Subject: Urban Renewalpage 15

Washington Post May 12, 1971 Page B 13 The City of College Park was granted $2.9 million in Federal funds to rehabilitate Lakeland, a Black community of 137 families on a 105 acre plot. A total of $3.8 million in Federal funds is committed for the project. City officials said it was unclear when work would begin on the project. 62 of Lakeland's 141 homes were judged "unfit" and must be repaired or demolished. In addition to a shortage of housing other problems of the community are its location in the flood plain, isolation with access only from Route One, encroachment by industrial sites as well as "poor or inadequate public facilities and services". The acting city manager said that work will start after the hire of necessary city staff and the development of needed contracts.

Washington Post Leon Wynte February 11, 1982 Page B1 Residents of Lakeland describe the community that once was, homes. and childhood memories. They asked for help to stop flooding, pave roads and improve some of homes. What they received was an ease of flooding as well as sidewalks, and a high rise apartment building for senior citizens. Gone though are 104 of the community's 150 households. Federal bureaucracy and inflation are blamed for this outcome. One former resident is grateful for the program as it helped her move to an accessible modern home. Another said he doesn't visit anymore as "Everything's been pushed out" Lakeland is less than a mile in area and divided by railroad tracks. It was once a white community and some burned their homes when leaving. Dispite little support from others a Black community thrived with its own institutions. There was a high school, tavern, Elk's Hall, American Legion post. At the start of the project residents were optimistic. In 1965 the area was surveyed. Four years later a 36 page urban design plan was created. In 1971 the Federal Department of Housing and Urban Development approved $5 million for the project and $1.2 million was to come from the City of College Park. The original plan called for 90 units of low to moderate income housing mixed with 47 single family homes in the western area along with 300 units of housing in the east. Little of this took came about. Work was held up over environmental concerns causing home purchases to not begin until 1973. Jack Callahan, urban renewal director reported the program cost by 1976 had doubled. The City then asked HUD for more money. Ed Finder joined the City staff and brought new life to the program. He was a former reginal director with New York states' Urban Development Corporation. He used his connections to find interest in the project. Five developers made proposals. Lakeland residents endorsed their top three proposals. Leon Weiner was not among that group. Finder endorsed Weiner, a known developer of government backed projects and the city agreed. He proposed high rise apartment buildings. Finder left the project the next year and is now director of economic development in Paterson NJ, Of the project he is quoted as saying "There are people who may be bitter." The Project Area Committee made up of residents pretested plan changes. Mary Braxton said she has a box full of records from the project and hates to think about what took place. It makes her ill. Vernice Buell of HUD said it was rare for residents to return unless a real effort is made to meet their desires for housing. Harry Braxton, Jr called the bulldozer the 'giant eraser'. No recreation facility was included in the plan and the PAC requested the purchase of the Lakeland High School building to fore fill that use. That request was declined. Mrs. Braxton said "What we have looks good, but we don't have much" "We gave up two-thirds to get one-third."

Washington Post by Eugene Meyer PDF

2nd part of article

MD R-44 1961-March 1973

February 1969

"Lakeland, an Urban Design Sturdy" Commissioned by the City of College Park

Boarded up Lakeland Rd

At 54th Avenue

Lakeland Home

Lakeland Home

Lakeland Home

54th Avenue

In Lakeland

Lakeland

Lakeland

Grounds of a demolished home

Land use map at time of urban renewal. Map taken from Lakeland an Urban Design Study for the City of College Park

Lakeland fish station

Formally Lakeland Elementary School building was converted for use as a church and residential rental unit

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

2021 Image of Lake Artemesia

The Diamondback October 19, 1971 Page 4 Dean Tuthill Responding to letter in the October 7 edition on channelization of Paint Branch and Indian Creek form the Environmental Conservation Organization. I am in support of channelization as it would benefit the residents of Lakeland. I have witnessed people rescued from their homes in boats and spoken to residents afraid when it rains. Those living on Lakeland Road have been subject to flooding for years and commitments have been made of help from the Corps of Engineers project. It is true no one should live in a know flood area but Black people live there because they had no other option. Much of the land is owned by whites living elsewhere. Purchasing the land using eminent domain is the only way to put land in the hands of community members. Once that is done young residents will have a chance to purchase land and build homes in Lakeland. If not this plan would the Environmental Conservation Organization ensure the avaliblity of low income homes for Black people in Collège Park Woods, College Park Estates, Berwyn or Berwyn Heights? For now Lakeland residents hope to improve their community.

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.

Note from back cover of 1978 Urban Renewal Plan. This plan copy was in the papers of Lakelander and PAC member, Mary Braxton

Item held by Harry Braxton, Sr. The map is affixed to a wooden board and covered with varnish.

Michael Wysolmerski Environmental Studies 2011-2012 Senior Project Advisor: Professor Paul Sabin Flood Control for Lakeland

Newsletter of Lakeland's Project Area Committee

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

Newsletter of the Lakeland Project Area Committee gives notice of city council meeting with proposal for Earl Weygandt to keep his property.

Project Area Committee newsletter containing list of recreational facilities in the city along with map showing their locations

Newsletter of the Lakeland Project Area Committee with community concerns

Newsletter of Project Area Committee Community concerns including Lakeland Elementary School

Newsletter of Project Area Committee Giving notice about tree planting and sodding

Newsletter of Project Area Committee Subject for next meeting and community concerns.

Newsletter of Project Area Committee issues include closing of Lakeland Special Center and fate of building, pool

Newsletter of Project Area Committee notice of a special meeting by city council on the urban renewal project

Special Notice of city council work session with engineering alternatives for development of Lakeland west/

Newsletter of Project Area Committee

Newsletter of Project Area Committee Request for Lakeland School on the meeting agenda

Newsletter of the Lakeland Project Area Committee Community concerns including new request for Lakeland School and street closings