The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-05-13
COLLEGE MAY HOLD
BROAD STREET SIDE
Removal of Richmond Academy
May Exempt Property
From Taxation.
LIBRARY PLAN PRACTICABLE
Wyndham R. Meredith Favors
Retention of College Library
by City.

Plans for opening Grace Street
occasioned a somewhat stormy debate
before the Council Committee on
Streets yesterday afternoon, though
no final action was taken a subcom-
mittee, headed by Mr.. Gunst, reported,
favoring acceptance OF the dedication
OF the street and of two parallel al
leys, the city to provide gas and
water mains. sewers, curbing, and
roadbed passing to cost. with tho grid
Ing Of Grace Street and both alleys,
approximately $4,000. The plan pro-
poses development of the 500 feet OF
Grace Street lying nearest Ryland
Street ut once, the remaining 470 feet
TO be improved when the college
moves to Westhampton, about January
l, 1915. Much stress was laid In the
subcommittee's report on the fact that
the entire tract. so long as used for
educational purposes. was exempt from
taxation, and that when divided into
lots and built over, II would yield tho
city handsome revenue. fully justify
ing the outlay for improving Grace
Street.
May Exempt Brond Street Front.
Mr.. FULLER said he had been informed
that it was the intention OF the col
'leGe to hold Its Broad Street frontage
for tho present; and that on removal
by the college. Richmond Academy
would be moved from it's present loca-
ton on Park. Avenue to the dormitory
building OH the Broad street side OF
the college campus. In this way the
whole valuable Broad Street frontage.
he said, would continue TO be used
for educational purposes. and so Oo
exempt from taxation, while really be-
ing held for enhancement In value
before il is marketed. After consid-
cradle debate, the proposition was sent
back TO the subcommittee, consisting
of Messrs. Gunst and Vonderlenr and
Chairman Pollock was added to the
committee. which was instructed TO
confer with tho college trustees. and
formulate a plan for Il definite con-
tract showing exactly when the prop
erty would become taxable. and at
what time the various improvements
were to be made.
Robert y. Pollard. who represented
the college trustees, said that soma
members were getting impatient at
the delay, and were DESTROYS OF sell
ing some lots in order oraise money
to prosecute the building plans at
Westhampton. Unless some definite
contract We're entered into, he thought
the trustees would very soon dedicate
Grace Street. and begin TO sell lots
on It rs 1t stands. leaving tho pur-
chasers to secure from time TO time
such improvements as they could from
the city.
Library Plan Is Practicable.
Wyndham Il. Meredith. president OF
the City Library Association, spoke
briefly on tho practicability OF secur
ing the college library buildine--the
present southern wing of the main
building; for a city library.
The tower and chapel are in the
line OF the extension OF Grace street,
but the wing, II was shown from the
drawings, could be secured intact,
fronting on new Grace Street, and, IL
sufficient ground wero obtained, hav-
ing its main entrance on Franklin
Street. ~ strip of 200 feet running
through the block would be sufficient
land, and he thought II the city would
buy this lot. the college would do
nate the building as it stands for IL
brary purposes, in Wow of contem-
plated improvements. The committee
committee appointed before was in
structed to take up this matter also
with the college trustees.
Mny Buiid I'm Street.
The committee recommended adop-
ton of resolution instructing the
City Attorney To acquire land to open
Cleveland Street from Kcnsington to
Grove Avenue. a. V. Shea. real es-
tate agent. appeared before the com
mittee and stated that this street had
never been dedicated, and that some
one had purchased lot and secured
a permit to build just In the. line OF
the street, fronting the house on Grove
Avenue. The City engineer was In
structed TO prepare a plan for the
opening of the street, and to notify
the property owner OF the intention of
the committee to recommend that 1t
be opened.
Application of interested property
owners for opening an alley through
the Sheppard tract. north OF and par
allcl to Monument Avenue was re-
ferred to a subcommittee. consjstfEg
of Messrs. Nondeclenrs Moore and
Gunst to take up with the trustees
of the sheppard estate the question
OF opening and dedicating all tho
streets north of Monument Avenue
and west OF Sheppard Street.