New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1923-05-12
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Vote TO CONDEMN
COOKIES PROPERTY
Town Meeting Instructs Select.
men 10 Offer $4,000 for Land
.BENzON SPRINGS SURPRISE


tiees-Iown Plan Iiearing-Rriefs
The voters at special town meet,
ING held last evening in the town
hall In Plainyille voted "a offer the
John Cooke Co, $4,000 for a tract OF
land ON Linden street consisting O,
seven and one-half acres Ia he used
tor school PURPOSES and If the offer
Is refused. 10 take steps 10 condemn
the property This action followed
the report OF the special committee
which was accepted at the adjourned
meeting OF last evening.
The special committee consisting or
First seleetman William J. johnson.
IT, s, Mills and John n. Minor. re-
/ ported through Mr., Minor that they
! had investigated the matter and had
two land propositions 10 offer The
| first was a plot OF land owned by
Fred Callen consisting OF three acres
with n frontage on Linden street Of
| 1913 feet and a depth OF f7G feet,
price $500: the second. n plot OF
land on Linden street owned by the
John Cooke Co, consisting Of three
and three-luarters acres with q
frontage on Linden street OF 45n
feet and a depth OF 365 feet, price
$4,000. or plot containing the
smaller pieces of seven and one half
acres for $1,000.
Mr.. Minor stated that the commit
tee had brought only two parcels of
land before the meeting because the
need for a school was In the eastern
section of the town and these were
the two best available sites there. He
stated that the committee had no rec
ommendation to make. but in n gen
eral description OF the parcels. he
stated that the Cooke property was
low and the Callen property was
high and better ground and IL the
committee was to report, 1t would
recommend the Callen tract.
Favor Large Tract.
Several present spoke in favor OF |
buying the large tract for future
needs of the town. No action could |
be taken at this meeting because 1t |
was an adjourned meeting to vote on
the report of the committee and the
report was accepted.
Town Meeting Held.
The call for special town meet
ing was then called and the meeting |
was convened. Its purposes were to |
purchase a site for school building |
and appropriate the money for the |
land.
Mr.. Diston moved to purchase the
entire tract of seven and half
acres for $1,000 and on the order
Of remarks. Mr.. Benzon stated that
he price was still too high. I'VE
should not be made to come here and
,e gouged in this manner" he said.
lie said that the demand was high
way robbery. Mr.. Diston then said
hat although Mr.. Benzon had said in
PREVIOUS meetings that he knew moth
ng about real estate, he was saying
great deal. Benzon replied that
1 200 an acre for the land was alto
ether too much and stated that he
onsidered it robbery.
Mr.. BenZon amended the motion
0 read that the selectmen be en-
owered to offer the owners of the
md a sum not to exceed $4,000 for ,
he large tract and IL the offer was
hfused. to institute condemnation :
rocoedings against the property. :
Mr.. Diston again rose and stated -.
lat it would take too long to con- 9
emn the property, but A. H. Con- .
ell said that he knew that in case
this kind the proceedings could go
trough in six months. Mr.. Diston ,
arted to figure what Mr.. Cookies :,
rofits would he on plot If he were
sell it in building lots. He figured r.
lat $4,000 could be made by sell ,
g the lots for IS each, but critics q
arted after him and he said that =.
) made a mistake. -
Future Profits -
He said that so building lots could g
gotten out of the land and a price "