Section 280. Setting back buildings to the regular line of the street.

(1) If any building or any part of a building abutting on a public street is within the regular line of the street, the 1Municipal Commissioner may, whenever it is proposed—\br@s (a) to rebuild such building or to take down such building to an extent exceeding one-half thereof above the ground level, such half to be measured in cubic feet;or\br@s (b) to remove, reconstruct or make any addition to or structural alteration in any portion of such building which is within the regular line of the street, require such building to be set back to the regular line of the street.\br@s (2) When any building or any part thereof within the regular lien of the street falls down or is burnt down or is taken down whether under the provisions of this Act or otherwise, the 1 Municipal Commissioner may at one take possession on behalf of the 2Corporation of the portion of land within the regular line of the street therefore occupied by the said building and, if necessary, clear the same.\br@s (3) Land acquired under this section shall thenceforward be deemed a part of the public street and shall vest, as such, in the 2Corporation.\br@s