New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-03-22
UNHAPPY PROPERTY OWNERS
HEAVY ASSESSMENTS FALL ON THEM.
UNWILLING TO PAY FOR ALL THE lMfko'E
MENTS on RIVERSIDE DRIVE.

UNWILLING TO PAY FOR ALL THE IMPROVE
MENTs on RIVERSIDE DRIVE.
The property owners on Riverside Drive are up IN
arms The avenue was graded and Improved i'll 1917
The assessment list of the of property Oh 'e
avenue was ONLY confirmed by the Controller about
two months ago. and on March 10 the notice Oh '''o
assessment was published in 1.-THE City Record anu
the present property were asked 10 pay ~,
the work done ten years ago. lhey "''
assessed for the interest on the amount ahVa"'eu "
the contractors from the time the work was Uesuii up
TO the latter part Of 1890
Thomas s. Bassford is attorney for large numoer Vi
the propertyo wners Some Of his clients are Robert
and ogden Goelet Charles II. Phelps, y. d. lu''ie'
Thomas H. OConnW, Richard o. German, Jacoo w.
Mack, David c. Lyall and Thomas Jennett WIG" So
Yesterday by Tribune reporter Mr. Bassforo gave 'o
following account Of the trouble: "RlVersiue INV
was begun In 1879. and finished III the carry
part Of 1soO-all but bridge over a gully at Ninety
sccond.st The city authorities thought tiiat theS
needed additional legislation TO allow them to con-
sruct this bridge and the asses tnent was not cSo
at that time. The bridge was not bullt uhul i0oo'
The city now proposes to collect the interest vi wv
money advanced to the contractors al the u''e wv
work begun. The interest alone amounts ~, ~
more, than $4OOO and the whole amount whlch tle
property owners are - be assessed Tor j. 'N'
IL 100000
"Now this IS what they object to, first groa'
many of them have bought the land there since i000,
These have had to pay the market rate WHICH, Vi
course, included all the improvements These peo-
pie do not think it fair that they should be ssSeSSu LII
improvements which were made long Ociorc '''O'
bourht and which they had supposed, were OF course
maid for The authorities action in holding back the
assessment lists for so many years, was without a
good rcason a mere bubble about That Drugc' anu
the propcrty owners very naturally THINK IL uhJus'
that they should be forced to pay this enormous III
ere,t merely because the city did not cho0e !" co''
| the money before. ,., m. .,
"The city Is allowed by the consolidation ace Oh
1850 to charge the legal rate Of interest 10 per ceiV
an money loaned TO contractors on public works Inc
! CITY can and does borrow all the money IL neeus
| AT 2 per cent Why should it ask the property
owners to pay per cent Under the law IN tne'e
| cases the city Is the trustee OF the o"hers vi
| property and a trustee Is not allowed 10 plo"' "
| any monetary transactions concerning the Waru
ar the city had confirmed the assessments at the
! time they were made, the present property owners
would have been saved all this extra expense 81
| naturally they feel indignant
The city also asks them to pay three-quaIters Oh
! the expense, and also wants them to pay TOT Vlc
.tcp. leading from the driveway TO Riverside Park
As the park is OH the west side of the avenue ana
i, owned by the city, the property owners think that
the city should pay at least half Of the amount ana
! cannot understand why they should be asked to pay
thrce.q quarters. They also object To paying Tor uIe
tep, They declare that the flights OF steps belong en-
tiry to the city and Gun only be regarded as PaFA IL"
| prOycmont-. -. HI e-o--
The peopl, are very indignant about this assess
| ment. principally because 80 many Oh ileIi MeI'
| taken in 80 badly. The Spectators would Impress
upDn the purchaser the advantages of the Inc Ioc@
ton near the river opposite Riverside Park ana '
Lc,rtifu DRIVEWAY and then put up the price accord
ingly not mentioning the fact that the district NAG
| never been assessed.
We viii haye a hearing before the Board Of Assess
| meut, before the thirty days the time the law re
uur-, the assessments shall be advertised are up a'
| Will do all I'm our power to make the city pay IL
proper share. We Will get out Of paying the interest
il possible and protest against having to pay Tor IN
| steps. ..-, 81.
think we will be- successful and had mlch th'
same Iind OF "a three years ago. and at hearlh
| before the Board of Assessments the property
owners were relieved from paying the interest on IN
! money advanced TO the contractors by the city,