The herald., 1898-09-12
NEW THfATfR PROJECT
INTERFERED WITH BY LINE OF
PROPOSED ALLEY
A CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT
The Building Leased But the Whole
Matter Has Been at a Standstill
for Year

There are many interesting features to
the contention over the projected alley
from Fourth to Fifth sreet between Hill
and Broadway which have not yet been
given to the public. At the partial hear
ing of protests before the city council tw o
weeks ago, Mrs. Wilson, the most ener-
getic protestant, made the claim that she
is entitled to more consideration and dam
ages than the commissioners had allowed
her In making up the assessment district.
Attorney Landt. her representative, pre-
| sented a very good argument in support
Of this claim.
Mrs. Wilson has owned the Broadway
front Just north Of the center OF the block
for some years. Not great while before
the petition for the alley in question was
presented to the council, she recognized
the fact that by securing an undivided
piece of ground from Broadway to Hill
street and placing thereon large and
handsome building of unusual depth and
fronting on Broadway, she could materially
increase the rental value of the entire
property. Investigation substantiated
what was at first mere theory, and wher
the purchase of the Hill street front was
made Mrs. Wilson had contracted to build
| u uduuSOHle tHcdtcE Ol luo STOuuQ dI
cost of probably $4,000. Mrs. Wilson
claims that lessee for the place had been
secured, the contract for the construction
was let, and at the recent hearing she was
prepared to show that but for the alley
project her building would now have beer
up and rented for an amount nearly double
the present income from the property. A.
depth was an essential to the plan. and the
alley passes through almost midway of the
block, Mrs. Wilson's scheme is knocked
sky-high.
| At the hearing two weeks ago, Attor
ney Landt so argued, on the ground tina
his clients property had special value
because Of its entirety, but the details o.
how she had contemplated using It were
not entered into. They will all probab bly,
come out at the next hearing in about three
weeks. and should council or the commits.
sioners fail to take cognizance Of the merit
of the claim, the whole matter will un-
doubtedly be referred to the courts fol
adjudication. In the present situation the
assessment district provides for the taking
Of twenty feet out Of the center Of Mrs
Wilson'S property and charges her owe,
$4,000 in addition for the privilege. She
has designated a willingness to give the
twenty-foot strip for the purpose desired
but refuses to pay the additional cash as.
sessment.
Those who are pushing the alley projec,
contend that Mrs. Wilson knew Of it be.
fore she purchased the Hill street front
They do not claim, however, that any Of.
f1cial steps had been taken toward the
opening when Mrs. Wilson made the pur.
chase. The protestant therefore argues
that even though she did know that suct
thing was being talked of when sh,
bought the addition, she is none the less en-
titled to special damages for value which
she acquired before the alley project wa,
officially taken up.
Broadway business men, aside from those
who see In the alley chance for enhance
ment of values in their Individual reaft,
holdings, would like very much to see
Mrs. Wilson's theater built. In the pres.
ent situation the street Is undoubtedly IA s,
assuming position as the finest bushes.
street in the city. 1t already has the
greatest number Of fine buildings, the
handsomest stores, etc. But Spring stree
still continues to be the evening prone
made, and those having Broadway's inter.
ests at heart will welcome the advent o.
| anything which will tend to attract peopls
to the new commercial center in the even
Ing. 1t Is held that theater and II.
natural adjuncts would go a long wa,
toward accomplishing this result.