The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1891-12-24
THAT CITY HALL SITE.
Great Rush to Secure the
Adjacent Real
Estate.
M'KENZIE WINS THE RACE.
Rumors That Are Afloat In Regard
to the Transactions Con-
nected With the
Matter.

The announcement that the City Hall
Commissioners intended acquiring fifty
feet more property on Montgomery and
Mercer streets for City Hall purposes.
caused sensation among real estate deal
ers and rush was at once made to secure
the corner lot on Montgomery street.
When the plot with $50 feet frontage
on Montgomery and Mercer streets was
acquired, George R. Mckenzie owned the
lot which would adjoin the City Hall
property. On this property stands .
three story frame tenement house. Spec
ulators knew it was next to impossible to
buy the property from Mr.. Mckenzie and
no steps were taken to secure it. As soon
as the fact became known that
fifty feet more was to be acquired
a rush was made for John Bergstrom's
three story brick house, with frame
tenement in the rear.
If the fifty extra feet were acquired.
Bergstrom's lot would adjoin the City
Hall property. Mr.. Mckenzie at once
made bid of $4,000 for Bergstrom's
property. The bid was accepted and $50
deposit was at once made. Warren and
Nugent made another bid for the pro-
perty. and it is also said that prom
in ent city official also made bio for IT,.
but Mckenzie secured the plum, anu
| intends holding on to it.
This sudden rush for Bergstrom's prop
erty involves an alleged peculiar trans
action. When the City Hall Commits
siouers tried to buy the Mckenzie prop
| erty on MONTGOMERY street, the price
| asked was $4,000. The Commission
| refused to pay this sum and made an OF
| fer of $40, ,O00 Finally at one OF the meet
| ings of the Commission it was tntinlated, /,
it is alleged. that the Commission would
| enter into contract with Mr.. Mckenzie
| to the effect that the Commission would
| not condemn any more property above
| the $50 feet. This contract was not
| drawn up, but reduction of $500 was
| made in the price of the property already
| included within the site.
| This offer was accepted by the Com-
| mission and a warrant for x22 900 was
| ordered drawn in favor of Mr.. Mckenzie.
This satisfied Mr. Mckenzie. as he con-
sidered that his corner lot would be inn
proved 81, 500 by the building of the City
| Hall.
M'KENzIE WAS THERE.
A few weeks ago the McKenZies got
wind of a plan which was supposed would
be put through by the street and Water
Hall Commissioners had intimated thar
they would not condemn any
more property for City Hall pur.
poses was a barrier TO the
requirement of the extra fifty feet by the
Commission, and 1t is said it was pro-
posed that the Street and Water Com.
| missioners should condemn the desired
fifty feet and put macadamized road
way through from Montgomery street to
Mercer street. The McKenzies, hearing
of this, secured the Bergstr0m property,
and are still at the top of the heap, aa
they will own a corner lot whether the
extra fifty feet is acquired or not.
City Hall Commissioners Pearson,
| Burke and Datz, told me that no agree
ment was made, either written or oral.
This plan was proposed at one OF the
meetings, they told me, for the purpose
of effectinR an amicable settlement win
Mr.. Mckenzie, but no definite action Was
taken in the matter.
Commissioners Burke and Datz have,
since the site was selected, fought for q
plot 200 feet square. The matter has
caused considerable excitement about
the City Hall, and together with the fact
that Mr.. Mckenzie has not secured his
warrant it Is probable that the twenty
Eve feet owned by Mr.. Mckenzie, which
is included in the extra fifty feet, Will
have to be acquired by condemnation
proceedings.
President Pearson explained to me thiI
morning that the reason the warrant was
! not promptly delivered was owing to The
fact that there was an old claim against
the property of $50 for drain. Mr
Pearson expects trouble in securing ths
| Mckenzie property. but states that u
necessary, it will be condemned, and theI
the McKenzies will get less than what
| the Commission would offer them so as
| to get clear title.