Bohm v. Silberstein

189 N.W. 899, 220 Mich. 278, 1922 Mich. LEXIS 901
CourtMichigan Supreme Court
DecidedOctober 2, 1922
DocketDocket No. 37
StatusPublished
Cited by18 cases

This text of 189 N.W. 899 (Bohm v. Silberstein) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Michigan Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Bohm v. Silberstein, 189 N.W. 899, 220 Mich. 278, 1922 Mich. LEXIS 901 (Mich. 1922).

Opinion

Sharpe, J.

The record contains a stipulation that “the opinion of the court may be considered and taken as the agreed statement of facts.” We quote from it:

“Plaintiffs, in their bill, pray that defendants be restrained from erecting certain store buildings. Plaintiffs claim that such action on the part of defendants would be illegal on account of certain district restrictions.
“Defendants contend for the right so to do — First, because said restrictions have been waived and abandoned. Second, changed conditions have nullified the restrictions.
“The restricted area is known as ‘Stevens subdivision.’ It is included in the east and west boundaries of Oakland and Woodward avenues. The north boundary is McLean avenue and the south boundary is an alley, which alley is about one-half block north of Tennyson avenue. This area is crossed by the following north and south streets, east of Woodward avenue, in the order named: John R, Brush and then [280]*280Oakland. John R and Brush have no street cars upon them within this district and Brush street is unpaved. Woodward and Oakland have double street car tracks upon them and they extend to the Ford plant and are thoroughfares beyond it. Brush and John R streets extend to the Ford plant only. The Ford plant is ten blocks distant from this area. Crossing the subdivision east and west are the following streets in order named: Commencing at the south end, Connecticut, California, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Colorado, and McLean. The subdivision was laid out in 1906 and 1908.
“Each deed of the lots within the subdivision, limits the use thereof to a single dwelling house of two or more stories and the necessary out-buildings. The dwellings between Woodward and John R are to cost not less than $4,000; between John R and Brush not less than $3,000; between Brush and Oakland not less than $2,000. The subdivision contains good substantial homes, but those east of Brush are not as fine and of as high a grade as those west of Brush street. Defendants’ lot is at the northwest corner of California and Oakland. Defendants propose to erect the stores facing Oakland avenue.
“I find under the evidence that there has not been a waiver or abandonment of the restrictions. However, the.various uses may be considered as bearing on the changed conditions of the locality.
“Hastings street, which is a business street of Detroit, ends at the Boulevard. Extending north from the Boulevard, Oakland avenue may be said to be a continuation of Hastings street. Oakland avenue is principally a street of business with stores lining both sides. It has a double track car system thereon. On the east side of Oakland avenue, opposite the south end of this subdivision, is a block of stores and the Highland Park State Bank. On the west side of Oakland avenue, and immediately south of this subdivision, is a picture house covering the entire block. * * *
“The entire length of the east side of Oakland avenue, opposite this subdivision, is occupied by a public school, its playground and the Maxwell Motor Company. Immediately^ north of these, and on the east side of Oakland avenue, is a coal office, coal yard [281]*281arid engine house. Then comes vacant property. The west frontage on Oakland avenue, in the subdivision,, is either vacant along the street or else small frame or cement garages are built. A large part of the trucking from the Ford plant is carried on on Oakland avenue. Milk trucks bring milk each day from the north to a milk station on Oakland avenue, which milk station is south of this subdivision. Work trains and freight trains pass daily up and down Oakland avenue, as well as cars for passengers. Quite a few people in the subdivision, especially east of Brush street, take in roomers, and some of them boarders. Some garages are rented.” * * *

In the opinion filed the trial court found that the “changed conditions have removed the restrictions” and concluded that the bill should be dismissed. In an amended opinion filed after re-argument and before the decree was signed, he called attention to the recent case of McQuade v. Wilcox, 215 Mich. 302, and that of Swan v. Mitshkun, 207 Mich. 70, therein cited. He found these cases controlling and granted the relief prayed for. From the decree entered defendants appeal.

1. It is defendants’ claim that the purpose of the restrictions has been defeated by a change in the character of the surrounding property and that a court of equity should not lend its aid to the enforcement of a mere legal right when no damage will result to plaintiffs from its non-enforcement. 14 R. C. L. p. 399, 2 High on Injunctions (4th Ed.), § 1158, Berry on Restrictions, p. 475, Jackson v. Stevenson, 156 Mass. 496 (31 N. E. 691, 32 Am. St. Rep. 476), Amerman v. Deane, 132 N. Y. 355 (30 N. E. 741, 28 Am. St. Rep. 584), McClure v. Leaycraft, 183 N. Y. 36 (75 N. E. 961, 5 Ann. Cas. 45), and Orne v. Fridenberg, 143 Pa. 487 (22 Atl. 832, 24 Am. St. Rep. 567), are cited and quoted from to support this claim. The rule which should be applied to the facts as agreed upon in this [282]*282record has been several times clearly stated in the holdings of this court.

It appears that the restrictions imposed have been maintained in this subdivision. That the Maxwell motor car factory, buildings used for business purposes and a public school have been erected abutting on the streets surrounding this subdivision does not nullify the restrictions or render it inequitable to enforce them. The question presented is not whether any person would, under existing conditions, purchase vacant property in the subdivision for residential purposes, but may the plaintiffs enjoy the homes which they have erected relying upon the restrictions, free from the disturbances which the conduct of business therein would necessarily produce?

In Swan v. Mitshkun, supra, after stating other considerations it was said:

“But aside from and beyond that issue, those owning property in a restricted residential district or neighborhood, and especially those who have their homes there and been led to buy or build in such locality by reason of restrictive covenants running with the land imposed upon the street, block o‘r subdivision in which they have purchased, are entitled to protection against prohibited invasion regardless of how close business may crowd around them on unrestricted property, provided the original plan for a residential district has not been departed from in the restricted district, street or block, and the restrictive requirements have been generally enforced, or accepted and complied with by purchasers.”

The subdivision in question is of considerable size. It consists; of 18 blocks. It, in itself, is a residential district in which homes of considerable value have been constructed. The building restrictions in the deeds have thus far been substantially complied with. The fact that adjoining or surrounding property is now used for business purposes does not alter the [283]*283character of the subdivision itself and the owners of property therein are entitled to have it preserved for the purpose for which it must be assumed they purchased it.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Rofe v. Robinson
329 N.W.2d 704 (Michigan Supreme Court, 1982)
DeMarco v. Palazzolo
209 N.W.2d 540 (Michigan Court of Appeals, 1973)
Morgan v. Matheson
107 N.W.2d 825 (Michigan Supreme Court, 1961)
Reed v. Williamson
82 N.W.2d 18 (Nebraska Supreme Court, 1957)
Scott v. Armstrong
47 N.W.2d 712 (Michigan Supreme Court, 1951)
Booker v. Old Dominion Land Co.
49 S.E.2d 314 (Supreme Court of Virginia, 1948)
Spence v. Kuznia
11 N.W.2d 865 (Michigan Supreme Court, 1943)
Bethea v. Lockhart
127 S.W.2d 1029 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 1939)
Southwest Petroleum Co. v. Logan
1937 OK 473 (Supreme Court of Oklahoma, 1937)
Van Meter v. Manion
1934 OK 615 (Supreme Court of Oklahoma, 1934)
Continental Oil Co. v. Fennemore
299 P. 132 (Arizona Supreme Court, 1931)
Clark v. Vaughan
292 P. 783 (Supreme Court of Kansas, 1930)
Ludgate v. Somerville
256 P. 1043 (Oregon Supreme Court, 1927)
Sharpe v. North Carolina Railroad
129 S.E. 826 (Supreme Court of North Carolina, 1925)
Sanders v. Campbell
204 N.W. 767 (Michigan Supreme Court, 1925)
Farley v. Finn
197 N.W. 571 (Michigan Supreme Court, 1924)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
189 N.W. 899, 220 Mich. 278, 1922 Mich. LEXIS 901, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/bohm-v-silberstein-mich-1922.