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 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
Jasper and A streets. Oakdale and AL
bert streets, between Kenslngton avenue
and Jasper street; Tusoulum street, be-
tween Kensington avenue and Ruth
street, and Potter street, between Lehigh
avenue and Huntingdon 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
260S Kensington avenue to the south and
at 245 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
76 properties Observation-Disclosures $2O4 O52 90
1 damage
1 do 0enants claim.
LEHIGH AVENUE
"a properties NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. 90 4gS 90
ALBERT STREET
1 property .......,..............,. 5000
oAKDALB STREET
properties NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. 2U33. 90
no damage.
TUsCULUM STREET
IS properties Observation-Disclosures. 11,1l5.OO
POTTER STREET
II properties ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 100000
l damage.
One hundred and fifty-six properties
were considered. and the total award
was $271,674,J0. Taken as a whole. the
award seems as fair to both sides as
may be, when it is considered that loss
of rental and loss of business cannot
be regarded such.
In the cases where no damage was
given six properties showed only range
in change CT grade from one-eighth of
to one and seven-eighths inches on one
line to zero on the other. One claim
was that of a tenant who had 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.
nANJAnE SNAIL. npAnE'S
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
few instances, are united in the belief
that there are damages even beyond the
grade to a point fixed by a well-knOwn
broker, who testfies in a large proper
tion 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 long time after, and the fact that
old rents do not a 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 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, 26OS to $3.50, in
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 a 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 Lehlgh ave-
nue.. and will also be seen in the section .
under consideration,
ANOTHER REPORT SOON.
Testimony has been heard by this jury
also on street. Tusculum street.
sterner street. and on the Bromley
MIL corner Of Lehigh avenue and b
street, Awards will be embodied in the
next report.
The city of Philadelphia and the Phil I.
auelphla ana Reading sSaIlway Com .
pany have agreed to waive an appeal on
the properties contained in this report.
and up 10 this date only one appeal has .
been entered by an owner on October .
s. being 30 days after hlinE the report. /
said awards may be confirmed abso- /
lutely 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 Sherf's sales advertised fo-
October s. West Philadelphia and the /
southwest section have ore-third more
properties than the rest of the list. which
Is wid2ly scattered