990820

Joint Resolution

Re widening of Front St. per Ord 1129

[printed letterhead JESSE F. COCHRANE, CHAIRMAN W. V. RINEHART G. H. HEILBRON F. W. D. HOLBROOK, SECRETARY

OFFICE OF THE Board of Public Works.

Seattle, Washington,] May 16 1891

To the Hon, The City Council of Seattle, Wash.

Gentlemen,

Complaint having been made to this Board of certain obstructions to business in Front St. caused by failure of property owners to move buildings back to the line of the street as widened in June 1889, the matter has been investigated by the Board through its Committee, Mr. Rinehart; whose report on the subject is herewith transmitted to your Hon. Body for consideration and instructions by which appropriate action may be taken by this board.

By Order of the Board

F. W. D. Holbrook Secy

Jesse F. Cochrane, Chairman W. V. Rinehart G. H. Heilbron F. W. D. Holbrook

Office of the Board of Public Works.

Seattle, Washington, May 16th 1891

Mr. Chairman:

The subject of the enforcement of Ordinance No 1129, requiring all parties having buildings or other improvements on the line of Front Street, to move the same back nine feet so as to conform to the requirements of said ordinance widening Front Street, has been examined by me, and upon consultation with the Corporation Counsel and City Atty. I am led to conclude that said ordinance is valid and can be enforced in the Courts. Said ordinance was passed June 25, 1889 and published June 28th 1889 & Notice was pub- lished July 5th to owners of property condemned and to owners of property assessed, to pay the damage, giving them until July 19th to appoint appraisers & appraisers were appointed, qualified and filed their report on Oct 28th, and a supplemental report on Nov. 19, 1889.

The penalty for refusing to vacate the nine feet and surrender it for use as a public street is $100.00 a day and each day shall constitute a seperate offense.

F.W.D. Holbrook, Secretary Board of Public Works 2 Seattle, Washington, May 16 1891

It appears that a verbal agreement was made between the City Council and the owners of property along the line of Front Street by which the enforcement of this ordinance was to be delayed for a time although the terms of the ordinance gave only six months for said removal. It is almost two years since the passage of this ordinance and notice has never yet been served upon them requiring them to move back and widen this street.

Those who have built upon the line of the street as laid out and widened by said ordinance insist that they are damaged by the obstructions upon the nine feet of street beside them and ask our Board to cause all these houses and other improvements to be removed. Before moving in a matter of so much importance to the City and to the people along the line of this street I think it would be prudent and advisable

Seattle, Washington, May 16 1891

to ask the authority of a concurrent resolution from the City Council.

The question has been waived so long that I think our board would scarcely be warranted in moving upon the request of a few interested petitioners, when the interests of so many citizens and of the City itself are so deeply affected.

I am of the opinion that the removal can be legally enforced, but whether it is of so much importance as to warrant it at this time is a question upon which the people's representatives should be heard. I thereupon recommend that the Secretary be instructed to lay the matter before the Council and ask for their instructions to our Board.

Very respectfully

W. V. Rinehart Com