The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-06-25
ASSEMBLY, TAXES 4 HIND
OFFICIAL ACTION no PREVENT
ERECTION OF L.ARGE FIAT ON
SUMMIT "a VENUE
CITIZENS APPEAL NOT In VAIN
Council Defines Certain Limits to Be
Sec1uded-Idea Fails to
Gain Entire Con-
fideRce

The first step towards keeping in
violate Summit avenue from the invasion
| of the modern apartment house. known
| to the fraternity asa s"fat," was taken
! last night by the assembly when a reso-
| luton was given unanimous approval
instructing the president of the board
of public works to prevent the erection
| of any buildings of that character On
Summit avenue. The prohibition is to
remain in force ur til further orders of
the council, and the district to be in
Guided is bounded by Selby avenue On
the east and Cleveland on the west
The action of the members of the as
sembly last night. is really at the be-
hest of a number of Summit avenue
stall the contemplated construction Of a
large apartment house to be located at
SUI Summit avenue, known to the resi-
dents in that neighborhood as the Old
Dr.: Stone homestead. A Mr.. Spauding,
of Buffalo, N. Y, has given it out that
he intends to invade the precincts of
this, st. Pauls most beautiful residence
street, by covering the lot with an
apartment house, and in consequence
the protests that have gone forth have
been loud and vigorous.
E. w. Bramhall is Mr.. Spauiding s
legal representative in st. Paul, but as
to the size and architecture of the struc-
ture he is very much in the dark. All
he knows is that it will be a handsome
affair, and that 1t will be built, as there
are no legal restrictions TO stop it.. Com
mon rumor, however, figures it out
an eight-story structure, covering the
entire lot and b.Iilt flush with the prop
erty line With nearly every residence
on Summit avenue sporting lawns, with
a depth of from forty to fifty feet, this
in itself is enough to call down the
wrath of those who would. keep up the
reputation of the prettiest avenue in the
United States.
While Mr. Stevens, the Well known
architect, has been retained as super
vision architect, yet the plans and style
of the proposed structure seem to be
entirely unknown, ard this has led many
to hint that Mr. Spaulding would be
willing to dispose of the lot to nearby
property owners at handsome figure,
provided he decided to dispense with
the apartment house Idea. His attorney,
Mr.. Bramhall, says that this is mis-
take, as his client offered to sell the
property to Dr. Stone for $4,000, very
cheap, in his estimation. 1t was re-
fused, however, and an apartment house
was then considered as the best way of
making the property pay. AS the lot is
rather small for an apartment house.
having only about sixty-five feet front,
the story that it viii be built is not ac-
Cepted by many.
If the affair is reality how to pre-
vent 1T being built is now the absorbing
question among those who have the fu-
ture of the avenue at heart, and already
attorneys are battling with the legal side
of the question. Mr.. Spaulding's attor-
rey says there is no law to stop it. An
injunction is being talked of as a starter.
Said City Engineer Claussen, in speak,
ing of the matter yesterday: when
permit for the erection of the building
is asked from my department 1 shall re-
fuse to grant it, but that viii avail moth
ing, as, in my opinion, any court in the
land will sustain mis- demand, and will
have to give 1T in the end. My action in
this question will not be influenced by
popular opinion, but will be from the
standpoint that I believe Summit ave-
nue. should be kept free from such struc-
lures. The fame of the street is ma
tional, and if my refusal in granting the
permit prevails L viii be more than sat
isf1ed.''
The question of the legality of tssssa
resolution passed by the assembly last
night prohibiting the erection of apart
ment houses on Summit avenue was put
to Assistant Corporation Attorney
Griggs last night. but that official re-
fused to talk on the matter off-hand