Evening journal., 1917-01-12
SEEK TO FIX Value
OF AVEHUE Clutch
Colonel Slower Estimates
Value of Entire Site of
Ediiice at $4,000
PORTION NEEDED FOR
STREET WORTH $665O

The commission to condemn proper
ties required by the city for the pro-
posed opening OF West Tenth street,
from Tatnall to West street, which
would mean the tearing down Of
Delaware Avenue Baptist Church, re-
sumed its sessions yesterday after
noon. Thomas Tanall was the first
witness called by the city, and quail
fed as an expert in real estate mat
tiers. The DR.. ]. w. Mullin property,
No. 91S West street being the first one
considered, Mr.. Tatnall was ques-
toned relative to its value. He esti-
mated that $4,000 was a fair value to
place upon the property. He estimated
the land as being worth $50 per front
foot. total value of $4,000 and valued
the house at s4-950.
Under crOss-examination by William
T. Lyman, attorney for Dr.. Mullin, the
witness was asked to state If the build
ing on the land could be replaced at
this time for $4,000 Mr. Lynn OBJ
1ected to this line of -eXamina-
ton, on the ground that the question
Of replacement by the city was not to
be considered by the commission. The
object was sustained. and the commits
sion took the stand that values should
be shown as they actually stood at this
time.
The witness stated that DR.. Mullin
had had a recent offer of Sl5,5OO FOR
his property. but reiterated his esti-
mate as 50 600. He said that prop
erty on Delaware avenue was more
valuable than those on West street.
He told Of the effect of the erection
of the dupont building and of the
trend of business along Ninth street
and Delaware avenue upon property
values in that neighborhood.
Mr.. Tatnall was the only witness
called by the city relative TO the Null
lin property. Mr.. Lyman announced
that he would present DR.. Mullin' 8
case at a meeting to be held this at
Assistant City Solicitor Lynn re,
called Colonel Stoyer of the City As
sessment Board, in connection with
the Delaware Avenue Church prop
erty and testified that, taking the
Delaware avenue land value as
basis the porperty was worth $3.50
per foot. at 100 feet deep He gave
no figures on the valuation OF the
church edifce. His estimate of the
value of the land which actually would
be taken by the bed of the proposed
extension OF Tenth street was $3.50.
This does not include the entire plot
owned by the church authorities
Mr.. Emmons contended that, If the
street he'd was worth $3.50. and the
entire plot worth S4s00O the church
should receive the difference, SAL 100
as damages on the land value alone.
On cross examination Of Colonel
Slower by Mr.. Emmons, the witness
stated that a church was not con-
ducive to the increase Of land values.
as would be the case If It were a
business property. lie said the land
would be worth approximately 500
per foot more than it is, were the
church building not there, and the
property vacant The witness was not
permitted to give replacement costs
in case OF the church desiring to re-
build within one block of the present
location. Witness said that, taking
the proposed bed of the street from
the lot. and calculating the value on
the Delaware avenue basis, the value
of the remaining irregular lot would
be s35,S22.
In answer 10 a question from Mr..
Lynn. Colonel Slower said that, with
the street cut through, the value Of
the remaining triangular lot would be
enhanced
The commission decided to resume
the hearings on the Delaware avenue
church property on Tuesday after
noon next. The hearing in the Mullin
case will be resumed this afternoon.