02/28/1935 Board of Public Works Special Meeting Minutes

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Special meeting._ February 281, 1935 This be ing the date set for the hearing of remonstrances against the assessment roll and awarding of damages in the matter of condemnation resolution No.. 2481, being the opening of Michigan St, between forth Shore Drive and the North City limits, "the Board was called to order by Chairman Fred Anderson_ at the hour advertised, namely three P. M. Fred Woodward was absent. Mr. Chas. W. Hahn, in behalf of his client, presented a remonstrance in. the matter of lot #15 and stated that with the project and the closing of Peashway Sts this lot would be entirely, isolated and tenant would have no way of exit . from the proper- ty except through an alley to the west and north. Mr. Anderson stated that it is not known that Peashway St. would be closed and therefore it cannot be determined at this time that this lot would be isolated. Mr. Percy Walsh stated that his understanding was that if the project was completed the result would be that this lot would be 14 feet above the street grade. Mr. -Emil Schinke remonstrated along the same lines in regard to lots No. 11 & 12 A representation of the Souther Michigan Ry. , Co. against the use of their name in connection with these proceedings as it is the property and tracks of- the Northern Indiana Ry. that was affected by this project. Mr. George Beemer appeared before the Board representing Mr. Samuel Leeper and Mrs. Eleanor D. McErlain and claimed that on the basis of taking 11,636.8 square feet from the property of Mr. Leeper the amount caf damages allowed would be at 150 per square foot and that on other property the allowance has been on the basis of 200 per square foot and that the property on which 200 was being allowed was vacant and Mr. Leeper's was improved, it was eminently an. unfair allowance. As the new street will come within two feet of his garage it will have to be moved or torn down. He also stated that the private drain fr cm the house will have to be torn up for which an allowance of $150.00 has been made which is entirely inadequate as a new drain outlet could not be establis+hed at that figure. Mr. Wisner of the Prudential Life Insurance Co. stated the new highway would put Mr. Leeper's house within 23 feet of the retaining wall which would. necessitate tearing down the rear part of the house and putting on two wings at an expense of $5,500.00. He also stated that the rental value would be impaired. Mr. Jackson, the. present tenant, stated he would be r�bT-ige .to move his family as he would not subject his children to the hazards that W�ad. develop. Mr. Samuel Leeper further referred to the inadequacy of the allow- en�ce-made for removing the drain. Mr. Taylor, real estate operator, stated that a tti-n off the. rear of this lot would move the roadway too close to the house and would ir--pa r the property from present ma rke t value 33%.' YX. Beame r asked him what he considered the market value at this time and he stated to anwilling seller it -would be $12,000 and to an unwilling seller it would be $15,000, so that the sale value is reduced about $5,000. He stated the reduction of the land if the house were not on it would not be this percentage as house could then be built to suit the lot. Again, Mr. Beemer brought up the unfair allowance of 150 per square foot on improved property as compared with unimproved at 20¢ per square foot. Walter Clements attorney for the Home Owners' Loan Corporation. stated he had a mortgage for $8,400 on the Leeper property and any allowances or awards made must first apply on the HOLC loan. Mr. Beamer then brought up the question of the McErlain property and stated that the brick garage would be right on the new line end would have to be moved. An allowanc has been made of $1,000 for this. Contractors advise it could not be rebuilt for less than $1,200. He stated the same facts that applied to the Leeper property as to allowance for land taken applied in the case of the McErlain property. It was regularly moved, seconded and carried that the proceedings of this meeting be taken under advisement and hearing continued until April 15th, 1935 at 10:30 A.M. The Board now took up Vacation Resolution #2482 being the vacation of Leeper Ave. from the north line of Angela Blvd. to the north city limits, and continued the hearing until April 15, 1935 at 10:30 A. M. Meeting adjourned at 4:00 P. M. Attest Clerk • i 0 •.