The Detroit times., 1913-02-13
TO CUT FRILLS
FROM THE DEPOT
APPROACH PLANS
Now Proposed that Esplanade
Scheme Give Way to ZOO
Foot Roadway
COST is ESTIMATED
AT ABOUT 100000
Suggested that Expense be Split
Among Railway, City and
Property Owners

Tentative plans for the building OF
an approach 10 the new Michigan
Central depot were finally adopted by
the council committee on street
openings Thursday morning, after
being held up for over year by the
alderman in an attempt TO make the
railroad company pay half the cost
OF vacating the property which is
valued at over 100000.
Instead of the imposing esplanade
as first proposed the aldermen now
suggest an approach, 200 feet wide
which will lead to Michigan-ave., az
right angle from the front OF the
depot building The Michigan Cen
trail will be asked to bear one-third
of the cost OF yacating the strip
which starts near Seventeenth-st, and
strikes Michigan-aye. at Fourteenth
ST., Michigan-ave. being diagonal
thoroughfare. A special assessment
district covering Fifteenth and Four
teenth.sts.. froai Aichigan-ave., 10
Marantette-st., and both sides or
Michigan-ave., from Eighteenth-st. TO
Woodward-aye., will be laid out and
the property owners assessed for
one-third the cost OF vacatlng the
property for the approach. The other
third will be spread on the city as
sessment rolls The special assess
ment district is intended to cover the
property that will be particularly
benefited by the improvement
A representative from the Michigan
Central was not present in the meet
ing and the committee clerk--was. In
structed TO forward the proposal TO
the company for consideration. The
property owners iFthe special as
sessment district viii be given hear.
ing before the committee, in four
weeks. -g-
After a wrangle lasting two hours
and taken part III by aldermen, mem.
bers of the city plan and improve
ment commission, interested real
estate men and attorneys represent
ing abutting property owners. Aid.
Vernon suggested the plan which was
adopted.
In addition TO the 200-foot APP
proach, the plan takes in a semi-cir-
cular piece OF property In front OF
the depot for park purposes. This lat
ter require the vacation OF about 81
50-foot lots.
Aid. O'Brien made a hard fight TO
have the cost OF vacating the property
divided equally between the Michigan
Central and the city at large.
You know we can't get the corn.
pany to agree to any 90 or 40 pei
cent proposition" said Aid. Vernon
1T Is just that sort OF blum that has
been blocking this proposition. right
along"
After Corporation Counsel Lawson
told the committee that the property
could be condemned for street or parl
purposes In the usual manner AID
0Brien made his usual fight for tn,
abutting property owners, claimin,
that II should be considered a genera
! Improvement to the city. The alder
man finally agreed TO a special as
sessment district to bear one-third o
the cost.
In the tentative plan suggested b,
Charles Moore, president OF the cit,
plan and improvement commission
the widening Of DalzeIle-st. was ais,
recommended to accommodate traf
DC to and from the new depot.
Nothing doing" cried O'Brien
The widening OF Dalzelle-st. vii
make Michigan-ave. an alley. The
avenue Is wide enough to take car,
of all the traffic.
ITS the same old CHESTNUT
scheme OF the Woodward-ave. mer
chants to ruin the business places OF
Michigan-ave. Michigan-ave. prop
erty owners and merchants to a man
Will object to any such plan. The
real estate men also want to open VI
yorktown BY the widening OF Dalzelle
1t.
"The downtown merchants and real
estate men have black-ballsd, side
stepped and pussy-footsd around this
dspot proposition SO long, that / am
Disguised with them"
Mr.. Moore informed the alderman
that the plan to widen the street orig
mated In the civic COMMITTEES OF the
Board Of Commerce
They thought IL would be a good
street for automobile drivers to use"
suggested Mr.. Moore.
Yes. and they want the Door peo-
pie out that way to pay for their auto
mobile driveway, too" retorted
O'Brien.
The Dalzell-st. plan was finally yot-
ca down and Aid. Vernor's plan prov.
ca satisfactory solution OF the prob
lem that has long been botherine the
aldermen. II Is now UP TO the Michi-
IAN Central to accept the plan II the
company refuses. the committee will
De no farther ahead than Il was q year
ago at this time