Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-09-30
ROAD JURY AWARDS
IN THE NORTHEAST
DISTRICT OF CITY
Kensington and Lehigh Ave
nue. Changes of Grade Due
to Abolition of Railroad
Crossings.

In a report filed this month Horace
Yardley William r. Dougherty and James
Johnson, viewers, awarded damages
caused by the change Of grade in the
abolition of grade crossings on line Of
the Philadelphia and Reading Railway
Company, Richmond Branch, as affecting
the following streets:
kensington avenue, between Harold and
Boudinot streets; Lehigh avenue, between
bert streets, between Kensington avenue
and Jasper street; Tusculum street, be-
tween Kensngton avenue and Ruth
street, and Potter street, between Lehigh
avenue and Huntington street.
The change of grade of Kensington ave-
nue. at Lehigh avenue was approximately
eight feet six inches on the south side
and ten feet on the north side; the grades
of all intersecting streets being adjusted
to conform to this grade. 1t ran out at
26OS Kenslngton avenue to the south and
at 2745 Kensington avenue to the north
DAMAGES CAREFULLY CONsID-
Erred.
The viewers in making awards took
into consideration that the physical work
was begun during the years 1912 and 1918,
and the delay incident thereto, also that
in making excavations rock was found
in many instances and had not been pro-
vided for in owners testimony. This, of
course, doubled the cost Of excavating in
adjusting the properties to new condi-
tions.
AWARDS ON KENsINGToN AVENUE
70 properties .....................s s2o4, ,0j2. 90
do tenants claim.
LEHIGH AVENUE
81 properties NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. 50,40S. 90
ALBERT STREET
1 property NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. 300
oAKDALE STREET
s properties NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. 1858. 60
no damage.
TUscULUM STREET
POTTER STREET
II properties NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. 4,o2e.oo
/ no damage.
One hundred and hfty-six properties
were considered, and the total award
was s271.674,50 Taken as n whole, the
award seems as fair to both sides as
of rental and loss of business cannot
be regarded as such.
In the cases where no damage was
given six properties showed only a range
in change of grade from one-eighth of
an inch on one line to zero on the other
to one and seven-eighths inches on one
line to zero on the other One claim
was that of a tenant who had a yearly
lease, and the case of the Episcopal Hos
pital, where only the adjustment OF the
stone wall and iron fence on same, to-
gether with relaying pavements and re-
setting curb, was asked. This has been
done In the best way possible by the
city.
DAMAGE IN SMALL GRADES.
. In regard to the properties mentioned
with less than two inches OF grade, the
viewers have usually given something.
and it would seem that owners should
recover. Real estate men, except in q
few instances, are united in the belief
that there are damages even beyond the
grade to n point fixed by a well-known
broker. who testifies in a large proper
ton OF cases "a point where, standing
on the front steps, the grade Is plainly
visible" In Tioga and other sections
heavy loss of rental, both during the work
and a long time after, and the fact that
old rents do not as rule come back
within short time" as alleged by ex-
perts called for the city, clearly goes to
sustain the position that owners are en-
titled to damage
CONDITIONS BETTER.
Where a row of properties are in one
ownership and are adjusted together. a
decidedly better condition Is Immediately
manifest, as can be seen in properties
covered by this award, 26Cs to $3.50, in
elusive, Kensington avenue. These prop
critics have been adjusted at one time
by the Handy estates and look extremely
well. In a scattered ownership and
sharp drop at the end of the street, with
some owners making the change even
before the award Is paid, and others al
lowing the unsightly temporary wooden
steps TO stand for long time, so that
an unsettled condition spoils the street
buyers and renters are not keen to get
into the locality.
This is very apparent on Frankford
avenue north and south of Lehigh ave-
nue., and will also be seen in the section
under consideration.
ANOTHER REPORT SOON.
Testimony has been heard by this jury
also on C street, Tusculum street
Mill, corner OF Lehigh avenue and h
street Awards will be embodied in the
next report.
The city OF Philadelphia and the Phil
adelphia and Reading Railway Com
pany have agreed 10 waive an appeal or
the properties contained in this report,
and up 10 this date only one appeal has
been entered by an owner. on October
., being 30 days after ilins the report
said awards may be confirmed abso-
lutsly by the Court of Common Pleas
No. L.
NOTES OF THE STREET.
The transfers thus far for the week
show most activity in West PHILADELPHIA
and in the northwest section.
In the sheriff's sales advertised fov
october 5, West Philadelphia and the
southwest section have ore-third more