Subject: Urban Renewal Developmentpage 2

Area was a much smaller lake and the eastern area of the Lakeland community

Unveiling of interpretive signs for the Lakeland community in Lake Artemisia Park the site of Lakeland's eastern section.

Groundbreaking for Spellman House page 3. Duplicate of item-02496.

Site once held community homes and business. After demolition the land sat bare for many years. This image shows action as building was to begin along Berwyn House Road

Land prepared for construction of townhomes

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

Neighbors helping neighbors to build and maintain their homes is a tradition in the community of Lakeland. Above, James Clemmons is shown in the central section of Lakeland, on Pierce Avenue, preparing the foundation for the new home of friends Julia and Harold Pitts. The Pitts had lived on the western section of Lakeland Road but were displaced by the urban renewal project.

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.)

Dignitaries at groundbreaking event for Spellman House Apartments the first redevelopment project for urban renewal in Lakeland

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

Housing Requests Former or Present Lakeland Residents (In order of Receipt) Priority III. Families who presently or formally lived in Lakeland and are interested in the assist housing being constructed by Leon N. Weiner Associates and are to be given third consideration for housing. The former Lakeland residents consist of families who either moved from Lakeland before the beginning of the Urban Renewal Project or are children of such families or families who were displaced and have married and started families of their own and want to return to Lakeland.

Showing locations for change in building location

Dated September 9, 1979 advising developer decision to change locations of apartment buildings

Map 2

Historic Map and 2000s overlay Work of UMD students

Gives City's review of urban renewal project history. This was the start of major urban renewal project redevelopment. April 7, 1981

Simplified map of Lakeland land ownership before urban renewal

Simplified map of land ownership after urban renewal

Washington Post July 26, 1992 Page B5 The Implausible Park; Metro Fashions New Oasis in Berwyn Heights Fehr, Stephen C. With flooding of Indian Creek, it was difficult to get to the new park built by Metro. The building of a park by a transit agency is unique. It was possible because of cost savings from use of fill from the Lakeland site for the building the Metro line. To bring material from another place would have cost $11.5 million and caused damage to local streets. Metro engineer, Johann Sikkar recommended digging the fill from “an undeveloped 38-accre area near the track bed”. The adoption of this concept saved $3.5 million. This made the new park basically free.

2021 Image of Lake Artemesia

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".

Map of the Lakeland community just prior to implementation of the urban renewal program. The map also shows plots to be re-developed.