Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1913-06-03
TRY TO FIX PRICES FOR
JOINT BUILDING SITE

The first hearing of the Condemna-
ton Commission consisting of S.
Frank Ewart, Charles II. Gawthrop,
W. Harold Smith, John ]. Satterth-
waite and John Nivin recently ap-
pointed by Resident Judge Rice to
appraise the properties on the site of
the proposed city and county building
between Tenth and Eleventh street
and extending from King to French
streets was held In the offices OF w.
S. Hilles, counsel for the Joint
Building Commission, in the DUPONT
Building this morning. The meeting
was called to order at Ills o'clock.
The condemnation commission, the
Building Commission, property own
ers, their attorneys, and real estate
men were present. Prior to the
meeting the condemnation commits
sioners and their attorney visited the
properties desired for the site for
the city and county building site and
examined thom They then went to
the offices OF Mr. Hilles.
AS all the witnesses desired by
some of the property owners we're
not present, It was decided to take
up condemnation Of properties where
the attorneys we're ready.
Today's hearing was the first OF
several that will be held. The men,
bers we're surprised somewhat at the
figures asked for several properties.
John G. Goodwin, of Philadelphia,
owner Of the building, No. 1905 King
street, said he bought it several
years ago for $3.50, and while be
received but 5000 a year rental from
the Delaware Turf Club, the tenant,
he wanted S22.5OO for II.
John +. Neary, attorney for Good
win, brought out the fact that let
ters had been exchanged between
Mr. Goodwin and MIR. kurtz for the
property, and those were read. In
the first Of these, Mr. Goodwin stated
he did not desire to sell, but last Feb
ruary he expressed. willingness 70
sell, saying he had received an offer
When asked today by Mr.. Hilles to
state what the offer was. MIR. Good
win said a Philadelphia attorney had
offered him 1927 800. as he thought he
could make something out of it.
]. Jackson PIERCE, a real estate
broker, was called and he said he had
examined all the properties and he
placed value on the property own
ed by Mr.. Goodwin at Sl6,500, which
was at the rate of $500 a foot front
When asked by Mr. Neary to divide
the value Of the frontage on King and
French streets, Mr.. PIERCE said hf
valued the King street property al
S400 and that on French street al
800 a foot
Joseph l.. Carpenter, another rea
estate man, claimed the property was
worth at least $500 a foot, and Rob
ert d. Kemp. of the Artisans Savings
Bank. said he valued it at $3.50
foot. The entire value of the land anC
building, he thought, would be abou
S11, $50. This. he said, allowed 5000
for the building. The property, 4
was said Is assessed by the city FOL
$4,000 and the county assessment
was raised this year to sl1,500
Mr.. Kemp said while he had no per
sonal knowledge Of real estate, hi
company advanced money on such
He referred to the fact that the Od
Fellows Company paid but $3.50
foot for their property on the bloc
adjoining that desired by the Com
mission
Poter,J. Ford said he. as membe
OF the Elks. had offered TO purchas
the property from the Odd Fellow
before they built and had offere
them first $4,000, then $4,000 an
would have paid $4,000 for the site