The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-04-05

most quickly grow enthusiastic over the
superb idea of overwhelming the famed
Riviera here IN California the arguments
of financial profit to the people individually
and to the community are very strong.
The leaders in the boulevard project are
talking of it as practical question. They
say that it would be u business investment
not only sound but certain to bring great
returns. For fifty miles down the bay
property values within one, two or three
miles of the route would be increased from
two to many fold. Town properties would
increase. as well as those of the unbroken
stretch of wild sites in valley and foothills.
Population would rapidly increase and the
workingman, as well as the large land
owner, would be benefited. Taking San
Mateo County alone into consideration, it
is urged that the great increase in taxable
values would enable the county to carry
the bonds at lower rate than the present
one. The effect of the boulevard on prop
erty values is thus one of first Importance
One OF the well-known and experienced
real estate men, who has special knowledge
of the region through which the boulevard
would run, is A. S. Baldwin of Baldwin 81
Hammond, who are agents for the Bur-
hngame property of the Sharon estate and
other tracts down the bay. Mr.. Baldwin
yesterday expressed his Judgment as an
expert as follows:
l should say that the boulevard would at
least double the value of every piece of prop
erty tributary to it as soon as it was built
This would be especially the case on its west
ern side. When say tributary TO it" mean
within mile or two miles of it. The rise of
values would result all along the foothill re-
gion, even if the boulevard were confined to
the route of the present county road all the
way. The values of property along the route
in the city limits south OF the park and toward
Colma would probably be quadrupled at once.
Along the edge of the foothill region between
here and San Jose there is a great deal OF mag
innocent residence property which has no mar
ket value, except a speculative one, and the
prices would be low. This is because it is COM
paratively inaccessible, or is generally unknown
or unseen, or both. The boulevard would make
the world acquainted with that region make
| such properties available and bring them into
the market at much higher values than would
now be put upon them. People would flock
that way to build homes
Burlingame gives good illustration OF what
the effect of the boulevard would be. Two years
ago, before its improvement was taken up the
tract might have been worth $500 an acre in
the market. We built five miles of attractive,
winding macadamized drives through the
tract. which stretches for about two miles from
the railroad into the foothills, built club
house and residence and made other improve
ments. 1t became an attractive and interesting
place to live and became well known. Now
our minimum prices for land are based on a
valuation of $4,000 an acre. That is about the
effect that the boulevard and the connecting
driveways that would follow would have on
1t would run. l think that it would be making
q conservative estimate to say that if the entire
boulevard through the three counties were
constructed at cost of $500, 600 each dollar
expended would al once return ten dollars in
increased property values. Its indirect and fu-
ture financial benefits would also be very
great.
Many people do not properly judge the direct
business value of the proposed boulevard.
The other day at Redwood City l was talking
to one of the County Supervisors from the
raQr TT n nd 10
the county is bonded to build this boulevard,
VIZ will still have to pay our same district road
tax, and viii have 10 pay for the bonds be-
Sides We don't want to be taxed to pay for a
boulevard for another section of the county,"
/ told him that was very narrow way of look
ing at It, ] said that the only increase In the
county expenses would be the interest on the
bonds, and that the bonds would make an
almost unnoticeable increase in the tax rate.
But on the other hand the boulevard would
add so greatly to the taxable values of the
county that In fact the tax rate would be lower
than now.
The early increase in property values would,
/ have no doubt, run into the millions. 1t is
difficult to make anything more than q very
general estimate now, but it is my judgment
that every acre OF land near the boulevard
would be doubled in value at once, and in
many places the increase would be much
greater. The same observation applies to the
towns down the side of the bay. Increases in
value would be general within two miles at
least OF the boulevard, varying greatly with
location and advantages. There is no question
in my mind about the value of the investment
to everybody.
Nat J. Britain, who is very much inter-
ested in the boulevard, corrects an error
which occurred in an interview published
Wednesday morning, in which the Ala
media de las Pulgas is only two miles long
at present. He says:
Why it actually stretches from the San Fran
ciscito Creek, in the south, opposite the STAN
ford University, TO the HAYES ranch. 1t is sur
veyed and dedicated from the county line to
Santa Clara, to points north almost to San
Mateo Township. That is not matter of two
miles of road, be it understood. Now, about
that proposition to run the boulevard skirting
the marsh into Belmont and up Belmont Can