New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-08-08
WANT HALLENBECK
BUILDING ALTERED
Proposition to Make the
Structure in Civic Cen
ire an Office.
ESTIMATED COST
OF PROJECT $500, 900
Plans Provide for About | 80, 600
Square Feet of Rentable
Space.
By the Real Estate Board of New York.

By the Real Estate Board of New York.
Laurence ". D. Mcclure, President
OF the Real Estate Board, says he has
been informed that the requirements OF
TIC County Court House are for 70
chambers Of about 1000 square feet
each. This would be equivalent to 81
600 square feet Of space without ante
chambers. etc He believes that
building properly designed and planned
10 contain 100000 square feet OF space
would be sufficient for this specific pur-
nose He insists that the present
scheme advocated by the Court House
Board is wasteful because if the vast
?rea selected for this purpose is used
and all buildings now standing IN TINS
area are demolished. the total expense
will be at least S3O,OOO,OOO, including
the cost Of the ground, the cost Of the
building. carrying charges, expense OF
relevel;ng and regarding the district
etc
Mr. Mcclure states the city IN the
original proceedings secured 4o4'oOV
.o,are feet Of ground, while the second
rrorecdincs brought to the city 10000
additional square feet, title 10 when
vas vested in the city May last. In
other words a total of 100000 square
feet Of ground has been purchased ior
the Durpose Of erecting court mouse
roouiring only 100 900 square feet OF
mace II the scheme in its present
shane is carried out at total cost OF
100000. 600, allowing for loss OF taxes
iron, this real estate and per cent
interest on the money, fixed charge
~ 81 600. 600 annually viii be SaddIed
on the city.
Vr Mcclure believes that II would be
rossible for the city 20 nave private
Larties erect a suitable building COLI
tanning 100000 square feet OF space
End lease this 10 the city Tor .
square foot. or S2OO,OOO year IN
cher words. the present scheme, Il II
IS carried out. means an annual loss OF
practically Sl.SOO.OOO IN carrying
CHARGES in perpetuity, and the tieing
ND of S3OOOO000
On the Court House question Mr..
Mcclure further says: The cry mas
committed itself TO the purchase OF
$50 GOO square feet OF ground Tor
county court house A modern building
containing 100000 square feet would be
large enough for court house purposes.
Such a building could be constructed on
n plot Of 10000 square feet. Allowing
80 per cent. for courts. etc, sucn
building need be only six stories. ne
fact that nine times as much ground as
il necessary for this purpose mas Deen
secured is the best evidence Of the eX-
trayarance and waste in handling this
al 81 do x 9
CITY Of New York to over 40 individual!
buildings which are in the plot secured
for county court house purposes.
"Why was so much property as TINS
+atero To this question no one now
seems 20 be able 20 give an intelligent
an wer.
at has been stated that civic cen
ire i, TO be created and that state and
National aid would indirectly be given
through use of part of the land. But
the best information is that neither the
National Government nor the state
Government has authorized the state
ments that National or state buildings
viii be constructed on the plot.
Another startling feature Is that
practically all Of the 40 buildings TAX
On by the city for this county court
house have been demolished as quickly
T.. the CITY could get control Of the
rrcucr:y. and In many cases the city
paid substantial awards 20 have leases
nth OK sting tenants cancelled, so that
thc work of destruction could proceed
raIddlv Many OF these buildings are
row offered for rental al lower rates
chan The old tenants were raging.
"Thc public is well aware of the fact
hat through che persistent efforts Of
enc Real Estate BoaId the sale of the
~ 1x., l1o L.