Urban Renewal in Lakeland

Aerial Photograph of lakes, airport and environs.

Hangers and ponds are visible along with portion of Lakeland

Aerial image of lakes, community and surrounding area

Airport and lakes along with a portion of Lakeland Property of US Army Air Services

Airport, College Park, the University of Maryland and part of Lakeland are seen. There is a clear view of the area along the railroad tracks. Property of US Army Air Services

Airport, industrial area, lake and portion of Lakeland

Navahoe Street at Lakeland Tavern after heavy rain. Note the drain pipe which emptied directly into the street

Aerial Image

Going, Gone The first demolition in Lakeland located at 4800 Navahoe St. The first of 65 structures to be cleared

Western Navahoe Street

Second Urban Renewal Purchase Shown are Mr. and Mrs. Ben Blue. The property purchased was a vacant lot located on Albany Ave. Pictured with them is Dan Boone, Urban Renewal Assistant Director/ Real Estate Specialist the photographer noted was Jack Callahan, Urban Renewal Director

4800 Navahoe Street - First Lakeland home demolished shown with bulldozer and rubble.

Western Lakeland at Navahoe Street and 48th Avenue

Once the City of College Park adopted the Urban Renewal plan in 1970, two thirds of the community's households--mostly in the eastern and western sections of Lakeland--had to vacate their houses. After families had moved out, several of Lakeland’s homes were burned as training exercises for the local fire department. Here is a photo of one such incident.

"Looking Southeast toward Navahoe Street from 8000 block of 54th Ave" Note attached is not correct. View was from Lakeland Road. The rail crossing was not visible from Navahoe St.

Several Lakeland homes were burned as training exercises before being demolished to make way for urban redevelopment. this image shows spectators gathered with refreshments to witness one of the burnings.

Meeting from urban renewal period at Paint Branch School. Contact sheet of images taken for the City of college park at Lakeland Community meeting held at Paint Branch Elm. School on Redevelopment plan

4802 Lakeland Rd & 4812 Lakeland Rd - Contract CPURR-11

Dignitaries at groundbreaking for Spellman House Apartments, first redevelopment project of urban renewal

By 1981, the rebuilding of Lakeland was at last underway. A process that was expected to take a few years was plagued by bureaucratic problems and policy changes. In fact, rebuilding took decades. Single-family homes were ultimately replaced with high-rise apartment buildings and townhomes. The lake in the eastern section was enlarged, and that area became Lake Artemesia Park. Only a few single-family homes were built. (Courtesy of the City of College Park, Maryland.)

Newly constructed buildings covering the western section of Lakeland

Three images of urban renewal redevelopment projects top in foreground are two of the 5 single family homes built during the urban renewal project. These are on Rhode Island Avenue. On the foreground is Alden/Berkley Townhomes. Image below is a closeup view of one of the 5 single family homes. Final image shows a new apartment building

Photograph of Lake Artemesia Natural Area. The 38-acre park opened as a public facility in 1992. Located in what was once the eastern section of Lakeland (between the B&O railroad tracks--and now also the Washington Metrorail Green Line--and Berwyn Heights), it features aquatic gardens, fishing piers, and trails. The new Lake Artemesia is the product of builders dredging for gravel to elevate the rail bed that would carry commuter trains along Washington Metrorail's Green Line. Once the excavation was finished, the area was redeveloped and given to the local parks authority. The park stands on the former site of 30 Lakeland homes.

2021 Image of Lake Artemesia