The Jersey City news., 1902-11-14

four-ffths, if not nine-tenths, of the
scholars would leave the school by Palis-
ade avenue to Newark avenue, a large
number of whom would take trolleys.
To do this they will be forced to stand
on the corner in the Immediate vicinity
Of four saloons, a state of affairs we
have no right to create if at all avoidable.
I'VE also urge that the building cost
ing as much as this one will should be
placed among surroundings that will in
crease in value. Leading real estate
men of this city-one of them the largest
owner of property in that vicinity
hold that such will not be the case, that
the general character of this section is
such as to preclude the possibility of any
material advance in values.
VAN REIPEN PLOT.
"As counter proposition, we offer a
plot of ground on the Hudson Boulevard,
between Sip and Stuyvesant avenues,
known as the Van Reipen plot. This
tract has all the requirements of suita-
bic High School site. The staunchest
advocates in this board of the Harrison
site admit this, with one exception, that
it is lacking in area. Our purpose is to
show that such is not the case The
plot in question has a frontage of $50
feet on the Boulevard, 102 feet on the
southerly side, 265 on Ven Reipen place
and 273 feet ON the northerly side.
Mr.. Coyle contended that the plot is
ample for High School purposes. He
said that the Boys High School in
Brooklyn, 121x163 feet, stands on a plot
2O0x2T5 feet, while the Brooklyn Girls
High School, 169x2T5 feet, is built on a
lot 200x300 feet. These schools accom-
modate $500.
"Our present enrolment" said Mr..
Coyle, sis 620, so that with the increase
of three times our present number we
can accommodate them in school of
these dimensions"
The New York School Board, he said,
is building the Morris High School at
One Hundred and Sixty-sixth street and
Boston road on plot 37S feet frontage,
a depth of POO feet and rear line of
290 feet, which will accommodate $500.
LARGE ENOUGH LOT.
He held that the Van Reipen property
offers an area sufficient for a building
suitable for all the requirements. He
contended that it was more centrally To-
Gated than any other site offered. "It
is within walking distance of the greatest
number of High School scholars" he
remarked, "and it can be easily reached
by trolleys from all directions. 1t is
argued that the upper section would be
compelled to pay two fares to reach the
site. We have reason to assume that a
vigorous0ublic sentiment can be created
which will compel the trolley company
to grant transfers to scholars if to no
others. Assuming, however, that no
such arrangement can be made what do
we find? The plot is within easy walk
ing distance of every scholar from the
upper section and it is only in bad
weather that they would be compelled
to use the trolleys
The plot is assessed for only $751; 500,
which means but a small amount taken
out of the ratables. The asking price of
the plot is $4,000. This we regard as
much too high and would recommend
condemnation proceedings if a fair price
canot be agreed upon between the city
and the owner. 1t may be argued that
this means delay, but the proceedings, if
pushed vigorously, can be closed before
plans of the building can be drawn and
adopted.
while we argue that the plot we Of
fer is ample, more property can be had
adjoining it. if in the judgment of this
Board it is absolutely necessary
DIRECTOR BERGER,S VIEWS.
Director Berger, of Hudson City, one
of the original Harrison site boomers,
said:-"In New York and Brooklyn it
is hard to get large plots for school
buildings. A High School is next to a
college. 1t should stand in the centre
of grounds and have lots of room for its
building. Much has been said of the
railroad dirt, SCOT and smoke, / took
pains to speak to patients in Christ Hos
pital as to that and none of them had
anything to complain about. The school
would not be exposed to that. As to the
saloons on that corner that Mr.. Coyle
spoke about. We have an Excise Board
and it could refuse to grant licenses for
saloons there. The Van Reipen estate
is not in it with the Harrison estate. 1
am not in a position to state that the
Harrison estate is assessed at $95, 600.
But if the other is only assessed at $751;
600 it shows that it isn't worth much
as a site. A school on the Harrison es-
tate will improve the property in that
section. Most of the scholars who take
the whole High School course, so the
President said, come from that part of
the city. Should we put the building in
a small plot if we can get something
larger?
OTHER VIEWS. 81
Director Lipman Lyons spoke in favor
of the Van Reipen property.
DIR. Egbert aid:-"It is wei under
stood how stand. I am very earnestly
in favor of new High School. / am
satisfied that majority of the people
want the Harrison estate. A certain num-
Der want other sites. A few are satisfied
with the Van Reipen property. AS re-
CARDS the school sites in New York, to
which allusion has been made, / believe
that New York buys small plots because