Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-11-05
PARKWAY TENANTS
TO FIGHT CUSTER
Joseph Small to Ask Con-
uress to Probe Financing
of Co-operativeS.

While 18 purchasers of stock in the
Parkway. large cooperative apartment
at Connecticut avenue and Macomb
street, laid plans today to contest
custer proceedings fled against them
in Municipal Court for the present own
err of the building, which was sold in
foreclosure under the second trust
July 2, one tenant, Joseph Small. II,
a guide in the House Office Building,
declared he would ask Congress to in
vestigate the financing of the Parkway
and all other local co-operativeS.
Having paid sums of money in good
faith for stock in the building to OBJ
tain a "permanent" residence there.
small said he would not be content
merely to abide by decision in the
custer proceedings, scheduled to be
started November 10, and would ask
the House District committee and other
members of Congress to take up the
matter.
simultaneously today r. Bates War
rem, chairman OF the co-ope[atiVe
apartment division of the National As
ISOLATION of Real Estate Boards, and
A pioneer in the cooperative apartment
fiel here, stated that he would present
the Parkway case to the division at its
meeting in Washington December 3.
When informed of the congressional
investigation sought by Mr. Small,
Chairman Warren declared that all
| legitimate and soundly established
real estate firms engaged In co-opera-
tive apartment developments would
welcome any investigation" and point
ed to safeguards to investors set up by
| such concerns.
Bureau Studies Projects.
Mr.. Warren pointed out that the
! National Association Of Real Estate
Boards, through its cooperative apart
ment division. during the past year had
set up a consultation bureau of experts
| to make a detailed and critical study OF
cooperative apartment projects with
| the purpose of certifying only those on
a sound financial basis properly planned
and built and having reasonable assur-
ance of success.
This bureau, he added, is serving
somewhat in the capacity Of Better
Business Bureau" investigating CO.
operative projects to prevent loss to
investors and promoters alike. through
discovery of either fraud or incom-
potency In the promotion Of such
projects.
The cooperative apartment division
several months ago announced plans to
| meet in Washington in December to
make a detailed study of all major CO.
operatives here, as well as in Philadel-
phia and New York. Mr.. Warren indi-
Gated the division would be asked to
adopt pronouncement based on the
failure Of the Parkway Building.
Discovers Auction.
| Mr.. Small, who came to Washington
! about five years ago. contracted to buy
an apartment in the Parkway as home
for himself and his wife. and discovered
| In June that the building was being
| auctioned to satisfy a second trust on
the building, on which there were de-
| linquent payments due.
Later. warrants charging conversion
after trust we're issued by the district
attorneys Office for the arrest of Arthur
M. Suit. president of the Parkway
Apartments, Inc, who acted as sales
promoter When the building was placed
on the auction block tenants say they
were unable to locate Mr.. Suit.
Gerald M. Johnson, local attorney,
has been engaged by more than a dozen
of the stock purchasers TO fight the
eviction cases.