New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-04-18
THE SNUG HARBOR LEASES
COME OF THE HOLDERS OBJECT TO THE
INCREASED RENTALS.
MEETINGS HELD BUT NOTHING ACCOMPANIED
CAPTAIN RANpAII!s MIMIC FARM AND


CAPTAIN RANpAII's MINTO FARM AND
WHAT HAS COME OF 1T.
The meetings recently held in this city by people
paying ground rents TO the Sailors SNUG Har-
bor who object the Increase in rentals proposed
by the trustees Of that institution have directed
public attention once more 70 the large amount or
valuable property IN the heart OF New-York from
which the income TO support the SNUG Haroor is
derived The number of leases falling In this spring
Is larger than usual There are nfty or sixty in
all the twenty-one years term OF which is on
the point Of expiring. The disposition Of the trus-
fees is to renew the leases for shorter periods IA
there is a belief that in few years many of the
present buildings may probably be torn down TO
make room for more costly structures
The land belonging TO the Harbor comprises
about twenty-one acres. and Is bounded roughly
,neaking by Fourth and Fifth ayes, Waverley
Place and feminist. Nearly all the property within
these boundaries included in the old Mimic
farm but the present street lines do not coincide
precisely with the former farm lines The
Harbor holdings do not extend above feminist.
save for small gore at the northwest corner
Of feminist and Fourth-ave The Mercantile
library IS outside. Above Ninth-st. there is Har-
Dor property the east side OF University Place,
but not on the west side. On the twenty-one
acres stand some buildings Of much value. such
as Stewards former store and the Brevoort
House as well as various buildings on both
sides Of Broadway. There are also some dwelling
house. and many structures Of moderate value
Al University Place and Clinton Place a large
building ha. recently been erected, and this is be-
Nevcd by Of the dissffeced leeseholders to be
the cause OF their present troubles.
ONE CAUSE OF THE TROUBLE.
Yes" said one Of them day two ago. point
ing toward the new building. that is what has led
the trustees Of the Harbor 10 make the advances
eu around here We have been on the ragged edge
ever since January 49, and are not able to get the
matter settled in any way II makes IT bad Tor All
OF US You see. when that building was put up the
owner offered 1905 lot for the four lots-just
twice what they had been before; and that has
given the trustees the idea that all this property
IS going 20 be very valuable for business purposes
held two three meetings. and various
methods OF fighting the Increase nave peeh coh'
sdered but I do not believe anything is going TO be
done.
There has been some talk Of carrying the mat
Ter 10 the legislature for Of Us feel that the
trustees are not obeying their charter. out II IS
difficult TO get the holders OF leases TO act together
Apparently nothing will be accomplished AS
matter OF fact the leases provide for renewal
Of per cent OF the value OF the property. ana as
the trustees put their own value on IT, there
IS nothing for 10 do. II we refuse 10 renew
they may take property at q fair Valuauoh' po'
there is difficulty In agreeing about what is 1alr
valuation Then. again. they offered to renew TOT
FIVE years or ten years. but many Of US do not want
that Unless we get lease for the full term OF
1wentv-o.., years there Will be litt.s chance of
selling our property II we want TO sell out.
in my opinion the trustees are mistaken IN sup
ros,nr that business is coming up 10 this par' OF
.ba city so fast / can see no signs Of ii. except
the putting up Of tina. largo building over there.
Under the present Lease have been paying ren'ai
Of $500 Now they want TO make l. $3.50 or more
claiming that the land is worth $500 1t is an
outrage. I would much rather they would take the
building If they would only allow me a fair price
for t."
The owner of a large building In Broadway. VINO
renewed his lease two years ago. said that ne knew
nothing about the present movement OF ieasehoiu-
ers 10 secure better terms but he did not seem 10
think II would amount 10 much. Il renewed t"o
wears ago" he added, land didn't make any pro-
test either I didn't think It would do any good.
They raised me $1,000 year. The fact is. WASH
very well al the time. and was glad 10 get 'ie
matter closed up promptly as possiole because
Of complications that might arise in case didn
ee, we'll don't see the use Of kicking, any way
for they have got the dead wood on all OF US. ms
Harbor owns all the land around here and the
trustees can practically make their own terms
understand that they make 100000 year, net, out
WHAT PRESIDENT ORR SAYS.
Alexander z. Orr president Of the Chamber OF
Commerce is president Of the Board OF trustees
OF the Snug Harbor. When asked yesterday about
the relations OF the Board 70 the leaseholders ana
the methods Of doing business. he said:
This year a larger number OF leases fall in than
usual There are ffty-four Of them believe 1t Is
the aim Of the trustees 10 have as many as pos
sble fan In the time. as we feel that II VIII
be 10 the interest both OF the Harbor and the
lessees II the property can be improved on laiee
scale For instance a number of leases on MINI
ST., run I'LL 1907 and have proposed 10 the lessees
OF the adjoining property in Clinton Place tha'
they Shall renew for ten years with all the
covenants that would be provided In lease o.
twenty-one years. The regular method OF oPer-
Lane FaI lie In is trustees
and the lessee agree, or can come TO an agreement
after consultation, bargain Is made on the spot
II they agree, then each party mas me rgS
e re s9nrasers fa 10 agree III IN they appoint
umpire, whose decision is final The appralsGTTs
estimate the value of the lane ana o, such DIT phi
ings as may be IT, and il the lessee IS un"lii-
ing to pay The rental Ked The 1TeS Te2 hhY be
6 per cent Of the valuation OF the lana as oe'er-
Zoe course i real estate in that neghbo-h, BOD is
much more valuable than II was twenty1ohs
fRhoade presd s Ae Of the resSTc saw
ings Bank, and Michael Coleman Tor nuinoeo , 81
the property Of the Harbor ard Ak its value Then
knowing how hard ne tmes 49, pee We for Il" i've
years al a smaller rental than would be askeI iOI
that al the end OF Ave yeas prosperity will havs
returned and tie leasehode-s WI be N a ne1ter
position make the impro 'ements that are sey Iii
sary 10 enable them to get such return as VIII
Justify the increased rentS IN SOM ess g bnK
{, shoul5 we have takea the buildings and erected
yt 81, ~, ,iu notice thai on some Of the
crossing our property the linz OF Is
ei1s although some nne bulldogs have been
erected on H. Many OF the buildings. however are
dvelline houses that were good enough twenty-one
years ago But business Is entering thnt part o.
;be CITY and while the owners OF these houses Put
extravseant valuations them, the bullolngs are
really OF no except to be torn GOWN WHEN iiN-
provements made. 49,, -, Gu, rro-
In answer 20. q question resdiuiis TIC ''i"s "
bor Itself Mr~Orr replied: ,. ,.
srhe trustees divided into visitlns c0iiinls'
ices and make frequent visits TO Staten IsIand-
Tor Instance J spent last Saturday there win 1T,
Ion@eia and Recorder Cioff. We have about nine
L,rli.nd 90 saNnrs take care OF. ana they arc