The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-02-04
Building Likely to Eat Up
$4,000, 900, Instead of $780,
100000 Estimated.

land on the west side OF II not needed
by the improvement. the whole transac-
ton TO give the city much more area at
decreased cost. He said that the add
tional land would cost about s3,e6S,5OO
and that by selling land the city will
not need he could get back more than
that amount. Inquiry develops that he
is the only man interested In the court
house matter who thinks that way.
II is this additional land that the COM
mssoners who were appointed yester-
day will acquire. Comptroller Prender-
gast makes no hesitation in saying that
by the time the city gets the needed
property II will cost not less than s6,-
al, 900 His experts working with the
best real estate talent available also
have figured out that the most the city
can hope to obtain from the sale OF rem
nants Is about s2,5o0.0O0, leaving
charge for land alone of more than
1000. 900.
Mr. McAneny says the removal Of the
location OF the building toward the east
was done for econOmy's sake and he gives
at least six reasons. The Court House
Board says the site was moved to avoid
making changes In the Centre street sub
way and to avoid an area In which the
worst foundation, conditions were to he
expected Members OF the Real Estate
whole programme say the change was
made because somebody forgot to find
out II there was anything but mud on
which TO build the structure on its orig
inal site. Borings have been made In
the new location, and the engineer,
Daniel T.. Moran, says that good coarse
sand Is to be found at reasonable
depth. but no rock. and IL is now pro-
posed to put up the building on this
sand The foundations Oh this sand, IL
Is estimated. will cost about 100000
This shifting OF site probably Is the
prime pal cause OF delay and II will hold
up any start on the building for at least
one year. even though the commissioners
In condemnation work rapidly. But a
years delay is charged 10 the Supreme
Court Judges by the Court House Board
and Mr.. McAneny because they would
not approve the plans.
one OF the results Of the delay in con-
struction is q series OF charges which
the city Is in no position just now 10
/ stand. The interest on the amount paid
| for the site has been told but there is
added to this each year considerable
sum charged up to the Court House
Board. The expenditures from July 10
to date are fixed by the Comptroller
office at S249,245 Mr.. Prendergast said
yesterday that he had tried 10 abolish
them, but had been unsuccessful.
The board maintains splendid offices
at us Broadway. for which they paid In
| December. 1914. S572.92. or at the rate
! OF S6.S75 "A year. The offices house one
! secretary and two women stenographers
The commissioners. Ave OF them. receive
annual salaries Of $1,000 to earn which
/ they meet one day each week, and the
secretary says that some Of them are not
/ In good attendance. Walter Cook was
retained by the board as consulting
architect at $4,000 year until Mr.
Prendergast caused the boards budget
to he cut last year They also had T.. =
Goodrich at $500 year as consulting
engineer. though he already was on the
city payroll. lie too was dropped as a
salary man.
one other interest is being heard in all
the confusion. He is the property owl er
in the section OF land now to be acquired
II was announced last May that the
city would take the property. but II will
he at least year before title to II Is
vested IL the city. Hy the frs, NJ Ia VI
October practically every tenant ha,
moved out Of the area, leaving building;
entirely vacant in many cases. and nc
new tenants could he had. In one build.
Ing alone the rent roll was reduced from
$4,000 to 100000 The owners still
pay taxes and interest on mortgages.