Los Angeles herald., 1907-01-28
WANT TWELFTH
STREET OPENED
PROPERTY OWNERS ARE NOT
DISCOURAGED
Street Car Officials Deny That Any
Notion Of "Grabblng" Street
When improved Is Con-
templated


received several setbacks despite the
Endorsement of the board of public
works, has been rejuvenated.
Despite publications some time ago
that the Huntington and Interurban in
terests want the street straightencd
merely to make grab property owners
and representatives, led by Attorney
Will A. Martin, are making a deter
mined effort to have the street straight
ened and opened.
They have reached the conclusion
from talks with street car officials that
Twelfth street will not be used for
street car purposes, which removes tine
only objection that has been cited.
Attorney Martin and committee Is
sued statement yesterday which was
mailed to all Twelfth street property
owners which reviews the situation
from their standpoint exhaustively. 1t
says in part:
Conditions Reversed
You are perhaps advised that there
are proceedings pending before the city
council for the opening of Twelfth
street from Figueroa street to Sentous
street. This matter Is one that is of
interest to every property owner whose
property is or will be affected by such
improvements, and as perhaps you are
unadvised of the status of proceedings
and have not had time to give 1t your
attention we take this opportunity to
invite your attention to It,
Twelfth street is an open thorough
fare from Figueroa street eastwardly
to far upon the east side of Los An
geles 1t is closed between Figueroa
and Georgia street, but Is open from
Georgia street westerly to Hoover.
That portion of Twelfth street between
G.. ...A.. l..
line with Twelfth street from Sentous
westerly, but has a pronounced jog in
it of some $50 feet. 1t is our contention
that 1t Is a public benefit that Twelfth
street be opened; that West Twelfth
street is an important crosstown thor
oughfare and is in line with the direct
growth of the city, and when opened,
if the same be done in accordance to
the proposed plan, the property 'front.'
ing upon it will be much more valuable
than upon any other crosstown street,
Seventh and Pico and immediate busi-
ness property excepted.
Only Straight Street
when so opened Twelfth street will
be the only straight street between
Seventh and Pico, and 1t is conserva-
lively computed that property upon
Twelfth street will be enhanced at least
go per cent of it's present value. This
statement Is evidenced by the high
values now prevailing upon Seventh
and Pico (straight streets) and the COM
paratively low value upon Eighth,
Ninth, Tenth and Eleventh logged
streets) 1t will be remembered that
heretofore Twelfth street has been the
cheapest street between Seventh and
Pico. There has been less Improvement,
less building, poorer sidewalks and
fewer lights. This is true from Main
westerly. nnrhanQ
lington west.
TT is our contention that the reason
therefor is that Twelfth street is closed,
and so long as it is in that condition
business will not turn down it.
Your attention Is called to the rapid
increase In value on Sixteenth street by
, proposed improvements of widening
and Strengthening; on Washington by
paving; on Ninth by proposed widening,
etc, etc.
This matter has been agitated some
several times, but has been defeated by
lack of attention to it, by concerted
action. When first proposed some sew
eral years ago 1t could have been done
for $50, 900; the next time for about $780,
600, and 1t is now literally estimated at
$4,000. Each year it has become more
expensive by reason Of the increasing
value of the property to be condemned,
especially the Figueroa frontage.
VIII Save Expense
1T will be opened some time, and the
sooner the better, to save expense. Now
is the time to open this street straight
and eliminate all jogs.
1.-THE petition to open the street was
originally filed by Kincaid and others
to open Twelfth street from Figueroa
to Georgia and make another jog at
Figueroa. We would then have the
worst logged street in the city. A
counter petition was filed asking that
1T be opened straight from Figueroa to
Sentous, running across the back end
of thirteen lots.
"The board of public works and the
council acted upon the last petition.
The ordinance had been drawn and ap-
proved by the council and mayor and
posted upon the street, and the pro-
ceedings have become final unless pro-
tested out within thirty days. There is
a protest against 1t and the matter will
be finally decided according to the will
of the property owners.
1.-THE assessment district extends from
Main to Hoover (both sides of Twelfth)
and 125 feet upon both sires of all cross
streets, both north and south of
Twelfth, between Main and Hoover.
This makes about five miles or more
of frontage to be assessed and the as
sessment will, therefore be very light,
and will be on a graduating scale ac-
cording to proximity to the property
condemned.
1T is computed that the assessment
will be from SIS front foot at the point
of opening down to so cents and less for
more remote frontage.
Property Is Rising
Property has already risen on
Twelfth street 25 per cent by such pro-
posed OpeninR and should 1t now be
defeated there will be a depression by
reason of the reaction.
THE protestants are making capital
out OF the allegation that there is to be
a street car line run down the street,
and cry heavy assessments, and hold
up the boyle man of corporation to de-
feat 1t, that they may refile their petit
tion and have it opened crooked, upon
which we would pay as much and the
benefit be nothing except to those few
who conceived the crooked plan that
they might gain corners by such OPEN