New Britain herald., 1927-02-03
VOICE OBJECTIONS
 TO MASONS' HOME
Russell St. Property Owners
 Testify in Superior Court
FEAR DROP IN VALUES
Objection to Temple Based Princi- palIy on Belief Properties Will De- preciate-AppclIants' Case Against Adjustment Board Completed.
Especial to The Herald)

Hartford, Feb. 3-Statements that property on Russell street. New Brit ain, will be depreciated anywhere from 25 to 35 per cent if a Masonic Temple is built on the Sloper proper ty were made today in superior court at the hearing on the appeal of Russell street property owners tha- construction of such an edifce be prohibited. This was the third day for the case, the appellants hay ing closed their part of the testimony this morning.
 George Le Witt was the first wit ness to testify for the defense. He stated that the residents of Russell street will gain if Masonis Temple is built there. the building con- templated being better than an apartment house. He said the price 10 be paid for the property is so high that itwould encourage higher prices from other holdings on that street. He said that there would be some discomfort from parking, but that in all probability parking would not tend to deprcciate the property valu- ations,
 Attorney John T. Robinson, coun- sel for the appellants, asked him is he has read the zone law, to which Mir. Levitt replied that he has not but that he is familiar with what it is about He admitted that it is likely that many residents will move away if the temple is erected.
 He stated that it is a fact that the erection of the temple could not in- iure property valuations while the rest of the properties are restricted Ire Sloper property, for which the Masons would pay $22,500, would be selling high at s7,500 he said,
 Earlier in the morning the last group of witnesses for the appellants were heard. Edward A. Mccarthy, former chairman of the board of as sessors, testified that rentals and real estate values would be cut 25 per cent by the erection of temple on the property. He stated that in his opinion business will not invade that district for 20 years.
 He said that property assessments on Russell street have been reduced hy the Stanley Works smoke nuisance. In answer to a question, he said that if the temple were erected on the Humphrey property at the corner of West Main and Rus sell streets, the latter would suffer as much from parking as it would if the temple were placed on the prop erty suggested for it.
 Mrs. H. M. Bates, MT. and Mrs. F. B. Stone and Miss Florence Camp. owners Of property on Russell street, stated that in their opinion property values would be deprecated if the temple were to be erected on Rus sell street. They stated that they would be aggrieved by such an ac- ton.
 H. N. Waskowitz, a real estate operator for 20 years. stated that Russell street is a pleasant residen- tial thoroughfare, on which are To- cated the homes of some of the city's best people," He estimated that the depreciation in property values would be from 20 to 25 per cent if the temple were erected. He testi- fled that there are numerous places in the citywhere the Masons could build to better advantage.
 EX-Mayor George A. Quigley was to have been present to testify, but he was unable to attend today's ses- sion, so Attorney Robinson gave a resume of what Quigley will say. According to the attorney MT. Quig ley's estimate of the depreciation will be higher in percentage than any of the others.