Richmond planet., 1909-07-17
WHITE PROPERTY
OWNERS OBJECT.

quite a commotion has been caus-
ed by the proposal to erect a banking
and Office building on the northwest
corner of Third and Clay Streets.
The following extract from the news
columns Of the Richmond. Va. Times
Dispatch Of July 9, 1909 will explain
itself.
Plans were fled yesterday in the
Office of the Building Inspector FOR a
four-story brick bank and office build
ing for the Mechanics Savings Bank,
John Mitchell. Jr., oolored. president
20 be erected at the northwest corner
of Third and Clay Streets
Already a vigorous protest is com
ing from the neighborhood, all
OF the householders on this block up
90 this time being white, the block
being one of the best OF the residence
section OF Clay Street. and there is
much complaint AT the effort TO build
a colored bank building in that quar-
ter. Property owners along the
block are already considering apply
ing for the establishment OF a build
ing line which would prevent the e.
rection OF the building out TO the
street, making IL conform TO the line
of present houses The plans filed
call for q four-story brick building
10 come out flush 90 the street line.
both on Clay and Third Streets. the
structure TO cost $4,000.
Last year when negotiations were
pending for a sale of the old Quaker
Church, west of First Street on Clay
fo "a polora,a pn,rraoaffrv, ,ssf,,,,.- -
property owners Of the neighborhood
held "a meeting of protest, and the
negotiations were called OF for the
time.
The colored section back Of Clay
Street has long been contested and
limited by the ravine on the north.
and has no other means OF growth
than 20 the south. Already colored
churches and other buildings have
pushed out on Leigh Street until the
City School Board has determined to
abandon Leigh Street School at First
and Leigh, as a white school and use
the building for the colored normal
school
The proposed bank building. how
ever. If erected, will be the first
building Of a business character and
the first occupied by colored people
on that section of Clay Street.
VISITED BUILDING INSPECTOR.
Seeing this John Mitchell, Jr.,
President OF the Mechanics Savings
Bank went down TO the City Hall
and visited Building Inspector Beck,
who Informed him that he had not
had time to look over the plans which
had been filed in the Office by Con-
tractor ID. J. Farrar, but that he
would as soon as he could con-
veniently do so. but he was very
busy.
NOTIFIED BY THE CLERK.
He stated that he had been noti-
fed by the Clerk OF the Committee
on Streets that an application had
been filed before the Committee for
the establishment OF a building line
on the block on which the Mechanics
Savings Bank proposed TO build. HeI
had a discretionary time limit OF ten
days, which in all cases of this kind
he deemed it advisable TO take and
he would for that reason decline to
issue the building permit. although
he saw no objection TO the building
and as the law now stands, he felt
that he could not refuse to grant it.
WOULD WAIT FOR THE COMMIT
TEE.
He would wait until after the 18th
when the Street Committee would
consider the application OF two-thirds
OF the owners OF property in that
block. Mr.. Mitchell went to Mayor
ID. c. Richardson, City Engineer
Charles +. Boiling and Chief OF the
Fire Department, Mr.. w. II. Joynes.
He called TO see the City Attorney.
After satisfactory conferences with
all of them, he later called on the
Clerk OF the Street Committee in
order to see the application for a.