The Omaha guide., 1940-12-28

Negroes again began inquiring
| and insisting upon due and proper
recognition inasmuch as it was
widely ~publicized that the Negro
project would be the first con-
structed under the supervision of
USHA. Not until the project
was under way and more than half
completed did the local citizens
know of the types of construction
of the buildings for their group.
When it was learned that the
buildings, with their flat tops and
single stories, were taking on the
appearance of saw mill or levy
camps, a protest movement was
launched. An appeal was made to
the local housing authority 1e-
questing that the buildings be
changed in design and that more
architectural beauty be added SO
that they Would not be obnoxious
to the public eye. The Delaney
project is located across the street
from Roosevelt High school and
on one of the most important
boulevards of that city. 1t is close
to some of the city's leading Me-
gro homes.
The project buildings are flat of
top single story structures built
close to the ground with the backs
fronting upon beautifug Harrison
street. They r heated by coal
stoves and in order for the ten
ants to have storage space for
fuel, unsightly coal bins r also
built upon Harrison street. There
are no Easements and laundry
work by the families. consisting of
from two to seven or eight, must
be done in a sink in the small kit
chen of each unit.
The local authority plans to sup
ply the tenants with no type of
refrigeration, but they are expect
ed to use any type of refrigerator
they desire, even to the hanging
of boxes out of windows during
the winter months. The floors of
all units are concrete.
When the local officials refused
to consider any changes proposed
by Negro leaders, a mass meeting
was called at Roosevelt High
school an dmore than 1000 attend
ed and protested the construction
and management of same. A COM
mittee of three members, Atty.
BENJAMIN f. Wilson, Rev. L. A.
MCGEE of the First AME. church
and Charles E. Hawkins of the
First Baptist church, was sent TO
Washington to interview the US
HA with reference to their pro-
tests.
The committee had no diffie llty
in comforting with w. P. Sea yers,
assistant administrator, who a.
greed that the Gary Delaney Com
munity Housing project was lob
viously disgraceful.' Mr.. Seav-
! ers was shown Photographs of the
project and assured this commit
tee that the changes as requested
would be made, and that funds
for that purpose would be suppl
led by the USHA. The changes
promised by Mr.. Seavers in the
presence of William K. Divers,
mid-western regional director
USHA, and DR.. Frank Horne, Ne
gro member of USHA. were as
follows:
/. That a qualified Negro
should be appointed to manage
the project and that a salary COM
mensurate with the position held
should be given.
2. That the buildings along
Harrison boulevard should be gabl
ed or changed in a manner to lend
more architectural beauty
g.. That the coal bins attached
to the buildings on Harrison
would be moved, so as to give the
appearance of the buildings front
ing on Harrison, instead of having
their backs to the boulevard.
A. That inasmuch as there
were no laundry facilities for the
tenants, two or more utility build
ings would be constructed on the
project to serve such a purpose.
5. That each family unit wouli
be furnished with mechanical re.
~frigeration.
Relying on these assurances, ths
committee returned to Gary, bu'
failed to publicize the results o.
their trip for fear they would b.
charged with having praetieed in.