Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1923-03-13
condemnation
BODY RESUMES
HEARINGS HERE
Case of John 0'Buck Finished
at Session at City Hall
This Morning
PROGRESS BEING MADE
Two Cases, Including Too
Ian's, Are Ended-Many
Witnesses Are Called

When the condemnation commits
sion today, resumed hearings on the
condemnation of property needed in
railroad grade crossing elimination
through this city, the case of John
O'Buck, which was left uncompleted
when the commission adjourned on
February 10 was finished This
makes two cases on which hearings
have been completed, the other being
that of the property 'wned by John
E. Toolan. All the commissioners
are present at today's hearing. They
are: Frederick Weigel, chairman;
wick and John NJ O'TooIe of this
city. The Central Railroad is repre-
sented by William A. Barkalow and
Andrew ]. Wight, while Adrian
Lyon. represents the Lehigh Valley.
Mr.. O'Buck was represented b.
Joseph Deegan.
The first witness was Sophus Grei-
sen a mason contractor. Mr.. Grei-
sen testified as to the value of the
O'Buck property and said that TO re-
place the building would cost SILL
coo. The building at the present
time is worth $4,000. He alleged
that although the building now is
in perfect condition in case it was
moved the material could not be
used over.
In concluding his testimony he
went into details and explained why
repair jobs are not as good as the
original. He claimed that the NOV
ing of the house back to a new loca-
ton would be considered a repair
job.
Hans Nielsen. real estate broker.
who testified that he had been in
business in this city for the past
twenty years, was the next witness.
Mr.. Nielsen declared the land to be
worth $3.50 per front foot or $3.50 for
The entire lot. The building he tes-
tilted is worth $4,000 as it stands
today. IF twenty-five feet is taken
off the front of the property. Mr..
Nielsen said that land would then be
worth but $500 and the building
about $4,000. making the entire
property S2,500. He claimed that
the damage to the property if moved
back would be about seventy-five per
cent.
Mr.. Lyon. for the railroads. point
ed ont that il would be twenty-six
feet from the front of the property
10 the viaduct, and asked Mr.. Mel
sen how this would change the rental
yalue. after Mr.. Nielsen had testified
that the rental value at tho presen.
time should be SIS a fiat, and that
after the viaduct is built and the
property moved back it would be s1)
fiat. Mr.. Nielsen in answering the
question said TN my judgment il
would
Philip Costello. valued the .and
at from $500 TO $4,000 and the
building at the present time at
50. 900 He said that by taking off
twenty-five feet from in front of the
property the damage Will be about
seventy-five per cent. Mr.. Deeran
at this point attempted to read a rt,-
port on land value obtained bv the
City Plan Commission and pTblisheI
in the Evening News. Mr.. Lyon en-
tered an objection which the COM
mission sustained.
Mr.. Costello testified that properly
east of the railroad in Wasainston
street is worth fifty per cent. more
than west of the tracks, because it is
more likely TO develop into business
property. Another factor AIR Cos
tello pointed out in lowering tie
value of the property is that the rail-
road has acquired land on either side
of the O'Buck property and ii is not
known what this land may be used
for. In answer to Il question from
Mr.. Lyon as to what the property
would be worth if the railroad allow
ed the present property to remain as
residents, MIR. Costello said that the
rental value would be from SIS 10
SIS a flat. At the present time he
declared the rental value to ce $40.