Collection

Asked that he take back the check and send funds directly to Robinson Pipe and remit it to Attorney Rosen.

Letter from W. Earl Weygandt of Weygandt Engineering to Robert Kline of Kline and Smit concerning rental property leased to Robinson Pipe Cleaning Lots 2 & 3 Block 43, Lakeland

On the grounds of their home on 54th Avenue during a outdoor gathering of friends and family

4900 Lakeland Rd West Part of Lot 14 except west 12 ft next to 13 in Block 12 Urban Renewal Parcel 20B in block 24

5017 Lakeland Rd Lot 5 Lot 4 Urban Renewal Parcel 3 Block 15

Bessie Mack, John Chesley Mack Jr.,Julie E. Carroll 5030 Navahoe St. After fire Parcel 1-1 Front and rear of building

Southwest corner of Lakeland Rd and 54th Ave

5402 Cleveland Av Block 45 Lot 7 Carl E. Cager, et al

Impact of campus housing on Lakeland project

The Diamondback September 15, 1976 Many pieces of Lakeland land were purchased by the Urban Renewal project. The University then discusses the use of Lakeland land for the expansion of their community housing through the Urban Renewal project. This idea is presented by the city community development director, Mr. Edwin Finder. In the meantime, some Lakelanders must rent homes from the city because of the Urban Renewal project’s purchase of their homes. Mr. Finder says that they are to be given first priority in the construction of new housing. At the same time, the Urban Renewal plan exceeded its budget of $5.2 million by another $5 million. The city requested $1.8 million in urgent need funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and was approved to receive it to complete the project. The request was sent to the HUD’s office earlier in the summer of 1976. Getting more federal money to complete the project was imperative and was a way to help fix the damage already afflicted on the neighborhood by natural incidents. Mrs. Hollomand part of the Lakeland resident's group stated opposition to the University's involvement in the project. She said the residents had need for new housing.

Washington Post by Eugene Meyer PDF

Parade along Navahoe Street in Lakeland

Parade along Navahoe Street in Lakeland

Parade along Navahoe Street in Lakeland

Parade along Navahoe Street in Lakeland

Parade along Navahoe Street in Lakeland

Parade along Navahoe Street in Lakeland

Letter to Donald McLaughlin from Morris Topf, City reached an agreement to abandon/dismiss the pending condemnation suit and pay legal and other fees City Attorney, Subject College Park Versus Weygandt, 5415 Detroit Avenue

Letter from Theodore Miazga attorney to Ed Finder, Director of Community Development, City of College Park, Requesting agreement with a continuance for trial as "consultant's recommendation to the City does not include the building of residences on the east side where... property is located."

"Letter to Donald P. McLaughlin from Morris Topf, City Attorney Asking for request to continue case. Waiting for Weiner plan and will likely require change to urban renewal plan requiring additional action" Giving status of urban renewal project. "There would appear to be some likelihood that our entire urban renewal plan will have to be changed..."

The Laney home was destroyed by Storm Agnes. This trailer was home to the widowed Mrs. Laney and her daughter. Arlene Laney lot 18 block 3 urban renewal parcel 18 block 16

Agreement to abandon/dismiss pending condemnation suit and pay $7000 in legal and other fees. Duplicate of item 121

Mayor St. Clair Reeves with Dervey Lomax seated second from left

Class from Paint Branch Elementary School 1977-78 school year. Their teacher is Mrs. Lyon

Members of the volunteer fire department auxiliary gathered to watch the burning of a Lakeland home. Several homes were burned as training events for local fire fighters before being razed.

From a series taken during an urban renewal public meeting at Paint Branch Elementary School in Lakeland

Memorandum from Morris Topf, City Attorney to Ed Finder, Director of Community Development, Subject Weygandt Property. Recommends treating the return of Weygandt property as settlement of condemnation action rather than a disposition. Process for Transfer Back

Event at College Park Municipal Center. James Claiborne is pictured

Hand written note at bottom of page. Shows statement to Morris Topf gives information on fees of attorney, Miazga in the Weygandt case. Page also includes hand written note with statements about property cost and other parts of agreement

Image taken from contact sheet in collection

Letter from College Park Mayor St. Clair Reeves to UMD Chancellor Gluckstern, September 12, 1977

The Sentinel Prince George's Drawing above article show a well dressed. Black family, man woman and young boy on a building site with home debris and a hole. Behind them is a bulldozer with a seated operator and smoke coming from it's stack. To one side is a high rise building and a sign reading "Lakeland Urban Renewal Area, High-Rise Living for University Faculty and Senior Citizens". The boy is tugging at the man' sleeve. The headline reads "Is this where you used to live, daddy?" During a meeting in 1973 College Park officials announced HUD funding of the Lakeland Urban Renewal project. That evening was a celebration which included residents of the neglected all Black community. Lakeland residents, many of whom had been relocated from their homes which had been torn down were displeased with the proposal. They saw nothing for them. Another meeting two weeks ago was not a happy event. At that developer, Leon Weiner shared his plan for the community. The information was greeted with protests from residents. Rather than a development of single family homes favored by the community Weiner's plan features six single family homes, a high rise for University of Maryland faculty members and another for senior citizens along with some townhomes and finally some low income housing units. One whole area of the community would remain vacant. Residents noted that the plan was set without input from them. They even questioned the selection of Weiner for the project. Early in the project it was clear urban renewal was too big an endeavor for a small city. By that point it was too late to halt the project. Costs snowballed. The original price tag was $1.3 million that grew to $2.9 million and now rests at 10 million. Things went down hill for the community too. In 1968 the city's urban renewal director assured the them of "retaining the community's sprit and identity" "This is a project of urban renewal, not Negro removal." In 1970 the city administrator assured a reporter "No one (in Lakeland) will be displaced." The current urban renewal director reported 67 families had already been moved out and 44 more will be leaving. There is a history of broken promises. Lakeland was not a slum. There were some substandard homes, and poor and unpaved roads. The fault of the city. Lakeland was a vital community with a history. It would be forever torn apart by Weiner's plan. If that night of promise in 1973 was the city's finest hour the finalization of the Weiner's plan in two weeks will be College Park's worst.

Multi page PDF Washington Post by Sharon Conway

Black Explosion September 11, 1977 Page 8 Michele Chandler According to Leonard Smith, chairman of the project area committee (PAC their efforts to change development plans for the Lakeland community are useless. The project was built in 1974 for the low income residents. It was intended to replace poor housing in the neighborhood. Do to years of delays and cost increase developers were invited to give the city lower cost options. At a public hearing in August developer, Leon Weiner presented his plan which included two 150 unit apartment buildings one for senior citizens and another for University faculty, staff and perhaps students. 26 townhomes, 40 apartments for low to moderate income households and 6 single family homes. The mayor asked that city staff and the citizens group look at other options for the project. Weiner met with PAC two weeks after the hearing and said he would consider the input. Mr. Smith called the work "wasted effort" and said "with seven white council members and only one black, we have no bargaining power." Residents are firmly against the building of the apartment for members of the University community. They want single family homes. The group agreed to the building of the senior citizens units if they were set away from Baltimore Avenue to promote the safety of its residents. They also asked that the building be reduced in size such that it would only accommodate members of the College Park community. The citizens also asked that the number of public housing units be 24 not 26 and that they be spread throughout the community rather than placed in one area. Another request was that Lakeland Road, Navahoe Street and Berwyn House Roads not be closed. Mr. Smith also decried the lack of provision for neighborhood commercial space to allow the continuation of small stores. PAC member Mary Braxton polled former residents and most reported they left the community due to "inadequate housing".

Black Explosion January 26 1977 Page 3 Anthony A. Harris On January 17 Lakeland’s Project Area Committee met. They discussed options related to their opposition to the plan presented by developer Leon Weiner. They presented four concepts s to the city council. 1. To convene the developer to consider the wishes of the community. 2. Have individuals send any complaints they have directly to HUD. 3. To draw up a specific list of the elements they would like rot add to the plan. 4. To dissolve PAC as it has no use. Community members oppose the plan proposed by Weiner as it contains few single family homes. Instead it has mid and high-raise apartment buildings. Rather than recommending Weiner for the work. PAC members endorsed a community based development group, Lakeland Joint Venture who would have returned 10 to 15 percent of their profits to the community to build a community center. A photo by Alex Thompson showing the urban renewal office trailer is also on the page.

Newsletter of Lakeland's Project Area Committee

Open letter to College Park City Council stating community’s requirements for redevelopment

Letter from City Attorney Morris Topf to Matilda Miazga sending copies of contract between the City and Weygandts relative to 5400 Detroit Avenue and Lot 100.

Diamondback page 10 Article started on page 1

roposals on use and treatment of Weygandt property"

Letter from City Attorney to attorney for Weygandt. Discussion of contract from City of College Park

Letter with proposals about the use of 5400 Detroit Avenue

Letter from city staff on outcome of request from Lakeland community members for purchase of historic Lakeland High School site for use as a community center. This letter from Patrick Grady, Assistant Director of Community Development was written in response to a letter from Civic Association president, Leonard Smith. Review of both letters makes clear there was a debate about the facts of the situation.

Jack Callahan to Ed Finder. Costs for appraisals for Weygandt properties

Requesting appraisal of Lots 1,2,3&4 and Lot 100 and West 10 feet of Lot 99, Block 12 Berwyn Heights

Diamondback article