New-York tribune., 1909-05-20
HEALTH BOARD TO NOV /
CITY WILL NOT BUY PRES
ENT SITE.
Croker Bought Property for $780,
900. and Present O1CnerS " ant
Treble That 4mOunt.

Anv dav NAV be moving day for the Depart
mont of Health of the City of New York. The =
officials of the department want to move pu'
not now Some pleasant day about year from
now would suit them, they say and they hope
70 wait that long before leaving the present 10
cation. at J5th street and Sixth avenue bu'
they are harassed by doubts. They will remain
if not dispossessed. but they may receive
dispossess notice any day. Such nouce WIN
be sent when the property is sold for S4'o'OV''
and the property is for sale
The leases on the land and the various ouilu-
ings now occupied by that branch OF the Guy
government all expired on May / Ihe Guy
would not renew the leases, which had run Ioi
about ten years. Notice was sent TO tfle ue-
partment that increase of 10 per cent "ou'u
be added. making the yearly rental oil the pr"p
erty $4,000, beginning at that time. Inc cry
will pay at that rate monthly, but the depart
ment now occupies the present site iiVi0'S "
holdover tenant
Richard Croker purchased the present prop
ertv about ten wears ago for the Democratic
| Club jefferson NJ Levy said last night at MS
! home: Mr. Croker paid $I5ooOo for the prop
| erty and successfully opposed its pelhs u9eu
! for headquarters by the Democratic CIup. Inc
| Board of Health moved in instead, and' nave
| understood spent considerable money TO ehdHse
! the interior so that the work OF the department
! could be properly accomplished, 1t Is estiih''eu
! that 100000 has been spent in that way
! Controller Metz said yesterday that several
! sites owned by the city were being considered
for tne pse Of the Department of Health, and
that within year he believed a new location
would be at least decided upon IL not occupied
| THE price asked for the property Is consul
| cred exorbtant'' he added. and there Is no
thought Of purchasing II at that CT any oliei
figure on the other hand, the increase oI ~
! per cent In the rental making the present sue
! cost $4,000 "A year. is believed to be JuStii'eu
bv the increased valuation In the last Ten y"'i >
| The city has not signed any new lease, nor VIII
#. The owners can hold US for year 10y our
I failure TO do SO"
\ man conversant with all the facts pointed
ont that the city could borrow the S4JoVo re
/ ,,trad tn buv the present site, including the
/ a,,ansi,a improvements made to meet the neeuS
~ the department and, at 31a per cent Interest
amounting to SII7-O a saving OF Sli.2Jo WoNLu
no effected yearly. Mr. Metz repeated that tle
Mace for the Department OF Health was on
some site now owned 10y the city, and mentioned
the old CITY College. at I'D street and LeNihg-
,,p avenue as one Of the most iav0TaSie pros
pective locations
| At the Department of Health. Dr- waiter
| Bsnsel sanitary superintendent SAID;
The price asked for the present location Is
rr,,ibftlve As a matter Of fact. however. this
| r,,,srty viii not be purchased for the Depart
ment of Health at any price. That has been
definitely decided We have many locations II
view and shall probably determine upon sotl'
| ,,,o, owned by the city before many months
| ,,n. thing is sure howeyer-the Board OF Hea'''
is going To move"
The late H. J. Rraker bought the vacant lo'
inst south OF the corner building at Doth stree
a, | and sixth avenue and erected q one story puma
ing on il several years ago. and 1t was occupie'
by the Board Of Health The title To 'he man
, b,iIding was transferred to him His relations
With croker were intimate. Mr. Braker dled a
, | rlvroouth England September l. lsNo' th'
da, after landing from the ship that took HI"
from this country on a trip for his health
The Department Of Health needing sun more
- room. the second. third and fourtn stories -
; ,ho hrfIding at No. 1853 sixth avenue known az
~ westerly property were subsequently
, leased and a bridge erected connecting
I them with the main and intermediate buildings