The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-05-13
|0P P OSITION IN
UPPER B RAN c H.
.Aldermen Not in Favor of City.s
Buying Ford's Hotel
Block.
NO BUILDING PLANS NOV
Legislature May Decide to Bid
on Property. as State
Needs 1t, Too.

vigorous opposition Is developing in
the Board of Aldermen, according to
well Informed members, to the reso
luton providing for the acquisition Of
Ford's Hotel block. which comes I'M
tor concurrence on Tuesday night.
having been passed with but one dis
senting vote in the Common Council
me ground OF the opposition has not
heen iuilr stated, except that some
members of the Board consider the
purchrse unnecessary, holding that
the CITY Hall VIII be ample for years
10 come Tor municipal needs, and that
me purchase OF the Site would result.
IN the immediate launching OF a move
inehi 70 erect an expensive courthouse
puiiuins at time when money is
more urgently needed for development
or the outlying territory and recently
annexed sections both north and south
of the river.
Whit Advocates Claim.
On the other hand. advocates of the
resolution declare that the price is
most reasona ble-lower. in fact, than
was Anticipated when the City Attor-
ney was authorized TO enter Into the
negotiations. and that II is tho part
OF wisdom to make the purchase while
the property can be secured, rather
than pay 4 large. price for II later
on
Members Of the Finance Committee
assert that there is no intention of
proceeding with the erection of a
municipal building for the present
not. in fact, until the various agree
ments guaranteed under annexation
ordinances have been fulfilled. which
VIII necessarily take several years
The fact is that the Ford property
is OH the market, and II not acquired
by the city a this time. will be i'm
proved. and If the city sought TO ac-
puire 1t by condemnation later the
cost would be Increased by the value
OF buildings erected. The Ford estate
has been in litigation in the Chancery
Court ior many years. a plan for the
division has at last been agreed upon
and confirmed by the court, and the
sale of the property has been ordered.
with n view of winding up the Ford
trust. t
Should Use opportunity.
Taking the ground that the city
should take advantage of the oppor-
tunty, Chairp.~n Pollard. OF the III
nance Committee. offered the resolu-
ton. explaining at the time that the
real estate firm with which he is con-
nected had at one time been retained
to effect a sale of portions OF the
block, but had retired from that en-
EaEcment before he advocated the pur-
chase by the city. a small lot front
ing on Broad street in the middle Of
the block is owned by Councilman Gil
bert * Pollock, who has his law Of
fees there, and who for that reason
asked TO be excused from voting when
the matter was determined In the lower
branch.
Preliminary estimates were that the
block would cost the city not less than
$4,000 TO 100000. and some sur
prise was expressed when the City
Attorney reported that the entire
block bounded by Eleventh, Twelfth.
Broad and Capitol Streets could be
secured for 100000. In fact, two of
The Ford heirs protested to the
agreed upon between the City Attor-
ney and Ford estate trustees. and ap-
proved by the Chancery Court. was
too low. Attorney Richard Evelyn
Byrd appeared before the committee
on behalf OF one of these heirs
state May Acquire II.
Several members of the Legislature
have in the past advocated the acqui-
si.ion OF the block for State adj
minstrative building. as it Is real
lied that any additional building
within the Capitol Square would mar
its beauty. The State has not taken
any action. MS heretofore the litigation
over the Ford property prevented its
sale but that barrier has now been
removed and II the city were TO buy,
there is every prospect of an offer
from tic State next winter 10 take
the lot over at an advance. providing
the city is willing to surrender It,