New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-11-12
COLUMBIA'S OLD SITE SOLD
BOUGHT BY DIR. J. S.aWHITE. HEADMAS-
TER OF BERKELEY SCHOOL.

THE SCHOOL PROPERTY PROBABLY GIVEN ~
PART OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES OF THE IN
sTITUTION MAY DECIDE TO OCCUPY
THE MIILIoN-DoLLAR BLOCK.
II was learned last nigh, on the authority OF
Seth Low, president of Columbia University. that
the block Of land bounded by Madison-ave.. Park
ave. Forty-ninth-st. and Fifteth-st.. formerly
occupied by the old Columbia College and still
owned by Columbia Unve .sity, has been sold TO
Or. White the headmaster of Berkeley School.
The terms Of the sale have not been made public.
1t said good authority yesterday. however.
that the transaction was in rart trade, the pres
en-; property OF the Berkeley School, at No. 70
West Forty -fourth-st.. having been given In part
exchange. In this case the Berkeley School
property. the dime nsions of which 1eoxl00O5
feet. is valued ut 500 90. while the Columbia prop
erty IS valued ut 100000 at least. either "A large
cash consideration accompanies the school prop
erty or other valuable realty is added.
The sale Of the Columbia block is one Of the most
important transactions in city realty for several
months. 1t has been the market since the re-
mOval Of Columbia University to Its new buildings
Morningside Heights left It open to further dis
posal and there has been much curiosity mani
Tested as TO the probable purchaser. The TACT that
the property Is in the heart Of New-Yorks resi-
dencc district and that the nature of the buildings
which Will occupy it in future will have a direct
effect the value of the neighboring lots is alone
enough to make the sale Of such large piece oil
land OF great interest holders OF city residence
property well to real estate brokers. In addi-
ton to this. however. three whole blocks In close
proximity to the Columbia property are now on the
market at the same time. and the sale is interest
ing as affecting their price and future. Two OF
them are owned by the Roman Catholic orphan
Asylum. and the third by the Woman's Hospital
in the STATE OF NewYork. Their aggregate value Is
nearly s5o0OO0. The sale Of the Columbia property
marks the cutting of the first slice in tract of
land comprising four Of the most valuable blocks
uptown.
While no indication Of the price paid for the
property could be obtained from authoritative
sources last night II is well known that the block
has been retained by the Columbia trustees so
long after the removal of the University only be-
cause a high enough price has not been offered.
President Seth Low admitted unqualihedly when
seen by Tribune reporter last night that the sale
had been made and said that d. White the
purchaser. but he would say nothing as 10 the
terms of SALE referring all inquiries TO John NC
Lean Nash. the treasurer of the University. Mr..
Nash however, positively refused to see any one
at his house. No. IL West Nneteenth-st, or 10
answer any inquiries.
sent out.
John b. Pine. the secretary Of the Board Of
lO2 East Thirieth ST. said when asked II the prop
erty had been sold Yes. believe II Is fact that
II has been sold.
"Who bought it, asked.
Nov really. you had better see Mr.; Nash ABOUT
1t H. understood that the broker who negotiated
the sale II. II Cammann. lie would not tan
about the sale Whether the Berkeley School aG-
ings or whether they will clear the site and build
dwellings or iathouses 1t as an investment Is
schoo authorities however TO extend its scope and
occupy the buildings when these have been altered
to some extent, and II il probable that they VIII
o this.