Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1920-07-29
CITY PLANNING
To RUSH WORK
ON NE v PAVING
Special Commissioners
Meeting Set for Monday;
MetCaIf viii Not Get Per-
nit to Remodel Building.

A special paving meeting will be-
held by the city commissioners at
p. IN. Monday to clear up matters
relating to many projects under
consideration and to decide which
sections of the city will be paved
first.
Dates for hearings will be set at
this meeting and s,eps taken to
place specifications on file for the
benefit of the taxpayers.
An assessment ordinance for paw
ing on South Fourteenth street
from Cenral to Copper avenue
was passed.
A large part of the meeting was
given to discussion OF the commits.
sion's stand on the building ordi-
nance and the present controversy
with w. p. Metcalf in regard to
repairs on a frame building which
he proposes to remodel with corfu
guated iron and concrete finish.
The commission has refused tOI
grant a permit for this remodeling
on the ground that the building is !
beyond the so per cent deprecia-
ton stage.
VIII Support GIaddlng.
The commissioners in informal
session were solidly agreed to back
the position Of City Manager Glad
ding i'm his contention that such a
building would be unsafe and that
the letter of the ordinance be fol- |
lowed. 1t was felt that granting a
permit to Metcalf would bring
similar requests from other proper
ty owners and thus defeat the pur-
poses of the ordinance.
City Manager Gladding told the
commissioners that fire underwrit- |
ers would class the building MS
frame with the proposed improve
ment and that the ordinance pro
hibits construction OF frame build |
ings or repairs If the building raS
dereciated more tnan so per cent.
Determination Of the decree OF
depreciation is settled under terms
of the ordinance by commission
composed of an appointee OF the
city manager and one of the party |
to the dispute. If they cannot reach
a decision third member Is to be
selected by them.
Anticipate Legal Fight.
If Metcalf takes the matter into
the courts the commissioners VIII
fight they decided.
The benefits OF the ordinance JUS
tity a struggle to enforce It 70 the
letter, Commissioner Mclaughlin
declared, citing several instances OF
old buildings, eyesores and IRE
hazards, that had been torn down
after the commissioners had re-
fused to grant permits for repairs.
The commissioner were a.So or
The opinion that to grant permit
10 Me, calf would embarass them In
view of the fact that other properly
,wners had been forced TO abandon
planned repairs under similar CIR
VIII Reduce switching. Of
Switching over Central avenue,
/ matter which has troubled Rne
for some time, is
% be cut 20 per cent by CON
,truction of two more side tracks
3outh of the crossing, r. w. doSt
If the Santa Zee offices, announced
1t the meeting. Ordinarily Trans
cross from one side or Centrdl
avenue to the other severa! times
and the two new tracks VIII ELM
nate much of this switching, Mr.
Ioyt explained.
tche Central avenue crossing
came in for more prominence
when an ordinance was Introduced
by City Attorney Kelehvr prohio-
ting autos and other vehicles ffom
after the fagman had
warned them of approach OF
rains. The ordinance was passed
With a penalty of fine from - TO
$50 for violations.
Complaints were made to MIN,
Mr.. Keleher said that motorists
we're rushing across the tracks
barely ahead of trains and that
signals of the flagman were rarely
regarded unless the train was
in sight.
Work on Building Ordinance.
City Manager Gladding an
bounced that a new building ord
nance which he is working on
with the city engineer will be
ready for consideration by the
in about six weeks.
Commissioner Mclaughlin pre-
sided at the meeting in the alb
snce of Commissioners Reynolds.
Commissioner Council is also alb
sent from the city.