New-York tribune., 1919-10-15
Van Cortlandts Sell Mile
OF Broadway for $953,375
Builders, Spectators and Investors Vie With Each
Other for Land Granted to Selling Family
$50 Years Ago; $4,000 Lot the Average

time that any part Of this land has
been offered for sale, gentlemen" re-
marked the auctioneer. Some one
shouted $4,000. Immediately the bid
was lifted to $4,000, then TO So 600, and
in offers of $1,000 Mr. Kennedy soon
had price of $4,000 for the lot But
this was not satisfactor, 70 either the
auctioneer or Mr.. Davies. ai. the crowd
was told that Broadway lots in Yonkers,
where trxes are higher than in New
York, and where the outlook is not over
grear park, sell for much higher
prices.
Auctioneer Awakens Bidders
The comparison awakened the bidders
to realization Of the value of the
property, and higher bids were offered
for the corner. 1t was finally struck
down for $4,000 to Patrick Murphy,
who said he bought it for Billy Gibson,
the sport promoter. Half an hour later
the lot had been rcsold by Mr.. Gibson
through Harry Phillips to lie Roy
Soher at profit of So 900,
The next lot brought $4,000, and the
next two on Broadway $4,000 each.
The average for Broadway lots in the
block north to 251st Street was high.
The lowest price paid was $4,000 each
for three lots about midway between
the two crossings and the shallowest in
the entire frontage.
The south corner of Broadway and
261st Street, the second corner offered
in the sale, brought $7,250, which was
the price paid for the two adjoining
parcels on Broadway. the three lots
being bought by the same buyer.
Had to Pay Profit for Old Home
Among those who bought in this block
were Samuel Goldsticker M. Hamilton,
LIE Roy Sober and Miss f. M. Shea, who
bought the dwelling just south of the
plaza, which she occupied for long
time. Apparently she was not in the
auction room when the property was
offered, as she had to pay profit to
regain her old home, the house and the
two lots having been sold for S16,750.
Broadway lots in the block between
251st and 252d streets sold for total
of S11975O, which Is an average Of
S4,277 Corners brought S4,500 and
$1,000 and inside lots $3.50 to $1,000.
The dwellings and two lots it covers
in this block were bought by Katherine
Keegan, who occupies the house, for
S12,500 She has paid $40 month for
the dwelling for long time, Among
those who bought Broadway lots in
Holobo, il. Paul Greenwall, Stannard
Mean. Albert F. Versen. Mrs. e. Wash
burn, NJ. Swerner and l.. Olive. Some
of these lots are to be improved
shortly with apartment houses. The
average for Broadway lots in the next
block north was higher, it being $4,625.
The eight lots sold for total of
$4,000.
Shaniey Buys "A Block
Thomas j. Stanley, who conducts a
restaurant further north on Broadway,
was keenly interested in the sale, but
not until the auctioncer had announced
he would sell III the bloca between
252d and 253d streets did he offer q
bid. He secured tie entire block front
on the south OF 253d Street, Il plot
Of seven lots fronting seventy seven
feet on Broadway, PIP feet on street
and seventyiive feet on the Old Post
Road, together with dwelling for
$17,300. He bought lots in the next
block to the north. His total invest
mcnt was about $56,80O.
The big prices of the sale were oh
tanned for the property at the foot OF
the Van Cortlandt Park subway station,
system and several Bronx and Yonkers
triangle was secured by restaurant in
tcrests. The triangle at Broadway and
Spuyten Duyvil Parkway, fronting
about * feet on Broadway. on which
are seV, buildings under lease until
1923, bro ght S102,50O, which was paid
by the c. & L. Lunch Company.
Tho next 100 feet on Broadway. on
which is an amusement building,
brought s47,5oo. Two different inter
ests bou 1t the land, which was divided
into four lots and sold that wuy. The
two nearest to the triangular corner,
which were first knocked down at $10-
coo each, was put up second time,
but only SGT 800 was secured. W. L.
Thompson bought the otner half of the
plot and the building for $4,000.
The cheapest lots were those front
ing on Tibet Avenue, 250th Street
end the Post Rond. The highest price
paid in this block was Sl,450 and the
lowest S325.