The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-05-27
A r A u W


Several papers published a report yee,s'a's
that the Madison Avenue Presbyterian 'huIon
sIte AT tha sou,buest corner Of f1fty-thlru
street and Madison avenue had been So"'
This IL tho property under negotiations W,
sale raferred IN nv THE SrN as being iocho'u
In the Fifth avenue section north al Forty
second s,ree, and which has not YET o~n
sold although both parties have agreed upon
pric. nm, ma, ,,o, forms. The name of the
prospoc,ive huver has not yet been announced
and the brok ers are authority for the decnarh-
ton that neither the Barney -Sheinoh sFn"''""
nor any Of the other persons
t@r"stad In the transaction. $1,000
Valentine schml,t ~ Brooklyn has leased
for n term If vears from the Otto Huber es-
,n,a ,ho uo,oi Nat,opole, on the southwest
corner of Broadway and Forty-secohh street
and running through 10 Sev'hth avenue
Alterations will be made by the new tenant
Cornslius Y Van Brnnt has sold for Charles
Blschor. Jr. builder. the new two-story ana
attic Queen Anne house on 'he SCUM s,"e ',
Seyenty-ninth street. between Second ana
Third avenues. Ray Ridge secuoh' W ni"""-
lvn. to Mrs Florence Hukins. for $3.50 some
high rentals have been made IN 'he nay n'os"
section during The past lew weeks and a num-
her of sales and exchanges are reported WIN
Immediate prospects Of more. Inc SUBURBAN
dealers and builders usually close the maJ"'''F
Of titles to houses in February ana ha''"'
but they have received more inquiries TOT prop
erty since MAY / than they received during w"
months mentioned.
Plans were filed Yesterday by Valentine hyfch'
architect. for impro vcmontS coaflng A,@p 10 w"
store building NJ ali-l6-ls Broadway, owned
bv the Buscall Manufacturing company ny
r. W. r TER. architect. for improvements
costing s2, 500 to the store building M ~ Wh''-
hall street. owned by Robert t~iarcewich; by =.
Lowenb.in. architect. for improvements cost
ing 81, 500 to the dwelling AT IS West Fiftl"th
street. owned by Joseph Stein. and by A. W.
Drummer. architect. for improvements costing
1880 TO the dwelling at i15 West Fiity-seventh
street, owned by Florence G. Walter.
Assistant Corporation Counsel otterbourR
has n suggestion TO make 10 the Charter Re
vision Commissioner for "A clause requiring
architects and builders to secure n license before
taking responsible charge Of any CONSTRUCTION
ENTERPRISE. He ia Of the opinion that the enact
ment 81 such a measure would prove n valuable
aid TO the Building Commissioned in guarding
the interests of the public, At present, he says,
without the aid of such power the Building
Commissioner has hard work 10 enforce the
building laws. Most Of the delinquent builders
are in the habit Of waiting until action has been
taken against them by the Corporation Counsel,
and this is expensive 70 the city. Mr.. Otter
bo,rg refers to the fact that there were II ,55i
cases Of building law violations reported 10 the
CORPORATION Counsel during the past year. all
of which involved voluminous correspondence
and much labor TO the Corporation Counsel
and expense 10 the city. Every person desig-
mated to supervise the construction Of n build
ing should be compelled TO take out a license.
Mr.. Otterbourg believes, and provision should
be made for the revoking Of such license for
incompetency or violations Of the law.
This would ercctually hut out the irrespons-
ible and incompetent persons engaged in the
building trade" he said, and whose vicious
methods are a source of constant trouble TO
the building authorities. The supervisory
architect, construction engineer or s,lporintend-
ing builder, whatever the controlling parsonage
may be designated. should undergo a thorough
examination before a competent authority as
TO his knowledge Of the building trades and
the Building law. so as TO demonstrate his At
ness for the responsible and important place
he desires 10 take, and the license should he
revocable for good cause, and good cause only"
As 10 who should constitute the authority TO
examine candidates, MIR. Otterbourg would
ers to determine. 1t might be a board Of ex-
pcrts appointed by the Mayor OF some duly
designated architectural society.