The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1919-04-10
WILL BUILD Z
FEET FROM CURB
Houghton & Simonds and j.
B. Manley Agreed 3
Years Ago
TOWN FREE TO USE
STRIP OF LAND
These Facts Have Bearing on Advisable
ity of Establishing Building Line OF
Widening Main Street North Of High
Street,

With view to getting at the exist
ing facts as to the need for establish
ing building lines ON Main street, north
of High street, which is one of the
things contemplated inthe warrant for
a special town meeting to be held Tues
day evening, April %, inquiry was
made today of Houghton & Simonds by
one of The Reformer staff as to just
where they intend to build their garage
on the Hooker property with respect to
Main street. The question brought out
an interesting fact, and inasmuch as the
owners announced intention to build
on the land west of Main street is what
started the petition for town meeting
it is due both TO the tewnspeople and
to the owners of the property involved
that this fact be called to the atten-
tion of the public, although not with
any idea of prejudieing anybody :
| views.
i Three years ago, when Houghton &
Simonds bought the corner lot of John
lB. Manlev, it was their intention ia
erect mercantile building thereon. Al
that time it was agreed between
Houghton & Simonds and Mr.. Manley
that neither should build within ap
h proximately eight feet of the east line
of the lot, which would be - feet west
of the street curbing, survey by
, James p. Helyar showing that the prop
Ierty described in the deed held by th,
Hooker estate extended easterly to EN-
lbrace about one-third the width of tn,
Main street sidewalk. This would bring
the building back not quite on a lin,
, with the Brooks House.
This agreement has continued eve
since, and the parties now state tha
4 they viii build in accordance with il
in the event that no building line i
Established by the town.
When Houghton & Simonds eontem
Iplated building three years ago the,
. stated their plans to the board of sc
: Ileetmen, saying that if the town wishe
: to utilize the space easterly of til
g agreed upon line, for sidewalk an
{. street purposes, it could do so, whic
$ would enable the town to have II
$ foot sidewalk besides widening tn
n street two feet if desired, and no n
enumeration for this privilege would b
/ asked. This offer still holds good III
's der present conditions. Whether th
g town would be required to pay for a
d the land it took in case an arbitrar
It line was established requiring the built
Sc ings to be set farther back cannot /
stated, as no proposition of any kin
{ has been put up to the owners.
Houghton & Simonds plan to erect
IS onestorv garage with plate gla
n. front Their frontage is so feet. tt
o, High street side is to be of glass al
e. stuceo work Tt is not to be set clo
h to the High street sidewalk, and the
r. will be opportunity for straighteni1
that sidewalk if the town decides
do So The Main and High street co
ner of the building viii not be a squa
corner. but will stand diagonally aero
en- from Main street to the High sire
side, and will contain plate gla
window.
OF The question of widening Main sire
4y- is one that viii need to be looked in
~. carefully Unless a wedge-shap
,or street is to be created 1t wou
xi- be necessary to widen the street nor
de- as far as or beyond the Unitari
on. church, if it was widened anywhe
nat and that manifestly would invol
ers large expense. There is a question a.
ala as to whether the town could take a
~ of the lot in front of the federal bui
- ing.
Tba This point and others involved dou
~ less will be looked up thoroughly
fore the meeting by those who ha
asked to have the meeting called, !
!. of course the question of widening
street is entirely independents of
son proposition to establish building line