South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-07-08
Treasurer Martin and Auditor
SedgWiCk Defend VOOrde in
Valuations Placed on Certain
Downtown Business Property
OLIVER HOTEL HARD HIT
AND PLEADS REDUCTION
List Shows General Rising Scale
Asserted as Intended to Cor
rect Old Mistakes That
Worked Inequality.

The fight over appraisements on
downtown property was begun in
earnest Thursday morning when w.
L. Kizer Of the Kizer and WoOlvertOn
corporation, entered his protest on in
creased valuation placed on certain
business property. Before he was
through citing figures and making
claims certain members of the board
had warmed up to the situation and
thereafter there was no hair-splitting
in letting the remonstrator know that
the assessor had backing in his at
tempt to secure a general increase OF
values on certain property.
Kizer objected particularly to valu-
atiOns placed on certain Main St and
Washington av. property. The corpOr-
alton Of which he is a member owns
40 feet on the north side of Washing
ton av- between Michigan and Main
SITS. This is the property adjoining
the rear of tie American Trust Co.
building and the lot was appraised
this year at $1S.900 as compared with
an appraisement Of $11,SO four years
ago. The Improvements remain the
same at S5. 500.
This remonstrator based his claims
on the general proposition that con-
sideration should be given 10 the fact
that the downtown property owners
We're the ones who stood the lions
share OF the cost of city improvements
and that business and values would be
hurt If the board insisted upon in
creasing values at every apPraisement.
Board States Position.
The board has been listening to
complaints thus far without much
comment but the trend OF KIzer's re-
marks brought forth some emphatic
remarks from County Treasurer Mar
tin and County Auditor Sedgwick.
hizer was given To understand that
the board was not proposing TO lower
or 10 raise values but that they did
expect 10 see that there was more
equitable adjustment of values be-
tween Main St and Washington av.
property and Michigan ST. property,
according 10 pace set by township
Assessor VoOrde.
". a. McInerny appeared before the
board in behalf OF the oliver Hotel
Co. The oliver hotel site, facing 132
II. on Main IT. and 20 feet on Wash
ington av. has been appraised at $7O,-
l4U, as compared with S52,SOO for last
year The hotel is appraised at $140.-
900 as compared with S120.0O0 last
year.
Alleges Discrimination.
Objection was made 10 the valua-
ton OF the hotel on the grounds that
whatever improvements had been
made within the last year had added
nothing To the actual physical value
OF the properly. AS TO the real estate,
IL was held that the appraisemeut was
out OF proportion with that on ether
property particularly along Main St
and washington av.
The claim was made that the only
equitable basis for apprRisement was
on rental values and tt was pointed
out that buildings were lying vacant
on Main St for lack OF tenants ut $50
and s7b a month, while places on
Washington st. between Main st. and
Michigan st, rented at from $3.50 to
$40 as compared with $500 and $3.50
on Michigan st. 1t was declared
however, that no serious objection 10
their appraisement would be made by
the hotel company II it were made
ON the same basis as for other prop
ertY,
Eli +. Seebirt made the request OF
the board that II there should be
a general lowering of values along
Michigan ct. he would like 60 have
the Hobbs property at ;. Michigan
and Wayne SITS. taken into Considera-
Ion. lie held that the rental value
O. the building did not justify the In
crease this year 10 S23,330 over S16,-
t@0 four years ago.
Comparative Valuations.
There are many complaints being
made To The board on appraisement of
outlying property for there has been a
general Increase over the whole city.
This increase has been made "on gen
eFal principles as stated by a mem
Der OF the board Of review Thursday.
IL is expected that concerted action
VIII be taken by Michigan ST. owners
VINO hold that their valuations are now
as h6h as they can afford TO have
them The assessors figures on
Michigan 81. property between ColfaN
and Wayne, for this year and last
year are here given:
West side of Michigan ST. south from
COlfaN q Washington
Owner Feet 1918 1914
liuines Eghert ... 90 SI5q2O 81. 100