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In re Bradley

68 Misc. 514 Court N.Y. Sup. Ct. English

Delivered by Kellogg, H. T., J.

Contents

Majority

p. 514
Matter of the Application of Mary H. Bradley for the Appointment of Commissioners, to Determine Damages Occasioned to the Property of the Petitioner, by the Change of Grade of Broadway Street in the Village of Fort Edward.
(Supreme Court, Washington Special Term,
August, 1910.)

Headnote

Eminent domain — Measure of compensation — Setting off benefits.
In a proceeding to appraise damages for the change of grade of a street in a village, under section 59 of the Village Law, benefits conferred by the paving of the newly graded street are not properly an offset to the injuries done by the regrading.
Motioh to confirm report of commissioners in a proceeding under section 159 of the Village Law. Petitioner was the owner of four pieces of property situate upon Broadway
p. 515
street in the village of Fort Edward. On one side of the street the grade of the roadway had been lowered an average distance of eight inches and on the other side of the street or roadway it had been raised an average distance of four inches. Commissioners appointed to determine the damage awarded $1,040 to petitioner. The sidewalk on each side of the street in front of the property of the petitioner had not been changed or lowered to conform to the new street grade. Evidence was received by the commissioners, under the objection and exception of the village, tending to show that the property had depreciated in value because, if the sidewalk was lowered, steps would be necessary to get into the building, and that the cost of conforming the -buildings to the new grade and building new walks was a certain amount of money. The commission also refused to find that the property had been benefited by the paving of the street.
Bratt & Van Wormer, for petitioner.
Wyman S. Bascom, for village of Fort Edward.

Benefits conferred by the paving of the newly graded street were not properly an offset to the injuries done by the regrading. Fuller v. City of Mount Vernon, 171 N. Y. 247 . The case of Newman v. Metropolitan El. R. R. Co., 118 N. Y. 618 , does not- conflict with the rale stated. In that case the benefits for which deduction was ordered were received directly from the erection of the structure complained of. They were not benefits paid for in taxes by the abutting owner. In this case, as in the Fuller case, the regrading did not create the benefit but the paving done thereafter, and for such -paving the abutting owner would otherwise make payment in taxes. The commissioners were, therefore, correct in not offsetting such benefits.

The injuries to the petitioner, concerning which testimony was given, related to the construction by the petitioner of steps from her buildings to an anticipated lower grade of

p. 516
the sidewalk passing the same. .A new grade has not yet been established for the sidewalk and may never be. It must be assumed that the commissioners based their conclusions upon the testimony so given, or otherwise there was no support for the damages awarded.

The report of the commissioners is vacated and the matter referred to new commissioners to be appointed.

Motion denied.

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