New-York tribune., 1909-11-08
NEW HEALTH HOME
DIR. BENSEL INSISTS.
Department to Urge 4ction at
Once.

As the result OF the dispossess proceed
iEgs against the Health Department by The
counsel for the executor Of the estate OF
~ J. Braker. Controller Metz and Dr. Wal
ter Bensel. the sanitary superintendent ~
the department. will inspect the building st
10th street and Irving Place this morning
ON Friday Dr. Bensel will appear before the
Board Of Estimate and Apportionment and
urge that body 10 purchase the structure as
a new headquarters for the health offices
There was no evidence yesterday that the
hoard would accede 20 Dr. Bensels request.
Rut il was said by n Health Board official
last evening that none cf the buildings
suggested by the Controller was suitable:
that none Of the sites before him for consid-
Grafton were I'm desirable places. and that.
after all. a would take too long 10 build
rev headquarters. The Irving Place build
inF vas chosen by the Health Department
IN August. as exclusively told I'm The TTib-
une. and that is the structure the depart
ment wants.
Controller Metz. II was said yesterday.
docs not purpose 10 PAY the additional rent
for tho present building occupied by Dr.
Dsrlington's men. Tho estate executor
wants S3oe a year. Before the lease OK
pired I'm May the rent was 100000. The
dispossess case VIII he heard on Thursday.
but IL Is not expected that tho estate will
win. Preparations arc already being made
10 sue the city for damages and n was said
last night that that would in all probability
ba tho outcome Of tho case n was further
said that the city had no defence TO n DAM
age suit.
Controller Metz, speaking Of the price
asked for tho present Health Department
- 49,
The price asked for the property is con-
sdered exorbitsnt. and there is no thought
n purchasing n ~ that or any other
figure on the other hand. the increase Of
~ per cent in tho rental. making the pres
ent site cost $4,000 year. is believed TO be
justified by the increased valuation I'm the
last ten years. The city has not signed any
new lease, nor will e. The owners can
hold US for = year by our failure 10 do So
Soon sftervard the Controller took up his
pencil and found that the increase In rent
would he ss instead Of 10 per cent.
Months ago The Tribune brought out the
fact that the city, b. its inactivity in this
particular instance. was placing itself az
the mercy Of tho property owners, but the
city officials sat back and did nothing. The
necessity for action ono Wav or the other
was apparent more than four years ago.
when the inadequscy Of the present head
quarters and the undesirsbiity Of the stu
alton became apparent.
For five years the Health Department has
been urging the city 20 provide new build
ing for st." said Dr Bensel last night.
The Irving Place structure is situated in
the right section. and Il can b. altered 70
suit the department without excessive cost.
Partitions viii have 10 he changed and new
partitions will have 70 be put in. The ar
rangements for the lsbora tories, and the
peculiar furniture necessary for the vaTi
Gus bureaus viii add 20 the cost Of making
the change. The cost Of the building and
land is SsA"no. Tho cost Of making the
necessary changes viii be about si00.9o.
And tho place is more than large enough
for all the department bureaus and Offices" ="
No inspection Of tho building relative 70
its stability had been made up to Saturday
night by the city authorities. The Board Of
Estimate viii be likely 90 demand report
from an expert. ami that will cccasion
more delay. Put Health Department Off
cials believe that they are ~ last about -
get what they have needed for years.
new home for their work.