Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-07-18
SLUM CLEARANCE
PLAN HITS SNAC
D. c. Property Owner Files
Demurrer to Block
Condemnation.

project
That appears to be the view OF that
area and is the principal reason why
Miss Minnie Reyes, TIA Seventh street
southwest, moved In District Supreme
Court yesterday to block condemna-
lions proceedings instituted by the
Government on q 13-acre tract in the
vicinity of Army War College. to put
through a 100000 slum clearance
project, she said today.
There are a lot OF good people in
Southwest Washington, white and
colored, who have lived here q long
time" says Miss Reyes, for years an
occupant of the Seventh street ad-
dress Its nice and quiet, and we
don't want this slum clearance. WHY
should we have roughnecks from all
over town brought in?"
Ickes Ready for Test.
Meanwhile public works officials said
today that Administrator Ickes was
preparing to meet the challenge in the
District Of Columbia courts.
Since the recent appellate court
ing Federal power to acquire land in
this manner for a project In Louisville,
KY, Ickes' slum clearance program is
threatened in several jurisdictions.
Despite court challenges in Wash
ington and also in Detroit, the public
works administrator announced he was
going ahead with plans to file con-
domination proceedings in Minneapolis,
MINI, in the belief that the Govern
ment's action might be upheld in other
jurisdictions.
Says Discomfort Voiced.
Miss Keyes, who has colored ten
ants in Is properties sought by the
Government insists colored people
won't live in the proposed new de-
velopment.
"They don't like that word 'slum'
and they say they can't afford the
rent" she explained. Miss Reyes
gets $16S monthly for her houses.
Eleven houses from 121 to 14l P
street rent for $l2; two at 1856 and
1861 Half street rent for sl2.50, and
two at o and 10 Pierce court for $40.
"I keep my rents down." she says,
"and keep the properties up. I
have three men working on them
10 that's three I've kept off Of the
relief rolls.
This slum clearance is only q
money making scheme anyway: they
don't care anything for the colored
people and they don't care anything
about me-"
Even if Miss Reyes did want to
sell she has an idea that the Gov
eminent wouldn't pay her what the
property is worth. According to her
story, a Public Works emissary came
around last January and talked about
taking over the P street property.
He said he thought he could get 1t
for about s3,o00," says the disturbed
owner. II said he was crazy. Any
way, told him I had nothing for
sale"
The next thing she knew about the
whole affair, Miss Keyes adds, was
notice last month that condemnation
proceedings had been instituted
against the three groups Of property
If the Government is determined to
take the property, Miss Keyes con-
cedes, she'll have to sell, but they're
not going to rob me or scare me-"
If the worst comes to the worst and
she has to sell, Miss Keyes doesn't
know Just what she wants, but dis
claims any effort to get "a fancy
price"
As she says, she has been "dabbling"
In real estate ever since she came to
Washington from Virginia with her
parents, now dead. Some Of the
property she purchased; the rest was
bequeathed by an old friend, Leonard
A. Hamilton, in 1888.
Wrote will on Box Top.
Hamilton, q Pennsylvania Railroad
telegraph operator, engaged q room
at the Keyes home when he came
to Washington to work at the turn
of the century. He never left. When
he died he scribbled q notation on
. cardboard box top making Miss
Keyes his heir. you have been
good to me, Minnie all Is yours" it
said. This odd testament subse-
quently was upheld by the court.
The legal proceeding instituted by
Miss Keyes was o demurrer to the
condemnation suit and asks the court
TO declare the project unconstitu-
tional. 1t Is based on decision Of
the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals
which recently held unconstitutional
o similar slum clearance project in
Kentucky.
The demurrer. filed through Attor-
neys w. Gwynn Gardiner and I. Irwin
Bolotin, commanded that the proposed
condemnation Is not O taking of pri-
vate party for public purpose within
the meaning of the Constitution.
While officials did not conceal dis
appointment over the action taken
by Miss Reyes, they said that Ickes
has no intention to withdraw from
the proceedings filed in the District
Supreme Court.
"As in Louisville, minority Of the
property owners In Washington are
seeking to deprive the majority from
taking fair price for their land and
property" o spokesman for Ickes said
today.
mo one has offered the property
owners more money than the Govern
ment and il the condemnation pro-
ceedin& fail here 1t Is probable that
the idle property will remain I'M
rented, but taxes win have to be paid
e on it,"
81 Per Cent Optioned.
Ickes disclosed recently that the
Government had received options on
81 per cent Of the property owners in
the Southwest area, as against IS
per cent In Louisville.
The Government ia not obliged to
20 ahead with It's condemnation case
In Washington In the face of the
objection filed by Miss Keyes. No
declaration of taking has yet been
filed and at any time 1t chooses, the