New-York tribune., 1912-04-07
FOR ASSESSMENT AREAS
Plan for Bridge Plaza Reduces
Cost To TaXpaYers.


cooperation with its support OF the pro-
posed scheme of Bridge Commissioners
Arthur J. OKeeffe, for a Brooklyn Bridge
PIAZZA improvement. has drawn up chart
OF assessments, indicating that the taxpav-
crs I'm the neighborhood OF the proposed
area would have to pay very little II the
city scattered 10 per cent OF the cost Of the
project over limited area. This system
Of assessment is 90 be taken up at a meet
ing Of the executive committee which has
in preparation a resume OF the plan Tor
the approval Of Controller Prendergast.
IT Is the opinion OF Commissioner O'Keeffe
that to carry out his plan OF switching the
elevated trains from Fulton street through
to Adams street and all tho bridge terminal
alterations would cost 10000. Further
than this the proposed plan Of the city TO
get the ownership Of certain territory along
High. Washington and Fulton streets would
cost about 100000
The executive committee Of the city
planning organization agrees that the city
should pay the 100000 for the plaza prof
ect. and that the remaining sum OF 10000
should be divided among city, borough
| and neighborhoOd OF the Improvement.
Following out that suggestion and assum-
! ing that the neighborhood bear 10 per cent
OF the 100000 cost. or 10000 map.
showing four different areas of limited ex-
tent. has been prepared for presentation IN
| the Controller Together with the map is
the assessed valuation OF the property in
| Guided.
| The first area includes the property I'm
medIately 10 be benefited by the change.
and Is bounded By York street east 70
| Adams street. to Fulton. to Smith. 10 Liv-
ingston. 10 Court, TO Schermerhorn, TO
| clinton. to Pierrcpont TO Monroe Place. to
Clark, 10 Henry and north 20 the starting
place under the bridge. The assessed valu-
| alton Of that section and its propery Is
s7,1Ts,N5. On the 10 per cent basis the
cost 20 property owners would average III
per cent to raise the necessary 5000
placed upon that section.
Assuming that the Brooklyn Heights sec
ton was to be included III the second area.
an assessed valuation OF s51 10000 would be
added, and the average for property owners
| to raise tho necessary 500 nO0 would be one
| half Of per cent.
The third area extends from Adams street
to York, to the Flatbush avenue extension.
| TO Johnson street. to Bridge and Fulton
streets. with an assessed valuation OF N2,-
600 or total when added To the second
| area of S53. 10000 One-half OF ] per cent
would here cover the property owners en-
tire assessment
The fourth area includes nine blocks, con-
sisting of Hoyt street, Fulton, Smith. Lv-
ingston, Court, Schermerhorn. Clinton and
| ta kanl 10 .,I tp a1
al S1l. COL 900.
| Thus the total assessed valuation on the
entire four areas is about Sj207,2l5. To
raise the 10000 tax on the section on a 10
per cent basis property owners would have
to contribute slightly more than two-fifths
of l per cent However, the plan is not
meeting with appreciation. by any means,
and prominent real estate men are rallying
to the opposition on the threefold ground
| that there would be an elimination of
| 2,coo,OO worth Of taxable property, the dis
| turbance OF many old and established busi-
ness houses and a large cost for mainten-
ance. resolution opposing the plan has
been sent to the Board Of Estimate, and
the prime mover in the matter is George T..
Lovett.
| Fart OF the resolution reads as follows:
We maintain that the plan TO take and
devote the property to park purposes is
against public policy and would create a
condition which would be inimlcal 10 the
entire section and In no wise benefit the
community"
Mr.. Lovett said he was not opposed to a
beautiful Brooklyn movement, but that
he did not believe the proposed expenditure
and revolution in the downtown business
section was In proportion to the benefits TO
be derived from IT..