Case ID: barb_57/html/0411-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Ingraham, J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

In the matter of Henry J. Anderson.
    Where an ordinance directs an avenue to be curbed and guttered, and sidewalks flagged, without requiring that new flagging shall be used, it is not a ground for setting aside the assessment, that the contractor, under the direction of the street commissioner, finding good flagging on a part of the line, resets it, only charging the expense of the labor,
    Neither is it a ground for setting aside the assessment that the lots are charged for the work done opposite each lot, while the expenses are charged on all the property, per foot, equally. That is a matter within the discretion of the assessors, who are to make the assessment according to the amount of benefit „ each lot receives from the improvement.
    Nor is the fact that more than one lot, owned by the same person, is included in one assessment, instead of being separately assessed, any ground for^ vacating the assessment.
    Although it would be better to assess each lot by itself, yet when the same person owns the whole, no injury can be sustained by putting them together.
    THIS was art application, made by Henry J. Anderson, under the “Act in relation to frauds in assessments for local improvements, in the city of Hew York,” passed April 17, 1858, (Laws of 1858, ch. 338,) to vacate an assessment for flagging sidewalks in the First avenue, in the city of Hew York.
    The following grounds of objection to the assessment were specified in the petition.
    . 1. That under an ordinance directing the sidewalk to be flagged, and curbstone to be set, a charge was made for relaying old flagging and resetting curbstones.
    2. That the assessments were not apportioned according to the benefit derived by each lot, but that each lot was charged with the cost of the work done in front thereof, and the incidental expenses for surveying, advertising, &c., were charged upon each parcel in proportion .to the frontage thereof.
    3. That the several lots mentioned in the petition were not separately assessed, but were assessed in one parcel.
    
      B. B. Anderson, for the petitioner.
    
      B. J. Bean, for the corporation of Yew York.
   Ingraham, J.

It is objected to this assessment, that part of the old flagging was relaid, and the old curb reset, and the expense included.

The ordinance directed the avenue to be curbed and guttered, and sidewalks flagged. It does not direct that new flagging shall be used ; and if the contractor, under the direction of the street commissioner, finds good flagging on a part of the line and resets it, only charging the expense of the labor, the petitioner has no cause to complain. The ordinance is not violated; it does not appear that he has been injured, and there is clearly no fraud shown; but, on the contrary, a piece of honesty in fulfilling the contract, which is to be commended rather than condemned. It is neither fraud nor legal irregularity in laying the assessment that warrants setting it aside.

The second objection is that the lots are charged for the work done opposite each lot, while the expenses are charged on all the property per foot, equally.

For a long time'past it has been the custom to assess all expenses for work and for making assessments, alike equally upon all the owners, per foot. I believe this mode of assessment was first adopted in grading the Tenth avenue, more than thirty years since, and has in most instances been followed since that time. The reason of the charge in the avenue was that a large mass of rock had to be removed, and preparing the avenue for travel was an equal benefit to all the owners alike.

[New York Special Teem,

April 4, 1870.

If that rule had been adopted in this case, it would have been within the discretion of the assessors, who are to make the assessment according to the amount of benefit each lot receives from the improvement. It must be remembered that although the street directly in front of the lot may not réquire much expense to bring it to the grade, still the lot may be very much benefited by the grading beyond it; and the assessors are to judge of the extent of such benefit.

There is no wrong done, or irregularity committed, in making that assessment; nor is the objection that more than one lot is included in one assessment any ground for vacating the same. The numbers are given both for ward and street, and the amount for all included in one sum.

Provision is made for apportioning this amount on each lot if necessary; and although it would be better to assess each lot by itself, yet when the same person owns the whole, no injury can be sustained by putting them together. There is no allegation that the petitioner is not the owner of all.

hTo good reason is shown for interfering with this assessment.

Application denied.

Ingraham, Justice.]