The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-05-25

Walter L. Badger has just closed a
series of long-pending real estate deals,
which have resulted in the sale and
lease to W. L. Harris, president of the
New England Furniture and Carpet CON-
pany, Of nearly all the block bounded
by First and Second avenues S, Sew
enth and Eighth streets. The transac-
tions will result in the erection OF re-
tail store buildings for the company
street and the probable early improve
ment of the Eighth street side. Mr..
Harris is bound by his contracts to
build within fixed period. The lease
of the L. NJ. Stewart property, which
the New England company now occu-
pies, expires in a few years, and it is
probable that work will begin on the
new buildings within a year. Oppor-
tunity will thus be given the New Eng
trolled by itself and commensurate with
the demands of the magnificent business
which it has built up.
Leases and Purchase.
! The transactions which Mr.. Badger
has just completed include a hundred
year lease of the old Centenary church
corner, a lease, running the same time
of the Loren Fletcher estate at Sew
|
chase Of the Farnham estate, or Chris
| tianson corner, at Eighth street. Mr..
Badger had previously sold to Mr..h ar
ris the Eighth street frontage adjoin-
ing the Farnham corner and running to.
ward First avenue. This is the entire
block with the exception Of the Thomp,
son estate, occupying 89 feet on Eighth
street, with depth Of l65 feet on First
| avenue.
The Centenary lease is made with ths
Lillibridge heirs, Mrs. Mary Cobb and
Mrs. Bertha Merrill, on valuation basis
of $125,OOO This includes two lots front
ing 1872 feet on Seventh street, with
depth Of l65 feet on First avenue. The
second lease was made with Congress
man Loren Fletcher on basis OF
100000 valuation. 1t includes three
lots, with frontage Of 19S rect OF
Seventh street and depth OF Io5 Zee
on Second avenue. The Farnham estate
was bought for Mr.: Harris ~ Tor s! =;
ci,fdes two lots with 1872 feet frontage
on Eighth street and a depth OF 10:
feet. Last fall Mr.. Harris bought, thr.
Mr.. Badger, the adjoining two lots, O.
ITO feet frontage, from Edison Dayton
The lats were secured on the. low basil
of prices prevailing at that time.
The size of the deal and the tremen
dous opportunities contained In II 10
the New England can be grasped whe1
it is said that Mr.. Badger has secure'
for his client total OF LOOT feet stree
frontage, or all the frontage on the en-
tire square, except 253 feet.
Seventh Street Corner
Mr., Harris stated today that for som
time he has been convinced that Sew
: enth street, and particularly that sec
ton of it south of Hennepin avenue
: was the logical future retail district
the city; that the history Of the bus
ness development of practically ever
city of the country has been the earl
occupation as vacated of the best res
dence district, by the leading retail es
tablishments
"The property now controlled b
me,O he said, Golfers exactly the pos
sibilities I have desired for the Ne7
England. I might say that the imme
date controlling influence, aside frol
, nv JUDGMENT as to the value Of the locs
ton, was my Inability to secure frol
Elder Stewart an extension OF m
present lease, which would justify 9
, permit the Improvements l was PIT
pared to make at my present location:
"I still retain the option Of conti1
= uing my present lease, at it's expiration
but my present purpose is to improve
in the near future, the Seventh stree
property, erecting thereon a building {
buildings, which shall be a credit to tn
city. In the meantime the improve
ments on the property will PRACTICAL
\ care for it,