Two Landmarks on Broadway to Be Sold Tuesday

TWO LANDMARKS ON BROADWAY TO BE SOLD TUESDAY City to Dispose of Labor Temple and Eagles Home Two of Broadway's landmarks, taken over by the city for non-payment of taxes, are slated to be sold to the highest bidder at public auction in City Commission chambers next Tuesday at 2 p. m. Minimum acceptable bids have been fixed by the city at $10,000 for each, approximately one-sixth of the assessed valuation on which tax bills are based. The properties are the Labor Temple, Broadway and Royden street, and the Eagles Home, 413-15-17 Broadway. The former is assessed at $59,175, or an annual tax of $2887.74; the latter at $58,525, equivalent to a tax of $2846.04 at the present city rate of $4.88 for each $100 of assessed valuation. City Collecting Rents The city has been collecting rents from both buildings, but not in an amount equal to the taxes, and it has in addition the cost and responsibility for maintaining them. The city is anxious to get them back into private hands where they will produce taxes, although whether or not the assessments can be kept at nearly $60,000 if the purchase prices are $10,000 each, is questionable. The Labor Temple, of brick and masonry construction, is 40 feet wide and 60 feet eight inches long, extending back to St. John street. It covers 11,6[?]0 square feet. The land, officially listed as 538 Broadway, is assessed at $17,175; the improvements at $42,000. Built in 1920, the place has two stories, a finished basement and a portico on top. In the past six years, while it has been occupied by the Central Labor Union, some improvements have been made, including conversion of the cellar into offices and a meeting room. Fluorescent lighting has been installed, the interior has been repainted, and the ballroom decorated. Union Makes Offer The union has made the $10,000 offer which has been accepted by the city pending the result of the bidding. The basement ceiling is 11 feet two inches high; the first floor ceiling, 13 feet; the second floor, 15 feet, eight inches. On the first floor are five offices and meeting rooms and two bathrooms; on the second floor, two offices, the ballroom and two lavatories. The floors are wood except the basement, which is cement; the roof is slag and flat, and according to union officials, needs a new one. The heating is hot water; the fuel, oil. Plans are underway to reconvert it to coal. The foundation is brick. The Eagles building, even larger, was built by the Fraternal Order No. 6[?] in 1907, and a huge eagle with an eight-foot wingspread adorns the entrance. Eagles Rent Building The structure and foundation are brick, 49 feet, six inches wide and 178 feet, nine inches long, for a total square footage of 17,274. The land, which runs back to Williams street, is assessed at $24,300; the improvements at $34,225. The Eagles, who lost the place on delinquent taxes, now rent it. The building has three floors. On the first are a wide corridor, living room, kitchen, office and social room, 40 by 80 feet in size. The ceiling is 12 feet high. The second floor has an auditorium, larger than the social room downstairs, with a stage and a basketball floor. The ceiling is 20½ feet high. The third floor is a lodge room, with 12-feet ceiling. The basement is completely finished, with cement floor and attractively arranged as a rathskeller. It includes bowling alleys, billiard tables. There are 16 toilets, three lavatories and one bathroom. The roof is flat and slag; the heating system, steam.