INTRODUCTION. TABLE OF CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. PAGE 9 ESTATE GRANTED BY APOSTILE OF 1658..... Incorporation of New Amsterdam-Slender fiscal powers of the corporation-Grant of city hall-Division line between boweries and incorporated town-The burgomasters allowed to distribute lotsOrdinance concerning lots held vacant-Unconceded lots granted to the city-Extension of city limits under first English governor-The new corporation succeeds to the property rights of the old-Estimate of the estate received in 1658. 12 CHAPTER II. ESTATE GRANTED BY CHARTER OF 1686. 1. 1686-1733 Water lot grants in fee, and sale of isolated outlying upland Reservations in Dongan Charter-Beginnings of municipal taxationSpecial assessments for special benefit-Minister's and poor's rate-Law of 1701-Occasional imposition of a city rate by special act of Assembly -Sales of water lots to pay fees for charter-And to pay for ferry and market houses-First transfer of city land to any church or institution— Defense loan and sales-New city hall-Location of the commonsJacob De Key's land-Other sales-Lease of land claimed by Harlem freeholders-Income and expenditure of the corporation from 1704 to 1732-Effect of the Cornbury charter on the ferry revenue-Contest between individuals and the corporation for the privilege of gaining ground from the rivers leads to Montgomery charter-Sales to pay cost of obtaining charter-Beekman's swamp. 2. 1734-1775. 17 17 Fixed annual quit-rents reserved in granting water lots. Upland leased.. 29 Corporation revenue and expenditures, 1734-1750-Beginnings of heavy expense for the poor-Slow growth of the city-Lottery and loan systems entered on to pay for public improvements-Growth of water lot quit-rents-The city rate, hitherto occasionally applied for, now applied for annually-Effect of the revolution on the minister's and poor's rate-First division of corporation upland into building lots-How leased-Upper commons staked out-More grants to churches-End of controversy with Harlem freeholders—Disposition of Harlem commons. 3. 1784-1802. Policy of leasing building lots continued, but one-half of upper commons sold in fee........ City debt at close of revolution-Back rents-A few sales to meet current needs-Sales of farm land at auction to discharge accrued debt -Extent of such land-Private sale of fifty acres-Extraordinary growth of city between 1790 and 1800-First survey of upper commons into city blocks-Large sales of alternate blocks at auction-Speculative versus farm values-Many blocks not claimed, and resold at a discount -Additional private sales-City debt in 1800. 4. 1803-1815. Extensive permanent improvements paid for by sales of new building lots. ..... Falling in of lower commons leases-Their number-How renewed-Advance in rents-The future of the city as viewed in 1805The Inclenberg lots-City hall and Canal street undertakings-The Dove lots-Filling up the Fresh Water-Sale of Barclay, Powder house, and Peck Slip lots-Increase of city debt-Expenditure for Bellevue establishment and city hall leads to sale of half the Collect lots, the old city hall and Hudson market sites, and some Chambers street lots-First city stock issued-Lessees adjudged to pay a share of assessments— Comptroller's plan for a sinking fund-Revenues he would appropriate to it-Forecast of its accumulation-His plan adopted-Sale of Government house property-Commutation of all upland quit rents allowed, and proceeds appropriated to sinking fund. 5. 1816-1821. Repetition of former experience of sales after war as to down-town lots, but residue of upper commons still under lease Financial difficulties of 1816-1819-Era of low taxation-Remaining Collect lots, more Chambers street lots and valuable Albany and Varick basins lots sold-Acquisition of Fulton market-Stock of 1820-1821. PAGE 35 4I 50 6. 1822-1843. Steady conservation of remaining municipal land, with restraint of debt till 1834, after which expenditure on the Croton Aqueduct prepares the way for the policy of 1844.... .... Extent of upper commons reserve-Changes in it since sales of 1796 and 1801-General falling in for the second time of down-town leasesSecond advance in rents-All proceeds of sales and commutations of all quit-rents appropriated to sinking fund-Amount of sinking fund as compared with the estimate of 1812-Maturing of the stock of 1812Means adopted to redeem it-State's prison lots-Removal of Bellevue establishment to Blackwell's Island-Purchase of Long Island farmsEffect of opening Erie and Champlain canals-Opening of new streets and avenues through upper commons-The Croton Aqueduct-Minor improvements and acquisitions-The ordinance of 1844-Amount of corporation land given into the control of the sinking fund commissioners-Power over it still remaining to the common council-Policy of the commissioners. PAGE 53 THE HISTORY OF MUNICIPAL OWNERSHIP OF LAND ON MANHATTAN ISLAND. INTRODUCTION. THE distinction between land reserved for purposes of municipal administration and land held or disposed of solely for municipal revenue, came necessarily into question for New York City under the ordinance of 1844, which authorized the commissioners of the sinking fund to sell and dispose of all real estate belonging to the corporation and not in use for, or reserved for, public purposes. Under that ordinance the courts have held real estate for "public purposes" to be such as "parks, squares, courthouses, almshouses, engine houses, penitentiaries and other grounds and buildings of that nature having a general city character and devoted to general city uses other than mere revenue,"1 also markets and wharves." Since 1686, when, by the Dongan Charter, the city received most of its primitive estate, the development of the municipality has included an ever better provision for public security, health, transit and education; and as a matter of course, 1 Arkenburgh vs. Wood, 23 Barbour, 360. 2 Gerard. City Water Rights, Streets and Real Estate, p. 114. |