The San Francisco call., 1909-09-04
CHOOSING ARMORY
AND SCHOOL SITES
Erection of Two Public Build
ings Involves Expenditure
of More Than Million
Active Dealing in Small Realty
Holdings in All Sections
of the City

sT'vo projects Of first Importance re-
,atfng 70 realty are before the public
me selection OF site upon which 10
Mace The new Lowell high school and
securing the site for the armory at Van
,less avenue and Bay street. The high
school involves a cost for ground OF
s7s5 ace Al the outside limit, and the
expenditure Of s450.0o0 for the school
structure. The armory project calls for
sl6o .o00 to pay for the selected site and
th4 expenditure Of $4,000 spproprl-
s+eS bv the state for the structure.
in the two projects. therefore, more
tnsn 81 0oo. eco viii be expended in per-
'-nsneflt improvements. In the last week
stir las taken place in both matters
Tie san Francisco real estate board
las adopted a form of letter TO be
sent out by. every broker who is
member Of the board to clients advis-
ing them TO contribute for the purchase
Of The 500. 600 site for the armory.
SITES FOR HIGH SCHOOL
The discussion Of school sites has
been stimulated by an offer Of site
bounded by Bush. Pine and HYDE
Sfseets The history of the search Tor
The lowell site is interesting Three
sites are now before the building COM
s. rnfttee of the board OF supervisors Ior
consideration-one bounded py flrsI
avenue. California and Sacramento
streets: another by Masonic avenue,
Ashburv, Hayes and Grove streets. and
the third by Bush Hyde and Pine
streets.
At meeting Of the committee last
Tuesday the North Beach Improvement
club. the Polk street district improve
menu association and representative
citizens from other sections appeared
10 advocate the Bush and Hyde streets
site Frank Morton, principal of the
Lowell high school. favored this site
because of the central location and
other advantages that he found
The claims made for the latest site
are that il is more than two miles
closer. in that either Of the other sites,
and that il is served by every streetcar
system in san Francisco. that the IN
ION street line. transferring TO Hyde
street makes this site easily accessible
from the North beach and the Presidio
Districts. and the California street sys-
TEN serves il directly. The Sutter street
ear line. extending from the ferry TO
the Cliff house. is within one block.
while the Polk street crosstOwn line is
within q block and a half. Polk street
transfers 10 all east and west lines and
taps the Mission and Potrero districts.
On this account. il was argued that
each district had direct car service TO
the property and that, in point OF time
a well as geographical situation, the
Bush and Hyde street location is most
central
Morton called attention to the fact
that this site is removed one block
from the noise and disturbance incident
10 heavy and frequent car service. and
said that the frequent interruption Of
recitauons throughout every school
daN. year in and year out means a
financial loss 10 the city as well as a
great detriment TO the proper educa-
tion OF the student body.
The city has for several years been
in search Of q site east of Fillmore
street. At one time il was underta ken
10 purchase the Bell property, at Suffer
and Octavia streets. The price, how
ever. exceeded the appropriation, which
amounts 10 sI65.0O0.
HOLDING Is SLIGHTLY
Later a strong effort was made to
secure q holding bounded by Clay,
Cough and Washington streets but the
price asked was $4,000 This site
was considered favorable both as TO
size and location, although il is some
what smaller than the Bush and Hyde
streets site.
A rough plan was presented 10 the
committee showing that the site at
Bush and HYDE streets viii accommo-
date a building l75 feet by 275 feet in
dimension. leaving a yard space which
the principal Of the school considers
adequate.
The city already owns a part of this
site. s1:6xl37,6 feet, which can be con-
served by the selection OF this ling
II was argued that the Bush and
HYDE streets holding is slightly. OF
commanding position and fine eleva-
tion, and worthy Of the noble building
10 be erected The investment. all told.
viii exceed 100000. and it was said
that such an expenditure would do
much toward stimulating the rebuild
ing Of the burned district
A letter from Rev. d. o. Crowley
strongly favoring the Bush and HYDE
streets site as the beet was read. Faith
er Crowley expressed confidence that
the present administration would Sc
cure the site that would best serve the
children Of all the people.
Sales and Leases
1t is possible that a transa ction in
realty may soon take place that will
interest church gOers and realty men
IN several parts Of the city There are
small COngre egational congregations in
the Western addition and in the Rich
mOnd district that have under consfd-
Grafton plan that has been suggested
70 unite one strong church. to sell
their properties and to unite their
funds in the purchase Of a proper site
and in the erection OF a costly church
edifice 10 be located north of Sacra-
mentO street and east of First avenue.
in a locality that is easily accessible
10 all the present congregations that
may unite. and that will be placed in
a fine neighborhood that is now with
out any church The plan has nd pro-
gressed beyond the stage Of discussion.
and there is nothing definite abour If
A contract has been let by the Sterl-
ing realty company for the grading Of
five blocks OF land IN the Sunset dis
trict that are between X and I. streets
and Twelfth and Nineteenth avenues
The property viii be placed on the
market.
Sell Geary Street Property
Clara Herrscher has purchased from
DR.. Otis B. Spalding. through the
Burnham q Marsh company. 25xI05 in
the south line Of Geary street, S7:6
feet east of Mason. The transaction