The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-03-01
The Allan Property and Will Case.

SOME TALK ABOUT AN UPTOWN HOTEL IN
CONNECTION WITH A CHANCERY CASE.
II is now ascertained that the Allan
chancery case will be taken TO the Supreme
Court. and il a writ of error and super
sedeoS be granted, the property may be
tied up in litigation for two or three years.
The instructions OF the Court were given
by consent of parties, and what the appel
late court would be called upon to decide
would be whether or not the verdict OF the
Jury was in accordance with the evidence
produced upon the trial Of the cause.
There have been proposals looking to a
resale and to putting the proceeds in bank
70 be fought over instead OF fighting over
the property, but no arrangement to that
effect has yet been made.
That valuable lot at the southeast corner
OF Main and Fifth streets, which forms the
bulk of the estate involved in the will MADE
by Mrs. Allan, has long been looked upon
as a most eligible site for an uptown hotel.
Visitors here have been charmed with its
beauty. From the southern porches OF the
old mansion there is view OF the James
and Of the open fields almost to Drewry's
Bluff. Or. looking up the river. one may
see Belle Isle, Hollywood, the falls, and n
good deal Of the hill-country west of Rich
mond. II lofty hotel-building covered
this lot there would he q charming scene
from Almost every window, and from one
half of the house bird's-eye view OF the
clty could be had; while il would catch all
the sunshine Of fall and winter and all the
cooling breezes OF summer.
There are several other good sites : There
is the st. Claire lot, with its fine elevation,
superior neighborhood, frontage on the
Capitol Square, nearness to business. &c.
There is the old Swan-Tayern lot, Broad
street between Eighth and Ninth, where a
hotel would be an "up-town hotel" and
in the midst OF business too. There are
lots in the West End that would give the
hotel the great advantage. OF being in the
midst of the best society, and make it "A re-
sort for fashionable hops and parties; but
none of these have ever "taken the pub
lie eye quite like the Allan lot.
When it was sold-beiore the active
prosecution OF the suit attacking the will
OF Mrs. Allan-the purchasers were Messrs.
A. Y. Stokes and Isaac Davenport, and the
price to be paid was SlS,5O0, the bulk OF
which was needed to clear it Of mortgage.
These gentlemen had not perfected their
plans when their steps were stopped by in
junction. They, however, contemplated
the improvement Of the property. II a
hotel could not be built, they would have
remodeIled and added to the mansion so as
70 have front along Main street.-the
whole to form fashionable boarding.
house.
The turn things now have taken defer
the hope that this property can be utilized
at present. 1t cannot be unless it Il sold
under mortgage or by consent of all inter-
ested. On the other hand. who knows but
that by the time it gets through the Su-
preme Court the public enterprise OF the
city will lie reused to that extent that it
,ciH hare an uptown hotel? II so, the de-
Law will be blessing. At present there is
a general desire and demand for fashion
able uptown hotel, but no active measures
are on foot to secure the capital OF capital
lists needed.