Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-06-18
ANTICIPATING A CUT.
Property Holders on Fifth Avenue
Building With the Hope That
THE HUMP WILL SOON COME DOWN.
Big Improvements Projected Between
Grant and Smithfield.
A NEW sI1-sToRY OFFICE STRUCTURE

The march of improvement proposed on
Grant street is receiving additional
strength daily. The latest step is that
taken by the Methodist Protestant Board of
Publication, the directory of which has just
decided to erect in place of Its old-fashioned
building a handsome granite front six
storied Office building. These is also another
important matter being talked of in real es-
tate circles. 1t is revival of the PROPOSE
tion to cut down the Fifth avenue hump,
taken there is strong belief that deter
mined move in that direction will be made
before long.
The Anchor Bank directors were the first
owners on the block to provide for the pro-
posed cut by arranging their building to
suit the new grade.
Prepared for Deep Cut.
The County Commissioners had previously
done likewise in planning the new Court
House, but they expected the cut would be
made long ago, in fact it was expected the
hump would have been cut before the Court
House was finished. The new Kaufman
building is being constructed for the new
grade, the foundations being run down II
feet below the present street line, so that in
event of cut they will have six-story
building instead of the fve-story structure
planned for the present grade.
The architects at work on the plans for
the proposed Carnegie block from Cherry 10
Scrip alleys, and on the massive Office block
which Park Bros. will erect at the corner
of Fifth avenue and Grant street on the
property recently purchased from c. L.
Magee, are all arranging to take advantage
of cut down. The Methodists have di-
rected their architect to make similar pro-
vision. By this all but one or two prop
critics on the south side of Fifth avenue are
placed so that in the event of a reduction of
the hump there will be little damages to
pay, if any.
Majority on the Other Side.
On the north side of the avenue the
Maeder and Leader buildings are similarly
prepared for the improvement. and there is
little property below them to be affected to
any extent This leaves only few build
lngs above Grant street and ST. Paul's Ca
thedral to be damaged by the cut, and the
cost of the improvement, aside from the
actual expense of the necessary grading,
will be greatly lessened as compared with
the estimates made in 1887, when the last
attempt was made to get an ordinance for
the improvement passed in Councils.
At that time the congregation of the
Cathedral, assisted by the property owners
all around it, made such a strong fight
against it that the measure was defeated
with votes TO spare But recent real estate
have changed the complexion
of things Ike hump and there are indica-
tions that when the next attempt is made it
will not be seriously hindered in passage.
A Massive Granite Office Rui ding.
The proposed building of the Methodist
Protestant Publishing Company will be sup
piled with all modern conveniences and
cost between $4,000 and $40, 900. Work
will be commenced in short time, the Office
and store being temporarily moved to the
old Post building on Wood street.
The new front will be massive,
entirely built of granite and will compare
we'll with its neighbor, the Anchor Bank.
The lot is 20x110 feet, and an offer of S25, 900
has recently been refused for it. The de-
termination to build was caused by the
of the old building bv the e1-
for the Kaufman store on the old
church lot. kautmanns' desired to lease the |
small lot and the Anchor Bank property as
we'll, but negotiations failed.
The directors of the publishing company
expect to get back in rents what the build |
ing will cost inside of Is years. The pub |
fishing house will occupy the second floor,
and the printing and editorial rooms of the |
church's weekly papers will be on the sixth |
floor. The ground floor will be a storeroom
and will be rented, and the balance will be
fitted up for Offices and rented.