The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-12-22

Mr.. LHMBECK'S GIF7
He Donates the City Thirty
Lots for Park Purposes
in Greenyille.

3 Henry Lembeck of G~reenville, yesterday
afternoon, at the meeting of the Street
and Water Board, donated to the city
thirty lots, 25xl00 feet. which he wants
used for public park purposes. The lots
SO given are more particularly described
as Nos. 16 to 30. and 81 to 76, inclusive,
in Block 1874. They have a frontage on
Lembeck avenue. which is named in hon
or of the public spirited donor. This
new thoroughfare, when opened and i'm
proved, VIII be sixty feet wide. The
lots will also have a frontage on Bartholdi
and jackson places, both of which are
restricted t~horoughfares, running etwee
Lembeck avenue and the Boulevard.
Abou the time Mr.. Lembeek was con-
sidering the ACCESSIBILITY of giving the
city property for a park site, ne had
agreed to sewer. grade, pave, maeadamize
ard otherwise improve the streets sur
rounding the property that Is now likely
to be a public park, at his own expense.
In view OF his donation Mr.. Lembeek
whole expense of the improvements he
contemplated making. As a eonse-
quence he asks the city to bear a fair
share which he estimates viii be 81, 275.
In addition to giving the thirty dots for
park purposes, Mr.. Lembeck asks that the
city purchase from him thirty lots adjoin-
ing those he donates. In explaining why
he asks that this purchase be made he
says:-"I am not offering these lots to
make money out of the city but for the
benefit of mankind, and to beautify the
property in the vicinity, which is very
muchin need of 1t and also that the city
at large may be benefited"
For the additional thirty lots Mr.. Lem
beck asks only their market value. To
determine just what that sum is, he gives
the Board the option of appointing three
disinterested persons; three real estate
dealers or even the Commissioners OF
Assessment to act for the city as ap-
praisers. The offer of Mr.. Lembeck was
referred to the Committee of the Whole.
If the city buys the lots adjoining those
onated by Mr.. Lembeck, and it is said to
be reasonably certain that it will, the
park will run from Lembeck avenue back
to within 1893 feet of the Boulevard OF
Jackson place, az and ABOUT 2ls feet fr rem
Boulevard lots Mr.. Lembeck win retain
for his own use.
With q. park consisting Of sixty lots
Mr.. Lembeck has mapped out a great
plan for its Improvement. A rough
sketch On file with the Street and Water
Board shows three fountains, flower
walks through the whole park. MI:
Lembeek is also anxious to lave asphalt
substituted for the macadam pavement
which he originally intended to have laid
in Lembeck venue and Bartholdi and
Jackson places.
Mr.. Lembeck and his G~reenville friends
are enthusiastic over the project, and de-
| clare that if the city officials extend the
proper encouragement the proposed park
| viii be the prettiest one in the city and
will attract to the vicinity a desirable
| class of residents. The purchase of the
Lembeck property will largely depend,
the city officials say upon what it costs
1 to acquire land for the other two pub
lie parks and lay them out and beauti-
fy them.
The public park Appropriation Is only
800, 900, and Mayor Wanser will only
sanction the expenditure of that sum
| and he viii oppose any legislation looking
to the raising of any greater amount.
There is likely to be some trouble be-
| fore. the land on Garfield and Ogden ave-
nue is required. 1t is said. The owners,
| when it was first suggested that their
land be taken for park purposes, seemed
| agreeable and offered to sell ait reasonable
prices. There has been a change of heart
since and prices have gone up. Unless
an amicabie adjustment of the difficulty
is arrived at condemnation proceedings
| are not unlikely.
The Finance and Street and Water
| commissioners are TO confer on the park
question e week, and 1t is probable
definite action VIII be taken early In
| January