sixteen millions. Comptroller Grout is preparing for a tax sale in all of the five boroughs of Greater New Tork, at which property will be sold for arrears of taxes. It will be the biggest sale in the his¬ tory of the city. The total of the assessments outsanding in the flve boroughs is $41,493,898.27. To this sum will be added the ■ arrears for 1902 and the arrears for water taxes for the year 1901, a statement of which has yet to be made up. The old Mapes estate in the Chester district of the Bronx is developing rapidly, being now well built up. Over a mile more of new sewers have just been authorized for this locality, to extend through Adams pl, between Columbus and Rosedale avs; Rosedale av, from the N. T., N. H. & H. Railroad to Tremont av; West Farms rd, Rosedale av to Clason Point rd; Common¬ wealth av, West Farms rd to Merrill st; St. Lawrence av, West Farms rd to Mansion st; Mansion st, Rosedale av to Clason Point rd; Merrill st, Rosedale av to St. Lawrence av. The Board of Estimate bas determined that half the cost of opening and extending 3d av, Brooklyn, from GOth st to the Shore road shall be borne by the city. The total estimated cost Is about $171,000, of which $127,000 was for land. The pro¬ ceedings Involved the taking of about three hundred parcels, including small portions of several buildings. The city will also stand 50 per cent, of the cost of opening and extending West 230th st, from Riverdale av to Broaclway. Borougli of the Bronx, in addition to the sum already assessed against the city for acquiring certain buildings along the line ot the improvement. The local necessity for widening 59th st Is said to be caused principally by the narrow roadbed, which in some places is only 28 ft. 6 ins. from curb to curb; 14 ft. 3 ins. is taken up In the center of this by the car tracks, leaving 7 ft. 3 Ins. on each side for wagons or trucks to pass. The street cars must stop directly when a truck or wider wagon halts to deliver goods or for any other reason. Mr. A. WIggers, of 209 East 59th st, thinks this trouble can be remedied by taking 2 or 3 ft. from each of the sidewallts, as where the space for wagons and trucks on each side of the car tracks is 8 or 9 ft. wide, the street railroad cars can pass every truck or wagon standing there. The plans for the Blackwell's Island Bridge, approved by the Board of Public Improvements and by* the Board of Aldermen, provided for taking a strip of 160 ft. in width between the East River and Academy st. Queens, at Its intersection with Hunter av, except that the width acquired at the anchorage pier and the pier at the easterly side of the river was somewhat greater. It is now recommended by the Commissioner of Bridges that the width of tills strip be increased to 300 ft. by the addition of 70 ft. on each side. This addition is asked for on the ground that It would be most unfortunate to have the land immediately adjacent to the bridge occupied by structures which would shut it In and increase the risk of damage to the bridge in case of fire. Chief Engineer Lewis, of the Board of Estimate, has made a favorable report. The cost of the additional land is estimated at $67,000. Building Operations. The remarkable interruption of business In building trades has many phases, one of which is observable in the offices of archi¬ tects, where work has in many places come to an end through owners putting off contemplated operations. In a number of cases proceedings were stopped after plans had been filed. Few are giving or receiving estimates for construction, not caring to take chanecs witb tbe future. Marblenrorli in the Hall of Records. CHAMBERS ST.-The contract for putting in marble walls and ceilings in the new Hall of Records has been let by the Board of Estimate and Apportionment to John Pierce for $225,000. Thomas Dwyer, who is doing similar work In Brooklyn HaU of Records, was one of the bidders. For West W^ashington Place. Horenburger & Straub, of 122 Bowery, are making plans for a 6-sty apartment house to be situated at 82-86 West Washington place, with dimensions of 65.8x84. In every apartment there will be rooms larger than usual, trimmed in hardwood, columnar style. The halls will be very wide, and wainscotted in marble. For each floor two 7-room apartments and two 5-room apart¬ ments are laid out. The facade will have a bay, and be laid up in red brick and limestone. Samuel Mandel, 233 Henry st, is the owner, and the reported cost is $75,000. The Vanderbilt Porte-Co chere. 5TH AV., n. w. cor. SIST ST.—President Cantor has ordered the removal of the porte-cochere, now in course of construction at the George W. Vanderbilt house, 640 Sth av, northwest corner of 51st St. The builders and Mr. Vanderbilt's counsel objected to this decree on the ground that the plans of Hunt & Hunt for ex¬ tensive alterations to the premises, including the addition of tht porte-cochfere, had been approved by the Building Department. However, President Cantor declares the porte-cochere is'a vio¬ lation of the building ordinances and must come down. The matter Is now before the Bureau of Incumbrances. New Pelota Court. 110th ST.—V. Hugo Koehler, architect, 11 Broadway, has completed the plans for a pelota court building to be built on the north side of llOth st, 20O ft west of 7th av, a plot 250x171.10. The new structure will be devoted to the Spanish game of ball. It will be 70 ft high, contain two galleries and have a seating capacity of 7,000. It is to be of brick, skeleton steel framework and thoroughly fireproof. The following build¬ ers have been asked to submit estimates: Thompson-Starrett Co., Geo. A. Puller Co., Remington Construction Co., Wells Bros. Co., and John McKeefrey. Antonio Andujar. 13S Front st, is the owner. The cost will probably exceed $350,000. For plans filed see pages 1098 and X. Lexington Av. Churcli. LEXINGTON AV.-John G. Michel and P. Brandner, 49 Liherty st, the successful competitors for the new St. Peter's German Evangelical Lutheran Church, will have plans and specifications ready for estimates about June S. The edifice will be on the southeast corner of Lexington av and 5ith st. It will be 56x80 ft, Gothic style, with exterior walls of limestone. Tbe basement will be ■'ub-dlvlded by rolling partitions for Sunday school use. The main,auditorium will be S ft. above street level and have a seating capacity of 650, including the g^allery. There will be a steel skeleton frame supporting the walls of clerestory and transept. A corner tower of stone will rise to a height of 95 ft. and from there an octagonal shaped steel skeleton spire will extend to a height of 140 ft. above grade level. Tbe interior woodwork will be of quartered oak and gas and electric fixtures of bronze. The cost will amount to over $90,000. Seminary for the R. C. Diocese of Long Island. The Right Rev. Bishop Charles B. McDonnell, of the R. C, Dio¬ cese of Long Island, last week finally acquired legal possession of the Conklin estate, consisting of eleven hundred acres in the ■'Half Way Hollow Hills" district in the townships of Babylon and Huntington L. I, The Bishop will now carry out his long cherished plans for establishing several colleges and seminaries throughout his diocese. The Conklin estate, in size and natural beauty, is wefl adapted to this purpose. A large portion of the property is still unimproved, but many miles of fine and in¬ teresting drives may be laid out with but little work. Bishop McDonnell intends to establish the diocesan seminary here, and it will be on the general plan of Dinwoddie. No architect has as yet been selected, though it is hoped to begin work in the near future. One feature of special Interest during the Bishop's recent silver jubilee was the presentation to him of a purse con¬ taining $100,000 with whicb to erect the new seminary. To this amount will be added $200,000, making the total cost of the building and equipment $300,000. Erie Railroad's Improvements. Many reports have been seen regarding the Erie Railroad's im¬ provements at West and Chambers sts. Inquiry seems to prove that these are either premature or exaggerated. The company has in preparation plans for an office building to be located on this site, and for a bridge across West st connecting it with a new ferry house. This bridge plan has been approved by the Local Board of Improvements, and will come before the Board of Estimate and Apportionment in the near future. The plans for the office building are still immature, the company not as yet having acquired the site. We are informed that in the architec¬ tural and engineering departments of the company the work is still In an undetermined state. Doubtless, if the scheme Is car¬ ried through it will relieve conditions at the foot of Chambers st. Plans are now being prepared for a new ferry-bouse fo tak«