New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-07-31
Victory Block
Sold by City
For $2,900,0OO
Site Chosen for Proposed
War Memorial on Park
Ave. Disposed OF When
Association Fails to Bid
Henry Mandel Purchaser
% Story Office Building
Will Be Erected Where
Grand Union Hotel Stood

The block on the east side of Park
Avenue, between 41st and 42d streets,
upon which the Victory Hall Associa-
ton proposed to erect a memorial
building, was sold by the city ycster-
day to Henry Mandel, representing a
corporation which will erect a twenty
five story Office building on the site.
John Fl. Delaney, Transit Construc-
ton Commissioner, who signed the
contract for the city, said he believed
the sale definitely precluded the pos
sibility Of the erection of soldiers
and sailors memorial on the site, al
though the association. which is head
ed by General George ". Wingate, will
have the power for few months to
acquire the property under condemna-
ton proceedings.
The block is the site of the old
Grand Union Hotel, which was taken
over by the city in 1914 for subway
construction purposes. The Victory
Hall Association early in Nav decided
that it would be an ideal location for
the proposed memorial. An offer to
sell the property at auction was made
by the city on May 26 at a price not
less than S2,800,000. 1t was expected
that the Victory Hall Association
would be the bidders. No bids were
received, however
Price Is S2,900,O0O
The lack of bids led F. H. La Guardia,
President Of the Board of Aldermen,
and other city officials, to call upon
General Wingate for an indication of
the associations intentions. # was
declared that the association had not
yet begun to collect funds for the. pur-
chase Of the property. The date for
drive for 10000 600 was set for next
Armistice Day, November II, General
WIngate said
Mr.. Mandel bought the property for
S2,9O0,o00,' said Mr.. Delaney in an
nouncing the sale yesterday. "He paid
10 per cent on signing the contract
Another payment of S265 900 is due
September Is and the remainder on
January a.
"The Victory Hall Association had
every opportunity to buy the property.
but it didn't have the money Nego-
tlations for the present sale began
last June. Sufficient notice was given
of the citys intention to sell. The
proposed price also was we'll known, so
that anybody had the privilege of of
fering more. Under an act of the
Legislature, the association still may
acquire the property by condemnation
proceedings. In this case the value
would have to be determined by the
courts and any improvement would
have TO be considered
Officials of the association could not
be reached last night. General Win
gate was out of the city Charles Fl
a Il ho J.,
about it.
At the time General Wingate an
nounced the selection of this site Mr.
La Guardia protested that 1t WAS not
necessary to use such expensive prop
erty for memorial. His attitude was
Endorsed by the members Of the Munich
pal Art Society. General Wingate ex-
planned that Pershing Square was con-
sidered hy the members of the Ameri-
can Expeditionary Forces as the most
suitable spot in the city.
"The association does not propose to
ask the taxpayers for cent" he
added. "Our plans call for subscrip-
tions from the people, rich and poor
alike"
The associations plans called for
the use of the entire block, extending
through to Lexington Avenue. The
memorial was to contain a coliseum
capable of seating 10000 persons. The
upper floors were to be occupied by
American Legion posts and other
patriotic bodies. There were to be an
exhibition hall, Hall OF the Allies
and & Shrine of Memory. Around the
walls of the COLISEUM were to be in
scribed the names of New Workers who
lost their lives in the war
The site has an area of As, 425 square
feet. 1t has a frontage of 23O feet
each on Forty-frst and Forty-second
streets and of 1877 feet on Park Ave-
nue.. 1t is understood that the cor
poration which acquired it will erect
an office building to cost $4,000 900
The street floor will be entered
through an arcade, with entrances on
Park Avenue and on Forty-second
Street. The floors above the first two
stories will set back from the side
walk line. The foundations for the
building were provided for in the
building of the Lexington Avenue sub
way, which runs beneath the property
IN