New York § 197 - 197Damages for change of grade

§ 197. 197Damages for change of grade

§ 197. Damages for change of grade. In any town in which a town highway shall be repaired, graded and macadamized from curb to curb by the authorities of the town the owner or owners of the land adjacent to the said highway shall be entitled to recover from the town the damages resulting from any change of grade. A person claiming damages from such change of grade must present to the town board of such town a verified claim therefor within sixty days after such change of grade is effected. The board may agree with such owner upon the amount of damages to be allowed him. If no agreement be made within thirty days after the presentation of the claim, the person presenting it may apply to the supreme court to determine the compensation to which he is entitled. Notice of the application must be served upon the supervisor of the town at least ten days before the hearing thereof. All proceedings shall be taken in accordance with the provisions of the eminent domain procedure law so far as applicable. Such town board, shall, in determining the compensation, consider the fair value of the work done, or necessary to be done, in order to place the claimant's lands, or buildings, or both, in the same relation to the changed grade as they stood to the former grade, and make awards accordingly, except that said board or said commissioners may make an allowance for benefits derived by the claimant from such improvement. The amount agreed upon for such damages, or the award therefor together with the costs, if any, allowed to the claimant, shall be a charge against such town and the supervisor shall pay the same out of funds made available therefor by the town.