New-York tribune., 1907-01-31
ALBEMARLE CLOSED.
REASON rs 4 MYSTERY.
Dispossess Proceedings. Sag Oscners
Building Unsafe, Lessee's Replg.

For the first time in many years the old Hotel
Albemarle, in West oath street. was tenantless
yesterday. Early in the morning the score and
a half of guests, whose nerves had stood the
noise of constructing the new wing of the Hoff
man House Tor many weeks, moved out, and
then soon after all the furnishings of the hotel
sent to storage warehouse.
In the wall OF the hotel overlooking the West
25th street excavation for the Hoffman House
is long crack which appears to have been
there for some time. The wall has been shored
up by the contractors, and the danger of the
crack spreading or endangering the stability Of
the wall seems remote.
While the owner OF the property. Francis s.
Kinney, who also owns the Hoffman House
property, says that he will renovate the old
hosiery, It is not likely that it's character will
change materially. For years it has been the
favorite stopping place for naval officers and
visiting Englishmen of rank. Admiral Dewey
Admiral SchIey and Admiral Davis were fire.
quent guests. and Ex-Governor Higgins often
there. Many OF the guests who left the
hotel had been there for fifteen years or more.
Many of them found quarters at the Lafayette
Brevoort, with which Mr.. Libbey, the proprietor
of the Albemarle connected for nearly
twenty years.
The stories about the fitting of guests and
proprietor Of the Albemarle are conflicting.
First, a. w Hall. the agent for Francis s.
Kinney, declared that question OF the
safety of the building was concerned. but that
it had been vacated under an order Of Jus
tice Joseph in the 9Th District Municipal Court.
He said that Mr.. Libbey. who has had
the hotel for eleven years, had refused TO
pay rent because Of the damage caused by
the construction work on the addition to
the Hoffman House. Mr.. Libbey later said:
I have been tenant of the Albemarle for
more than eleven years. My landlord. Francis
s Kinney. having purchased the old Hoffman
| House, began 10 demolfsh II last June. The
| nuisance from the noise of the work has been
| increasing constantly. Then, too. the excavat-
! ing work endangered the walls OF the Albemarle
and they became dangerous and unsafe On
| Buildings Department. Justice Newburger de-
| clared the west wall unsafe and ordered that IL
| be propped up. Since that time cracks have
| appeared In the walls and there was a con-
slant and disagreeable vibration day and night.
This disagreeable and dangerous condition
drove my patrons away. The business Of the
house fell off, and the net profits were not
enough 10 pay the rent. However, continued
TO pay rent up TO October l. when. acting on
the advice Of my lawyer. I refused 20 pay any
more rent until the danger and nuisance ceased.
Mr.. Kinney far as his leases are concerned.
Is indemnihed by bond furnished by the con-
tractors. the Thompson-Starrett company.
Since the nuisance will continue for many
months and the earning power OF the hotel
practically will cease during that time, have
closed the house.
Further than this Mr.. Libbey would say little.
The d!spossess order was served ON him last
Monday, 10 take effect at once.
At tho Bureau OF Buildings 1t was said that
the regular inspector for that district was ex-
arnining the AIbemarle daily. and that spe-
cial weekly inspection also being made.
Chief Inspector OConnor says that hts man Is
watching the building carefully. and that a
close watch is also being kept by the contrac-
tors engineers.