Case ID: nys_27/html/0591-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "CULLEN, J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

(75 Hun, 603.)
    In re EAST EIGHTEENTH ST. In re MATHEWS et al.
    (Supreme Court, General Term, Second Department.
    February 12, 1894.)
    Street Assessments&emdash;Exemptions.
    After an abutting owner had improved a part of the street at his own expense, and it had been accepted by the town authorities, the whole length of the street was ordered to be improved. Meld, that the property of such abutting owner was properly excluded from the assessment.
    Certiorari by William Mathews and others to review an assessment made by the board of improvements in the town of Flatbush, from Church avenue to the town line, for the improvement of East Eighteenth street. Affirmed.
    Argued before DYKMAN, PRATT, and CULLEN, JJ.
    Josiah T. Marean, for relators.'
    Gaynor, Grout & De Fere, (Wm. E. C. Mayer, of counsel,) for respondents.
   CULLEN, J.

This is a certiorari to review an assessment for the improvement of East Eighteenth street, in Flatbush, from Church avenue to the town line. It appears that a part of this street within the limits named had been improved and regulated by the abutting owner, one Ficken, at his own expense, and accepted by the town authorities. The contract for the work excluded that part of the street. Only a nominal assessment was placed on the property adjoining the improved part of the street, and the expense of the improvement was imposed upon the remaining property. The statute provides that “if the district of assessment shall mot extend beyond the middle of the blocks between said street or avenue, and the street or avenue next adjoining thereto on each side thereof, they shall apportion and assess the said expense ratably, according to the number of feet fronting on said street or avenue on the lands of the several owners, extending back to the middle of such blocks.” Laws 1892, c. 572. The relator contends that under this provision the commissioners should have levied its ratable share of the costs upon Ficken’s land according to its front upon the street. This would be grossly unfair, and such an assessment should not have been levied upon that land unless the statute required it. Ficken’s part of the street, having been improved and accepted by the town authorities, was not subject to further improvements under the statute under which these proceedings are taken. The petition, it is true, asks the improvement of the whole length of the street within the limits named. This should be construed as excluding such part of the street as had already been improved both in fact and in law. So, under the statute, the lands upon which the expense was to be apportioned and assessed were the lands fronting upon the street or avenue, but this plainly was limited to the part of the street or avenue improved. There was no improvement of the street in front of Ficken’s land, and therefore no assessment should have been imposed upon it. But the imposition of the nominal assessment in no wise injures the relator, and Ficken does not complain. The proceedings and assessment of the commissioners should be affirmed, with costs. All concur.